Subaru Stella: EN07 valve-stem-seal wear causing oil consumption and blue start-up smoke at higher km
EN07 valve-stem-seal wear causing oil consumption and blue start-up smoke at higher km is a common engine fault on the Subaru Stella on the 2006–2011 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $400 to $1,800 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 10 documented faults on the Subaru Stella.
- Vehicle
- Subaru Stella
- Years
- 2006–2011
- Fuel
- petrol
- System
- Engine
What you are looking at
No photograph available
What goes wrong
The first-generation Stella (RN1/RN2) uses Subaru's 658cc EN07 four-cylinder, an engine shared across the R2, Pleo and Sambar line. The most frequently reported EN07 wear mode is hardening of the valve stem seals, which lets oil seep past the valves overnight and burn off on the next start. It typically shows up past roughly 120,000-130,000 km (around 80,000 miles) as a puff of blue-grey smoke on cold start-up or on the over-run after a long down-hill, together with the engine quietly using oil between services. The EN07 also has a small oil capacity and a top-mounted filter that can drain down and cause a brief dry start, both of which accelerate the wear, so imported cars with unknown oil-change history are the higher risk. Left unattended the oil use worsens and can foul plugs and the catalytic converter, so it is worth catching early.
What you would notice
- Puff of blue-grey smoke from the exhaust on cold start-up
- Blue smoke on the over-run or when accelerating after idling
- Engine oil level dropping between services with no visible leak
- Oil smell or fouled spark plugs on higher-km cars
How to check it
Where to look. EN07 engine cylinder head (valve stem seals) in the front engine bay
Start the car dead cold and watch the exhaust for a blue-grey puff as it fires, then again after it has idled and you blip the throttle.
Pull the dipstick to check oil level and condition and ask how much oil the car uses between changes and when the oil was last done.
On a car past about 120,000 km with no service records, treat oil use as likely and factor a valve-stem-seal job into the price; a compression or leak-down test by a workshop confirms whether wear is limited to the seals or is deeper.
What it costs to put right
$400 to $1,800 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.
Ask the seller
- “How much oil does it use between services, and when was the oil last changed?”
- “Does it blow any blue smoke when started from stone cold?”
- “Do you have oil-change or service records from Japan or since import?”
- “Has the cylinder head or valve seals ever been worked on?”
Now check the Subaru Stella you are actually looking at
Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.
Where this comes from
Subaru Stella buyer questions
Is en07 valve-stem-seal wear causing oil consumption and blue start-up smoke at higher km serious on a Subaru Stella?
We rate it major and common on the Subaru Stella. The first-generation Stella (RN1/RN2) uses Subaru's 658cc EN07 four-cylinder, an engine shared across the R2, Pleo and Sambar line. The most frequently reported EN07 wear mode is hardening of the valve stem seals, which lets oil seep past the valves overnight and burn off on the next start. It typically shows up past roughly 120,000-130,000 km (around 80,000 miles) as a puff of blue-grey smoke on cold start-up or on the over-run after a long down-hill, together with the engine quietly using oil between services. The EN07 also has a small oil capacity and a top-mounted filter that can drain down and cause a brief dry start, both of which accelerate the wear, so imported cars with unknown oil-change history are the higher risk. Left unattended the oil use worsens and can foul plugs and the catalytic converter, so it is worth catching early.
How much does it cost to fix on a Subaru Stella?
$400 to $1,800 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.
Which Subaru Stella years are affected?
Our research records this fault on the 2006–2011 Subaru Stella. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.
How do I check for it before I buy?
Start the car dead cold and watch the exhaust for a blue-grey puff as it fires, then again after it has idled and you blip the throttle. Pull the dipstick to check oil level and condition and ask how much oil the car uses between changes and when the oil was last done. On a car past about 120,000 km with no service records, treat oil use as likely and factor a valve-stem-seal job into the price; a compression or leak-down test by a workshop confirms whether wear is limited to the seals or is deeper. Look here: EN07 engine cylinder head (valve stem seals) in the front engine bay