Hi,

I am looking at buying a used 2012 TL Elite Package with 91k km. It has been well cared for.

I have been reading about oil consumption problems with the 3.7 litre engine and its warranty extension, but I do have a couple questions I am hoping someone can answer.

1. Do the repairs if completed actually fix the problem or will they just potentially happen again a few years down the road?
2. Is other damage related to this problem not fixed under the warranty that would need to be looked for?
3. If the issue hasn't presented yet does that mean that it won't or can it appear at any time?

Much Thanks. I am a current Subaru Legacy GT owner and had to replace my shortblock on my own dime (close $10k) for a similar widespread problem that Subaru was unwilling to admit to a design defect. I am a little bit sensitive to it happening again.

Thanks

 

1. Yes, iirc, several people here have had to have it "fixed" more than once.
2. Burning a lot of oil over a long period of time can clog your catalytic converter(s). I don't think that's covered by the warranty extension. Other than that, I don't think so.
3. Any time. Usually more miles = more problems.

IMO get the 3.5 if you plan on driving it a lot or for a long time.

 

The ones that have had the engine replaced under warranty experienced mixed results. For some it surfaced again after 10K miles or so. For others, it solved the problem altogether. It seems that if the engine hasn't started burning oil after 50K or so that you should be good. No guarantee but that seems to be the norm for most that have owned the car since new.

 

If it does happen, if you keep the oil level up can you drive indefinitely?

 

Not indefinitely, because the burning oil messes with combustion, will cause faster accumulation of carbon deposits, clog up the cats, etc.

It will probably take several tens of thousands of miles, so it's not an urgent must-fix-immediately problem, but it'll probably still die sooner than it would have if there hadn't been oil burning. *shrug*