Ok you motor heads. Question

[Ristorapper]

2003 Subaru Forester. 120k miles. Starting to use oil. Doesn't give the blue plume out the exhaust. Is it time to switch over to high mileage oil? or other suggestions??

 

[Mort]

if it puffs blue smoke....valve stem seals are probably shot, along with the valve guides, letting oil by and burning it....next...

 

[Wild and Free]

Any leaks? They are super notorious for heads leaking oil.

Generally the startup plume is from leaking valve seals and other than the start up smoke doesn't use much for oil.
How much is it using?
Could check PCV valve too.
On newer engines like this changing oil brands can do it on occasion but if its due to ring and cylinder wear its not going to do much as most oils are pretty decent quality anymore.

 

[Ristorapper]

Daughters car so can't answer your questions until she comes by again. Will take a look; thanks for the info.

 

[BrokenBackJack]

Did she get it hot?

 

[Ristorapper]

no not that i know of...

just recently purchased it from one owner....

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had a fresh oil change when we bought it. Didn't seem to use oil until we changed oil the first time. Would guess it's using about a quart of oil between oil changes now.

 

[BrokenBackJack]

Guess i would call the old owner and ask what he used for oil. With the oil specs nowadays i wouldn't think changing brands would cause it to use oil. One could try that first unless it is leaking some place as mentioned above, like oil filter, oil plug, valve covers. etc.

 

[dblkluk]

headgasket guarantee'd

Check the coolant overflow to see if its brown/creamy.

Also after its been driven hard park it and you'll likely smell a rubber/oil smell

The 2.5l's up to about 2006 were notorious for head gaskets. Every one I've owned have needed them around that time frame, but they'll go another 125k no problem after.
About $2500 to fix with new water pump and timing belt, which should be changed on them at 100k too.

 

[Callem'In]

A quart between oil changes is acceptable according to Subaru. When you had the oil changed, was the same oil used as far as brand, weight, and base oil? Changing brands of oil can make engine consume more or less oil. It also could be how she is driving. In town, stop and go traffic will make it use more oil than highway driving.

 

[Ristorapper]

he works for Kupper Subaru guessing it was taken care of at Subaru there.

She has been by many times with it and it never leaves oil in the driveway. I'm pretty anal about that. If it leaks oil, park it on the street is what I tell anyone if you're marking your territory on my concrete!!

I'll have to look closer under the hood next time she's by. She just texted me and looked in her garage. no oil leaks on the pavement there in the garage she says..

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yea! put a GM oil in it at Kupper quick lube. Should have taken it to Subaru. All city driving so far too. Had a new timing belt replaced around 80k. I checked on that before we bought it. think water pump too at that time. will check

thanks so much for the info so far guys

 

[Callem'In]

If it only a quart between normal service intervals (3000 mi), Don't be too alarmed. Try a different oil with the next change.

 

[tikkalover]

A quart in between oil changes is nothing to worry about. Wife's 09 Yukon with a 5.3 in does the same thing.

 

[Ristorapper]

If it only a quart between normal service intervals (3000 mi), Don't be too alarmed. Try a different oil with the next change.

will get hold of previous owner and go back to what he was using.