Hello Mr. Kilmer,
2018 Subaru Crosstrek CVT Automatic 2.0i Premium
84,000 miles now
Bought it Used in Dec of 2022 with 35000 miles from a Ford dealership in Richmond, VA
Warranty has run out
I do have an Allstate Auto Warranty til 120000 miles
Problem:
At 68000 miles in 2024, I noticed a puff of blue smoke in the mornings and sometimes in the afternoon.
I took it to the Subaru dealer. They ran it through several tests (i.e., compression, seals, valve guides, pvc, etc...) - no issues.
Afterwards, they said I needed a carbon deposit cleanup. $1600... they did a manual deposit cleanup and replaced the spark plugs.
Car had better pickup afterwards, but the blue smoke continued.
I took it back to the Subaru dealer again at around 82000 miles and the mechanic did an Oil Consumption test.
I drove it for 1300 miles and the dealer said it did not consume any oil.
He said the next step would be to change the grade of oil from 0W20 to 5W30 on my next oil change; which will be at 88000 miles.
Meanwhile, the last 3 fuel fill ups - I've been putting in Shell Premium Fuel for the detergent benefits for carbon.
The car also has a rattle sound when you drive uphill or on flat roads at low speeds (30-45 mph), which started occurring at 68000 when I took it in. That never went away.
I spoke to another owner of the same type and year, and she told me that 3 years ago, the Subaru dealer replaced the engine. She still had a warranty. Not sure what problem she had though. 3 years later, May 2025, at around the same mileage I had - she noticed blue smoke just starting to happen.
I've gone to other Subaru forums and it seems to be the same mileage around 65000-69000 miles that blue smoke starts to happen.
I need serious help. I'm still making payments on the car and I'm afraid I got a lemon. I don't know what to do. You are my last resort.
Orlando from Richmond, VA
Thank you Sir!
At 68000 miles in 2024, I noticed a puff of blue smoke in the mornings and sometimes in the afternoon. I took it to the Subaru dealer. They ran it through several tests (i.e., compression, seals, valve guides, pvc, etc...) - no issues.
There are only so many ways that oil can get into the combustion chamber. It's possible the car wasn't maintained properly, causing excessive wear. Is there any sludge in the engine? Under what conditions do you see blue smoke? At startup? At idle? When accelerating? When decelerating?
I drove it for 1300 miles and the dealer said it did not consume any oil.
If your oil level isn't dropping after 1300 miles there's not a huge amount of oil burning going on. (Did you check the oil consumption yourself or did you just take the dealer's word for it?)
He said the next step would be to change the grade of oil from 0W20 to 5W30 on my next oil change; which will be at 88000 miles.
That would just be a bandaid that would not actually fix anything and might not help at all. Increasing oil viscosity to reduce oil burning is a trick that used to be done 50-60 years ago or more.
It's quite possible that despite the checks that were done the dealer missed something. Dealers are not usually the best at doing diagnostics. In fact the way their technicians are paid discourages in-depth diagnostics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfevTLNjNIM
You could try the ATS Carbon Clean treatment that Scotty has recommended in the event you have stuck oil control rings due to carbon. Whatever the dealer did may not have resulted in sufficient cleanup, especially if the engine was not properly maintained in the past.
The car also has a rattle sound when you drive uphill or on flat roads at low speeds (30-45 mph), which started occurring at 68000 when I took it in. That never went away.
That kind of thing is usually caused by exhaust heat shields or other parts that have come loose causing a rattle. Physical examination is required to find the cause. (It is extremely unlikely to be related to the oil burning issue.)
I do have an Allstate Auto Warranty til 120000 miles
If Allstate's warranty coverage is anything like their insurance coverage has historically been handled they will likely fight like crazy to deny coverage on any pretext they can come up with.
@chucktobias
Thank you for breaking it down!
1. The blue smoke happens at Start Up only. How do you check for sludge in the engine?
2. Oil Consumption test: I checked the dip stick before I took it back to dealer. Luckily they gave me the same reading from the dipstick, which was no oil leak.
3. I will try the ATS Carbon cleaner… thanks
4. I’m not so sure now where to take my vehicle for thorough inspection
Thank you for your time in answering my questions!
I’m sure others have asked, but would you all be able to inspect and repair, if I were to drop it off.
1. The blue smoke happens at Start Up only. How do you check for sludge in the engine?
2. Oil Consumption test: I checked the dip stick before I took it back to dealer. Luckily they gave me the same reading from the dipstick, which was no oil leak.
3. I will try the ATS Carbon cleaner… thanks
4. I’m not so sure now where to take my vehicle for thorough inspection
Thank you for your time in answering my questions!
I’m sure others have asked, but would you all be able to inspect and repair, if I were to drop it off.
The most direct way to check for engine sludge is to remove the valve cover and look. This is easy on most inline 4-cylinder engines but a pain on Subaru boxer engines.
You would need to find a good independent mechanic in your area to do a thorough diagnosis. Dealers and chain shops should be avoided. There are tips for finding a good mechanic in the site FAQ.
I personally am not a professional mechanic and only work on my own vehicles and, occasionally, family and friends' cars. Scotty is currently in Portsmouth, Rhode Island so if you are within reasonable driving distance you can contact him to make an appointment. (Instructions are in the aforementioned FAQ.) Alternatively, Scotty will be returning to Clarksville Tennessee late in July if you are near that location.