Subaru Forester: FB20 Excessive Oil Consumption (SH Late Model)

The FB20 2.0-litre engine introduced in the SH Forester from approximately 2011 onward was affected by a known oil consumption issue attributed to piston ring design and cylinder bore finish tolerances in early production runs. The oil control rings did not seat adequately against the cylinder walls, allowing engine oil to migrate past the rings into the combustion chamber where it was burned during operation. Subaru issued revised piston rings and updated assembly procedures, but many early examples remain in service with the original components and continue to consume oil at rates well above the manufacturer's stated acceptable limit of 1 litre per 2,000 km.

• Engine oil level dropping more than 0.5 litres per 1,000 km between scheduled oil changes
• Blue or blue-grey smoke visible from the exhaust at idle or on the overrun, with a distinctive burning oil smell
• Spark plugs showing oil fouling or carbon deposits inconsistent with normal combustion

1. 1

   Check the engine oil level on the dipstick after a minimum of 200 km of mixed driving and compare to the full mark.

2. 2

   Inspect the spark plugs for oil fouling or wet oily deposits on the electrode.

3. 3

   At idle with the vehicle stationary, observe the exhaust tailpipe for a faint blue haze particularly on the overrun (lifting off the throttle).

4. 4

   Ask for oil top-up receipts between service intervals.

$2,800 to $6,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

• “How often does the oil level need to be topped up between services, and by how much?”
• “Has the vehicle been subject to any oil consumption investigation or piston ring replacement?”

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.