Can we talk oil ?

[WFM]

This is a odd scenario. My girlfriend buys a 21 subaru forester. She just took in back to the dealer for a 6k mile oil change and check over.($100.) , her uncle bought a new Outback from a different subaru dealer 40 miles from the one she uses. He stopped today said he had his outback to the dealer for its first oil change and the next day checked it and the oil is 1" higher on the dipstick then the highest full line. So a few days later he went back to the dealer and the service guy pulled the stick and said " wow its over full" we'll change the filter and that will solve it bringing it back to the full level. So they did. The next day he looks, yup a new filter and a few drops of oil residue. He pulls the stick. Excatly the same. 1" over full. So today he asked my to check the oil level. Its 1" over full. He said your girlfriend just had hers changed can you check hers. I did. Its 1" over full. I checked several times. Subaru has a fancy oil filter cup thing right infront of the engine with the filter upright. Very easy access. I'm no mechanic but wouldn't that filter just drain back down becouse its vertically mounted ? So when removed wouldn't it be empty.
AND its very very hard to believe two dealerships would overfill the engine oil.
I checked the owners manuel. Shows the low on the stick and the top hole is full.
Comments ??

 

[bearskinner]

My wife’s subie has the top mounted oil filter as well. yes, it drains mostly out of the filter sitting there.

 

[lugbolt]

I wonder if Subaru ever fixed their head gasket issue? One of many reasons I won't own one.

 

[Motronic]

I wonder if Subaru ever fixed their head gasket issue? One of many reasons I won't own one.

You're remembering an EJ25 issue that was gone (from manufacturing) in the early 2000s which has a known "forever" fix.

Subaru has plenty of other issues, but this isn't a current one.

OP need to find a proper independent shop. Dealerships hire mostly untrained and unsupervised morons, especially for the oil change bays.

 

[85Hokie]

Again I think we are dealing with book sense vs common sense ........... what I mean,......

I am making these numbers up for effect...

manual calls for 4 quarts ( all the oil did not drain out) and the mechanic places 4 quarts in ..... never checks the dipstick ...... cause the book is always right ......... right?

I have 2017 Forester - knock on wood - no one single problem ...... other than a compressor recall - which I have not had a chance to deal with yet.

I still change my own oil - ALWAYS pour in a quart short......... start it up ..... let it sit , check the dipstick - add some more, and somehow get it at the line or hole in said dipstick.

We have always said here in this forum - use the dipstick as the guide - NOT what the manual says or implies.

But I agree - final ANOTHER person that can read a #@$@#$@# dipstick rather looking up specs in a book.

 

[Motronic]

Again I think we are dealing with book sense vs common sense ........... what I mean,......
........................use the dipstick as the guide - NOT what the manual says or implies.

100% right.

 

[lynnmor]

When Ford came out with the 6.7 diesel the oil capacity went to 13 quarts from the 15 quarts used in previous engines. They didn't update the maintenance software the dealers used for a number of years and many, if not most, engines were overfilled. They even screwed up the owners manuals in one model year after getting it right at first. In my case, I checked the oil after my free oil change and found it way over full so I returned to the dealer and they got it wrong yet again. I then drained it myself and got 15 and 1/4 quarts out of my 13 quart engine. Except for this one "free" oil change I do all of my own work and I have no clue how others get thru life.

 

[bearbait]

I do my own oil changes on everything. Since now they put steel plugs in aluminum pans on many things which tend to strip after time I decided to buy a fluid extractor and the thing is awesome. First time I used it on the SUV I didn't trust that it took all the oil out so I pulled the plug after the extractor had finished and not a drop. I actually have to put the whole 5 liters in to fill it now instead of having some left over. The only thing I don't use it on is the Kubota because of the split pan but it is great for draining the hydraulic fluid even though it doesn't quit get it all.

 

[WFM]

Many good comments here. In 1988 I bought a new Bolens Vtwin 16 hp garden tractor. The owners manuel called for X amount. It was way over full on the dip stick if I went by the manuel. I called the dealer. He said Always go by the dip stick and don't overfill it no matter what the book says.
My girlfriends prior car was a forester also. Not one issue. A 2017 I think. Before that a honda CRV. A 2013 0r 14 maybe. That car ate rear tires like a 69 chevelle big block. After aligments and rear struts and more new rear tires it got a good case of swap at 60,000 miles. Not sure if that was made on Friday. But someone elses problem now.
Hes the page from the subaru owners manuel.