[torquemada]

please explain this

Caring for Subaru Turbocharged Engines

Protect your turbocharged Subaru vehicle with these recommended basic operation and maintenance guidelines.

New Subaru vehicles are thoroughly checked for quality and craftsmanship. Safety, performance, and dependability are given top priority in their designs, making them easy to operate and maintain.

The following information updates factory recommendations for the care and maintenance of new Subaru turbocharged vehicles.

The Turbocharger

The turbocharger, commonly called a “turbo,” is operated by the energy contained in the exhaust gas. The exhaust gas spins a turbine inside the turbocharger at an extremely high speed (more than 100,000 rpm). That compresses the air/fuel mixture in the cylinders, which creates higher power output.

Because of the turbine’s rotation speed and the high temperature of the exhaust gas driving the turbo, proper cooling is needed to maintain its durability. Engine oil plays a major role in lubricating and cooling the turbo, so following recommended oil change guidelines is important.

Engine Oil and Oil Filter

Proper lubrication of the turbocharger requires high-quality engine oil. Some do not provide enough lubrication performance or durability when used in turbocharged engines. Using poor-quality oil or oil not designed for turbo engines may cause damage to the turbocharger and other engine components. Consequently, it is critical to follow Subaru vehicle owner’s and service manuals for recommended oil grade and viscosity.

A second key component of the lubrication system is the oil filter. The Subaru Genuine Oil Filter, available at your Subaru dealer, is the only filter that Subaru has tested to meet requirements for filtration and flow. Aftermarket oil filters may have different filtration performance and relief-valve opening pressure, which could affect filter and engine performance. Subaru Genuine Oil Filters help ensure optimum engine and turbocharger performance.

Engine Oil and Oil Filter Replacement Interval

Due to heat generated by the turbocharger and carbon deposits contained in exhaust gas, the oil in a turbocharged engine will deteriorate faster than the oil in a naturally aspirated engine. Therefore, special care should be taken to use proper grade oil and to monitor oil deterioration.

Under normal driving conditions, the recommended oil and oil filter change interval for turbo vehicles is every 3,750 miles or four months, whichever comes first. However, for vehicles driven in conditions beyond normal, such as racing conditions, the oil and oil filter may require more frequent changing.

Racing-Type Driving

Racing-type engine stress doesn’t only occur on the track. Racing-type driving occurs when the drivetrain, suspension, and other vehicle components are used at near peak capacity. Any driving where the engine speed is kept high – either by using lower gears at higher speeds or using engine braking – is considered racing-type driving.

Important: A “track day” or autocross event requires an oil and oil filter change immediately before and immediately after the event. Make sure to check other engine fluid levels as well.

Engine Oil Level

Check the oil dipstick periodically to make sure the oil level is within proper range in order to keep the turbocharger properly lubricated and cooled. More frequent level checks are necessary especially when utilizing engine braking, because this increases the engine’s demand for lubrication.

Important: Allowing the engine oil level to drop by more than one quart may cause oil starvation, oil pump cavitation, and bearing damage. Over time, this cumulative damage will cause turbocharger and engine failure.

Oil Changes

Carbon deposits produced by a turbocharged engine can accumulate at the bottom of the oil pan. When changing the oil, always drain the oil through the oil drain plug hole on the oil pan.

A vacuum draining device could leave carbon deposits at the bottom of the oil pan and potentially contaminate the new oil.

Fuel Requirements

Turbocharged Subaru engines are designed to operate on premium unleaded (91-octane AKI or higher) gasoline. This is essential for maximizing performance and is required to prevent possible engine damage.

Driving Tips

1. Do not rev the engine or accelerate past half throttle immediately after start-up. Oil requires time to heat up for full flow, and high-rpm driving with a cold engine can damage the turbocharger.
2. After highway driving or high-load driving, Subaru recommends allowing the engine to cool by idling for at least 30 seconds before shutting off.

Modifications

Engine modifications such as, but not limited to, adding a boost pressure controller, using a non-genuine aftermarket air intake or exhaust system, changing the air bypass valve, “chipping,” etc., may negatively affect the warranty. Your Subaru dealer offers a line of Subaru Performance Tuning parts, which are designed and tested to Subaru standards and do not void the warranty.

Years of Driving

With proper care as outlined above and in your owner’s and service manuals, Subaru vehicles will provide owners many years of driving enjoyment.

and this

YouTube - Willow Springs Test Session

...discuss...

[ccc187307]

What is the point being made?

[RC311]

I think the oil being changed before and after a track day or Autocross event is a little over kill, I'll change my engine oil sooner after an event but not before and then right after, there is no point. Unless someone has proof it needs to be done. 2nd if you run your engine hard you should let it idle for 30 seconds before you shut it off, this lets the fluids run to the turbo and cool it down to prevent damage to the internals. Those are my thoughts.

[upncummr]

I suppose torquemada might be pointing out the dichotomy between - (A) the tender care and attention that Subaru says the car requires, and (B) the relentless flogging that Subaru street cars are being given by the two test drivers.

It's interesting to me that the video:

1. is labeled as "test drives".
2. contains disclaimers "for external use" at the end.
3. obviously uses street cars as opposed to track-prepped race cars (e.g. no cages, full interiors, street tires, full exhausts, etc.)
4. has footage that is obviously filmed "on track" or on a surface that could be used for auto-cross.

Gives me the impression that Subaru feels this is an acceptable environment in which these cars could be used.

Gary

[seta311]

It's a CYA- for covering your ass.

[torquemada]

Originally Posted by upncummr

I suppose torquemada might be pointing out the dichotomy between - (A) the tender car and attention that Subaru says the car requires, and (B) the relentless flogging that Subaru street cars are being given by the two test drivers.

It's interesting to me that the video:

1. is labeled as "test drives".
2. contains disclaimers "for external use" at the end.
3. obviously uses street cars as opposed to track-prepped race cars (e.g. no cages, full interiors, street tires, full exhausts, etc.)
4. has footage that is obviously filmed "on track" or on a surface that could be used for auto-cross.

Gives me the impression that Subaru feels this is an acceptable environment in which these cars could be used.

Gary

+1

does the video show "normal use" or warranty-denying "abuse"

showing this vid (if it is from SOA) and then deny any warranty because of "tracking the car" is ridiculous

[ccc187307]

Originally Posted by torquemada

+1

does the video show "normal use" or warranty-denying "abuse"

showing this vid (if it is from SOA) and then deny any warranty because of "tracking the car" is ridiculous

It is a consumer level product however beating the crap out of something is always an option. It should be considered how you might feel if you were running this company. How do you draw those lines to satisfy the most amount of people and still remain profitable and strong. Would you rather they play it safe and make nothing but outbacks which will not be driven aggresively?

How often is Subaru played by people who do idiotic stuff to the cars, strip all the mods off after it blows and hope they dont catch it. They are playing that game constantly. Put yourself in their shoes before deciding if every warranty deny is another customer getting shafted. Subaru is seriously disadvantaged because of people trying to fool them.

You put a snail on twice the size of your head and it's their fault something popped? C'mon!