Do the 2015 model Subaru have oil consumption problems?

My new Subaru Forester used oil like I was a Saudi prince. I had a new engine installed which I did not have long enough to know if it was using oil or not as the dealer ruined that engine. Now on the 3rd engine this year but have not had it long enough to know if it uses oil or not. I did have another 15 Forester loaner for several weeks and it did not seem to use oil for the 1,500 miles I drove it.

If you decide to go ahead and buy one be aware that these cars require 0W-20 synthetic oil. Keep track of the oil use and write down all the oil you add and the mileage. Document everything and if it uses more than one quart in 3,600 miles take it into a Subaru dealer and demand an oil consumption test.

All newer motors run just fine on 10w30/40 oil...preferably dino. Remember that horizontally opposed geometries have components sitting IN their oil baths, so splashing inherent in very low viscosity lubricants is NOT the concern as it is in a vertically- stacked motor. I suspect they spec 0W just for the hope of rounding up that extra 0.1 mpg on fuel consumption tests.In VERY cold climates 5w30 is advised, with returning to 10w in warmer seasons. Older motors running wet diapers or flooding past spark plug seals should use 20w50 in the summer and add a bottle of seal conditioner to stem seepage. Turbo users are the only exception...in which case you are REALLY out there on your own!

According to the dealers I have talked to, new Subaru's may not idle properly with heavier oil in cold weather conditions due to tight clearances.

We're not talking 20w below 10F (molasses) here. Just use 10w winter and you'll be ok.

I bought my 2015 Legacy 2.5, CVT trans. on 2/2/2015. Changed oil at 5,000 miles, then added another 2,300 miles....7,300 total. NO oil problems. The level on the dipstick hasn't changed.

I have a 2015 Subaru Outback. Burned through 2 quarts of oil After just 2000 miles. This is second consecutive time this has happened. My Outback has been gently driven and has only 58,000 miles on it. Time to dump it? Could using wrong synthetic oil be the culprit? I had a local automotive place change the oil the last 2X, not a Subaru dealership.

You should have a Subaru dealer perform a consumption test interval to see if they'll give you a new block. Regardless, switch to 5w30 synth to reduce consumption is ALL newer DOHC 2.5i. Best of luck. Ern TSG/B

I have a gently driven 2015 Subaru Outback Limited with 62,400 miles. It burns thru a quart of oil every 3,500 miles. (3 times so far) Had the PVC valve replaced. I’ve had the oil consumption test done after 1200 miles. NO oil burned at 1200 miles but at 3500, down a quart again. Worrisome. So, I’m ready to dump this car. NOT happy. Service manager said he would ask Subaru on next step. What ? Any Suggestions?

Are you serious? One qt/L consumption over 3500mi/5km is indeed about average for modern horizontally-opposed motors. If you want to lower consumption further use Subaru's own international spec 5w/30 synth spec oil instead of the 0w20 junk that easily gets consumed...especially in hot summer use. Your OB has a "one liter down" warning light that will come on, reminding you to add a quart, by the way. Don't sweat it; remember that horizontally-opposed motors sit IN their oil bath, so inherently consume some on cold starts too.

They recommend that you put 0W-20 Advanced Synthetic oil in the 2.5i models. So put 0W-20 Advanced Synthetic oil in it if you own a 2.5i model. There’s a reason why they don’t recommend a heavier weighted oil. Certainly, tighter clearances seems like a reason. And adding a higher weight oil to an engine that’s not specced for it is the exact way to ruin it. I’ve owned 2 previous Subaru’s, they all burned through some oil on longer drives (even with the heavier weighted 5W-30 Advanced Synthetic oil used). It’s a normal thing for them to do. If your Subaru doesn’t burn oil in it’s lifetime, consider yourself lucky. The main thing you can do is take care of your engine BEFORE this starts to happen. I use seafoam about every 20k miles and it has kept my vehicles running smooth. I change my oil every 5k miles AND the oil filter (even though that can technically go 10k miles).

"They" are simply SOA, who are fearful of owner backlash from cold weather startup timing chain noise for a second or two, The international spec for Subarus is 5w30, as expected, and which provides better protection in hot summers. Most Subie dealer mechanics laugh at the 0w20 spec, knowing that it increases consumption in a horizontally-opposed motor. Use the 5w30 international spec. Only your pocketbook will know the difference in topping-off savings over the years. JR's point has rationale merit rhetorically, but not for these motors. I'm sure Fuji engineers are scratching their collective heads in Hiroshima when they see Subaru of America specs pissy 0w20. Another old argument was that super-low viscosity oils MIGHT result in a very small fractional increase in efficiency, the hopes being that a mileage spec tips up because of rounding error. 24.45mpg might go to 24.51mpg, let's say, earning a big +1mpg EPA victory for the marketing department. That argument has been true for many manufactures, of course, but SOA's reasoning had to do with startup noise of the new chain-driven 2.5 starting in 2013. Please use 5w30 and watch your consumption drop. Nothing bad will happen!

FYI, the filter can "technically" last easily 100k if the synth oil is changed twice/year. Now that the filter is mounted up top it's also easy to install a larger old-style like a "4459" and just ignore it for years. Trust me...I've serviced more than 2k of these over 37 years. Oil filters NEVER clog up on modern engines. The AIR filter, however, should be changed annually, as dirty air does clog them ,reducing airflow and messing with the MAF sensor's ease of function. If you clog a Subaru oil filter you've already blown its bearings apart....