Repair cost
$0–$3,500
Free under class action if oil-consumption test fails; $3,500 cash
DIY difficulty
5 / 5
Severity
Major
Costly to ignore — plan a fix within weeks
Affected
2011-2015
FB25
What goes wrong
Low-tension oil control rings score the cylinder walls and lose their seal. Oil migrates past the rings and gets burned, fouling plugs and triggering misfires.
Symptoms to watch for
- Oil level drops a quart every 1,000-1,500 miles with no leaks
- Bluish exhaust smoke at startup
- Plug fouling on cylinder #2 or #4
Root cause
Low-tension piston ring design intended to reduce friction for fuel economy.
In-article ad
Buy time with these
- • Switch to 5W-40 European-spec oil
- • Top off monthly
Permanent fix
- Short-block replacement with revised piston rings (covered under settlement)
FAQ
What causes fb25 excessive oil consumption?
Low-tension piston ring design intended to reduce friction for fuel economy.
How much does it cost to fix?
National average $0–$3,500. Free under class action if oil-consumption test fails; $3,500 cash
Is this a DIY repair?
Difficulty 5/5. Short-block replacement with revised piston rings (covered under settlement)
What are the symptoms?
Oil level drops a quart every 1,000-1,500 miles with no leaks; Bluish exhaust smoke at startup; Plug fouling on cylinder #2 or #4
Sources
- • Yaeger v. Subaru class action settlement