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Old 03-19-2022, 06:46 AM   #1
Tonga 1947
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Default Outback 2.4 XT Oil Level Increase

Is there an issues that could cause oil level to go up? Maybe a faulty PCV? What’s going on?
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Old 03-19-2022, 08:06 AM   #2
KillerBMotorsport
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tonga 1947 View Post
Is there an issues that could cause oil level to go up? Maybe a faulty PCV? What’s going on?
Your oil level should only read at a higher level when hot.

The only other way you can increase the oil level is if you put something else in there, like coolant. If that happened, via some catastrophic internal failure, you'd definitely know it! So I doubt this is the case.
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Old 03-19-2022, 01:24 PM   #3
bemani
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How much did it go up? Maybe you hit something and dented the oil pan?
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Old 03-19-2022, 03:14 PM   #4
Jack
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I have not heard of this with Subaru but Honda's Earth Dreams turbo engine in CRV and Civic has been known to add as much as 2 quarts over an oil change interval. How? To keep the cylinders cool, at a certain condition, they cool the cylinders with fuel that gets by the rings. Honda had done what Honda always does when there's a problem. Deny, Deny, Deny. They have never fixed the problem. I've never heard of Subaru doing this, but that doesn't mean they haven't. Does the oil smell like gas?
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Old 04-19-2022, 09:08 PM   #5
bapaul
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I have my 2021 Lego Touring need the oil level sensor replaced at 12,000mi(ish) but they said it was leaking not faulty... Might still be a clue?
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Old 04-20-2022, 12:35 PM   #6
Tonga 1947
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Default Still investigating

Quote:
Originally Posted by KillerBMotorsport View Post
Your oil level should only read at a higher level when hot.

The only other way you can increase the oil level is if you put something else in there, like coolant. If that happened, via some catastrophic internal failure, you'd definitely know it! So I doubt this is the case.
I’ve had my oil changed at my dealer and they made sure it was right at the full mark. No antifreeze in the oil and fuel contamination is not an issue they said. I will check it once a month but during the warm months I don’t expect any issue. Let’s see what winter holds??
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Old 04-30-2022, 02:42 AM   #7
john pifer
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Nice car! I'm considering the 2022 WRX, which has essentially the same engine, with a bit different tuning.

It's a TGDI (turbocharged gasoline direct injection) engine.

They're known for contaminating the oil with fuel, especially in cold weather, due to the need for enrichening the mixture on startup.

As someone else mentioned, they also richen the mixture during certain operating regimes to cool the cylinders and reduce the chances of LSPI.

This happens to a lot of people who short trip their vehicles in cold weather, especially. Cold start = rich mixture, fuel getting past the rings into the crankcase. Then, due to short trips, the oil doesn't get up to full operating temperature, and the fuel and moisture that has condensed into the oil can't evaporate, and builds up.

That's when you start to see oil level rising.

What can you do to combat this?

- Try to do at least 1 or 2 longer trips per week where you drive the car for at least 30-40 min. That allows the engine and oil to reach full ops temp and stay there for a few minutes, cooking off fuel and moisture in the oil.

- Use a stout oil. That turbo engine deserves something like Mobil 1 ESP 0W-30 or 5W-30 for protection. A thicker oil also gives you a viscosity cushion for when it's inevitably diluted by fuel. When you're starting out with 0W-20 pee water, then it gets diluted by fuel, you don't have much protection. Also, the thinner the oil gets, the more it's going to evaporate, aerosolize, and cause deposits in your intake tract.

- Don't go more than 5-6000 miles on an oil change, even with thicker oil like the M1 ESP.

- Don't drive like a grandpa. Get on it and get that oil hot a few times a week!
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