Ok, I also own a ten days old WRX03 and I am very pleased with it.
I changed oil after 200km with Motul mineral 10W/40 and I am going to change it again at 1500km with Motul V300 Chrono 10W/40.
I followed (almost) these instructions during running in, tried to avoid long journeys with constant speeds, varied rpms etc but I rev it two times hardly (6-7000rpms) for very short periods after 400km and once I saw 170km/h with 5th on downhill road. I usually run the car between 3-4000 or even 4500rpms with progressively increased rpms
My problem is that after 1300km I had to add 300-350ml of oil which isn't excessive but starts to worries me.
Has anybody had the same in his WRX, all the known mechanics I asked told me that is normal "some" oil consumption during brake in period and there is no reason to worry, and as far as I know many STI7-8 owners have the same symptoms in their cars?
I "feel" also a slight cracking noise when turning the steering wheel left or right at very low speeds, is this noise from the wheels or something like drive shafts, steering rack etc?
JIM

Conducting any form of service on your new car will invalidate your warranty. If you have anxiety regarding oil consumption you need to return it to the dealer.

He already told me that some oil consumption is normal but I don't know if I should trust him or he told me this just to calm down!
JIM

MY 03 is 7 weeks old and has done 3900 miles, apart from oil change now oil needed/used. No faults and i am very picky so i would have found them!! Dealer has been excellent (Parks Exeter)

Love the car and cant stop driving it - fuel consumption a bit scary at times but hey its a scoob!

Thanks guys.
There are no other 03WRX owners that want to help me?
JIM

Bottom Line
Register with IM use this letter
************************************************** *******************
Subaru Warranty Administration,
Subaru UK
Ryder Street,
West Bromwich,
West Midlands
B70 0EJ


Dear Sir/ Madam

New Impreza WRX Registration xxxxx xxx (xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx)

I note that you ask for the original sales invoice from the country of origin. I bought the car new in the UK in Pounds Stlg and I enclose

1. Copy of the original sales receipt.
2. Copy of the service manual indicating the PDI was carried out in an EU Member state, presumably where it was shipped to from the manufacturer.

3. Copy of the EU certificate of conformity validating the VIN.
4. Copy sales invoice from the supplier in Holland to Supplier in the UK


If there is any additional information you require please do not hesitate to contact me.

The service schedule is printed in the Service and Warranty booklet I trust that this is the one to follow:
5000km (3,105) miles) 3 months
15,000km (9,315 miles) 12months
30,000km (18,630 miles) 24 months etc


Please can you inform me that my Warranty is registered and will be valid in the UK?


Thank you for your kind help


Yours sincerely

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++

Service Garage
Don’t do any other servicing as it could be held against you, and anyway it’s not necessary as IM know what they are doing with service schedules.

IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DONT FIX IT

Hi there, I'm writing from Malaysia. A fellow owner of the 03 STi. First question, is yours a STi version of the MY03?

I myself has not experienced such a problem. However, I have read several threads on this matter on the Impreza WRX Club Inc club of Australia. Follow this link http://www.wrx.com.au/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4089 directly to the thread regarding oil loss. Seems to be only happening with the MY03 WRX.

I hope this helps.

Regards.

In MY02 car I had exactly the same - loads of oil consumption immediately after run-in change, but since then (7000 miles) i haven't literally used a drop.

Hi! Only got my my03 wrx 4 days ago, and havn't checked the oil yet, its a good job you put this up! I will check it tomorrow and let you know the outcome, (but i've only done 400 miles in it so far).

I lost the above 300+ gr of oil between 800 and 1400 first km and this happens cause - in my opinion - drove the car on highway roads with high speeds (normal rpms) that means higher engine temps!
Just changed it with Motul V300 10W/40 and the strange oil smell stopped immediately which shows that oil consumption is related with oil quality and engine tolerances!
JIM

My MY02 4 months old and 9500 miles - zero oil consumption
You guys are too paranoid - just drive and enjoy the best car on the road!
It's a superb car not a baby!

MY03 WRX, 3,500 miles - checked the oil today and it barely registered on the dipstick when cold :eek:

Spring Park were great though - I popped in out of the blue and they had a look and topped me up FOC (only put a little bit in) and we are just gonna see how it goes...

Most of the 03WRX owners I asked to check their oil levels before the 5K service have more or less the same symptom so I am not paranoiac!
First oil change here in Greece is at 1500km, next at 5K and as I understand it many of you have had some oil consumption during run in period but only a few have looked at the dipstick so don't be so sure that I am the only one with such "problem" (to Graham)...
No offence though, just want to cross-check it!
JIM

My 03 WRX used nothing up to it's 1000 mile oil change service, but has since used a litre (now done just over 4,000 miles). I won't worry unless it continues to use it at this rate beyond it's 10,000 mile service!

Oil Consumption
 

Just check it occasionally.

I drive quite hard and use 1 litre every 4,000 miles or so.

Never any smells, leaks or smoke, so its just normal consumption.

Remember, it supposed to consume oil....

I have 6 month old MY03 wagon. Have kept an eye on the oil and it has needed the odd top-up (dealer did it for me 1st time). Likely find it will use some up to 10-15k miles then start to stop. My company BMW used up 2 litres from 0 to 15k miles, but after that not used a drop.

Erm... did we just jump a few months?

Dont think its normal to use oil all the time but its quite common to use when the engine is fairly new and should settle down.i have a wrx03 and it has used a little bit more than i expected but it seems to be settling down now at 7k.my last scooby never used a drop and had covered 35k
powerman

it will use oil till around 10k mine uses oil a fair bit, have been told it will stop around 10k when engine is fully run in. check your oil every 500>1000 mile's and top up.