Hey! I'm shopping for Forester XT's and found one with 80K+ miles. I was able to contact the dealer who had done the service all along. The car was really well maintained at the same dealer since new, all recommended service was performed along the way. The notes state in the last comment "customer reported car using 2qts oil since last change." It seems the customer had been keeping some track of the consumption and noticed the issue. The dealership "did not find a cause" so no work was done about it. SO! This guy was like "uh oh, time to sell the FXT." I asked the dealer service for what they thought , and they said "valves." Well, I could see that more with the 2.0 (burnt valves happened to me and I am still bitter about it), but I didn't think that happens on the 2.5? Plus, wouldn't it misfire instead of use oil? I was thinking turbo seals or something? Rings? Anyway the price is about KBB retail for the car. I don't mind paying that for a well maintained car that needs a turbo or something, but NOT $4000 worth of motor work. Any thoughts? Thanks!
Ring land - Problem that happens at 80k on a Turbo 2.5 from 2007, about what, 1% of the time? 10%? 70%? Also this is apparently a car from a higher-elevation area, does that cause any specific problems? I guess the car would run rich?
it would run super rich until it gets adjusted to the air around here but thats like a few hundred miles of driving not weeks or months. my guess would also be rings, Just look at you tube for beat to piss sti's no reason someone could of gone nuts one day and beat the crap out of their car. Check the pcv, take off the IC and check for oil in there, might even want to pull the turbo and see if the seals arnt shot. Theres a lot it could be in theory anything that oil touches could be the cause. Or better yet stay away from it.
the ecu adjusts itself to the elevation changes it shouldn't take long. also, ringland on 2.5 turbo = common.
VERY useful information - thank you! Any guess on this ringland work cost $$$? If it's just one? I feel like any used car has either had the work done with more miles on it, or is going to need the work anyway. I MIGHT be ready to man up and tear apart a motor instead of having a shop do it. I seem to have a reliable parts runner but with my luck that would crap out too. LOL.
