Bullring

Should the oil level on a 03 WRX be checked when the engine is cold or hot?

Also I've heard that Subaru are recommending to their dealers that they only 3/4 fill the oil during a service (something to do with oil vapour being dawn into the turbo during extreme driving conditions).

Just in case anyone’s interested (but why should you be), the gear change on my 53 WRX has finally stop being "notchy". It's only takes 7700 miles to free up!

malinen

Fill 3/4 when cold, oil will heat expand to full level. If you fill it fully up when cold.. you're over the full "limit"

Bullring

Thank you

JIM THEO

Correct method is to warm the car until it reaches working temp, let it off for more than 15-20min and check the oil on flat level, it should be between L-F preferably at 3/4 as it expands more when it is very hot.
Subaru dealer confirmed the above and bear in mind it needs about half liter from L to F thus even 200-300ml of oil can increase the level above F so be cautious!
JIM

AR

Do they drink oil?

My 03 WRX PPP has done 4k miles in total and 3k since the running in service/fitting of PPP and does'nt seem to need oil. Is this normal? I'm not complaining but am more used to Audis' which drink loads of oil in the first 10k miles or so.

Ta

JIM THEO

Here in Greece we have a lot of new age cars both WRX and STI that drink oil until full running in, not to say even after that (as mine does probably) but it is due to softer piston rings or at least this is what have been told from all Subaru service.
I used to add about 500-600ml of oil between changes until my last service before 2000km (at 15K km) currently it doesn't need oil, I'll see how it behaves after 2-3K km.
JIM