Warning to 03 owners oil use
 

Popped the bonnet yesterday to refill the waterbottle and checked the oil at the same time and was shocked to find the dipstick not even registering.
This was 7000 miles after the first 1000 service.

I wasnt far from my dealer so i popped in to check what oil to get and they said no problems we'll top it up for you.

It was then filled with just over 2 litres of oil till it registered on the dipstick :o

I was fed the usual "they all do that sir" line or words to that effect and informed that the new engine does "use" oil.

Yes I thought but it would have been nice to have been informed of that before i drove off in my brand new car last august.

Yes i KNOW the pedants and the pompous will inform me i should always check the oil and make no assumptions blah blah blah.........

but no matter how many times i checked my old MY 99 it NEVER used a drop of oil and going from no oil use to 1 litre every 3500 seems a little excessive

Next service though i will check the oil afterwards to be sure it wasnt just the mechanic fecking up.

Had to put 1/2 litre of oil in my MY03 STI at 8500 miles. It was just at the min level, and it took 1/2 litre to take it upto mid way between min and max.

I always check it about 15 mins after a drive. (when I do check it!)

Well I know they use Oil until about 10,000 miles - but yours seems to be a bit unusual!

Mine used 2.5 litres up to 10,000 service and then not a drop since (now 18,000 miles).

Actually that sounds about the same and abit more reassuring as it has used just over 2 litres in 8300 miles (just checked odometer).

Mmmm.
 

Don't worry my MY03 the same and it's now done 20,000 miles.

Like you I was suprised beacuse my 2 previous Impreza Turbo's didn't use a drop.

Keep a good eye on it etc... My old man (bit of a car 'know it all') checked the user guide and just had to point out that it states 'check the oil level every time you fill up with fuel'!!! I think that's Subaru's idea of a joke...can you imagine how offen that would actually be (well for me at least a 22,000 mile a year man!)!

Hey ho

Tim

this is all much more reassuring thought i had a serious fault at first

By the way what's a manual :D:D:D:D

my bugeye my03 use's quite a bit of oil as you say I was shocked 1 month after the 10k service to check the oil and find it just on the dip stick

g/f's Clio 172 did the same - 3 litres !!! up to 10K - nothing since .....

I have had an 01 WRX and now an Sti 8. I noticed that I had to put oil in on the WRX b4 the 10, 000 but not after that really.

I shall check the Sti later, but I was wondering what you guys were putting in yours?

Oil that is?

Cheers,
andy

ARM - Castrol RS - it's what my dealer uses!

My MY03 STi doesn't seem to use dramatic amounts - if at all...

But then again, it's only done 8K and I did have the oil/filter changed at 1K, 3.5K and 7.5K....

Shades

Thats weird... my MY01 WRX PPP hasnt consumed a drop in 3 years!!!!

Jza

My MY03 did this at 7k miles too when I checked... "They all do that sir".

Apparently its only the new engines in the 03wrx that have this problem

Same happened to my03 :(

The way this reads it's like this is the first time you've pulled the dipstick in 7000 miles. That's not correct is it? :eek: :rolleyes:

Mattastant,

I've experienced a similar thing on my MY03 WRX PPP, it seems to consume oil at a fair rate.

Approx 3 litres since 1000 mile service (now at 8,000).

Greasemonkey - of course we ALL check it every few days :-)

Mine consumes a bit, not an excessive amount though. You should not need to be told to check the oil regularly on a new engine.

Speak to an M5 owner, apparently 1 litre per thousand miles is still acceptable. :)

mine has only used a bit upto 10k service (half a litre) - doesn't seems to use any now!

Did you run it in carefully, it's very tempting to give them a bit too much welly early on in their life - also at the 1k mark they are not run in IMO it's more like 7.5k to 10k!

Some people also do the opposite and don't work the engine at all or go on long runs - not good either when running in.

Mine used a bit initially, now at 7000 and using none at all

Same happened to my MY02. Now doesn't use a drop, and its got a very minor leak from the sump plug if stood for a week.

Hi,
I think you'll find in most cases it uses the oil down to the MIN level and never goes much below that. Remember below MIN you have between 3.5 - 4 Litres of oil so there should be no harm in damaging your engine (famous last words). It can be quite easy to assume that your car is using 'loads' of oil but its only using the litre between MIN and MAX.

On one occasion I checked my oil and also found no trace of oil on the dipstick. I added about 100-200ml of oil and I got the level back which proves my above point.

I spoke to Subaru UK and my local dealer and they both said that the oil should only be filled to the MIN mark or just above because otherwise it just gets sucked through the seals and can cause turbo performance issues. Thats why it can appear as if you're always topping it up!

Incidentally, since my 10,000mile service my oil consumption seems to have settled down.

Best overall advice.... keep an eye on it and experiment as I have. If things get worse speak to Subaru UK Technical and get them on the case.

Cheers
Frank

Interesting, mine is on 8600 miles and I regularly check it.

But it hasn't used a drop!!!!

Am I the odd one out? Perhaps I should be the one worrying!!!!!!

Dan MY03 STi

I have mine serviced every 4000 miles so little chance for the oil to degrade or burn up.

Not noticed any problem (WRX 03) with mine. It is fuel it burns up!

Mine was on "min" at 3000miles. Bit surprised at the time as I don't usually lift the bonnets on cars but it seems normal and I will now!!!

Anyone of you has knowlendge of the MY03 Sti Oil capacity?
I asked before but here are many MY03 owners so maybe someone knows...

By the moment at 8000 km I just have done the second oil and filter change and both times the Subaru dealer used 5.3l of oil and I´m afraid that its overfilled.

Quite difficult to me to read the dopstick specially whem warm. On cold despite of the oil spots I think that the level after the service is in the last mark...

any advice welkome

Cheers

Count yourselves very lucky,the new MAZDA RX 8 uses a litre every 1000 miles,i'm amazed how Top Gear can give it the coupe of the year award when it costs you a fortune in oil.
This WILL not stop as it does on the Subaru when its bedded in,Mazda have engineered it this way to avoid engine rebuilds every 60,000 Miles due to the rotor tips wearing out.

Zippy

A just a little note to those who think cars don't use oil.....

Just bear in mind after 6K+ miles it's not all "oil" in your sump, unburnt petrol being one thing that replaces it over time and make it seem its still at the "max" level. Especially applies to car that have done short jouneys and lots of cold starts.

- An incentive to change it more often :)

My 03 WRX has used a litre of oil in 5500 miles is this normal, according to dealers it is .
My 96 uk didnt use a drop. Why is it normal to this much oil?

use