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Oil leak at turbo

7520 Views 12 Replies 9 Participants Last post by  Robert.Mauro
I received my Ascent about 10 days ago. Friday, the check engine light came on (at about 350 miles total) and stayed on almost the entire day (it turned itself off during the last 10 minutes of my drive home). I called the service department and they said to bring it in the next day, so I did that yesterday. The code that was recorded was "oil leak to the turbo compartment" or something similar to that. He couldn't find any actual leak or any other problem and they took it for a drive and it was acting fine, so he kind of shrugged his shoulders and said to bring it back in if it happens again.

Could this be similar to the folks who had missing screws in some part of their turbos? I planned to print that thread off and take it back in tomorrow to ask him. Any advice would be helpful - I am taking it across the state next weekend with my kids and this has got me kind of nervous about doing that.
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Was there excessive smoke? Mine had a very scary episode of excessive smoke at less than 1 week old, upon starting last week.
Was there excessive smoke? Mine had a very scary episode of excessive smoke at less than 1 week old, upon starting last week.
No, I didn't notice anything except all the lights were on and Eyesight was off. The service guy said that since the check engine light wasn't blinking, and I didn't notice anything strange while driving it, that I could keep driving it.
I think ES will disable itself anytime there's a CEL illuminated anyway, same with cruise control - you can't use it if there's a CEL, I believe.
I think ES will disable itself anytime there's a CEL illuminated anyway, same with cruise control - you can't use it if there's a CEL, I believe.
Yes, I think that’s correct.
I think ES will disable itself anytime there's a CEL illuminated anyway, same with cruise control - you can't use it if there's a CEL, I believe.
Yep. The worst offender is the "missing gas cap". I think that first year the Outback really started getting Eyesight (not just in the old SAPP, but actually in the premiums and limited, so fall of '14 on the '15 model) I must've had two dozen or more customers call in to service thinking they'd broken their cars. I finally ended up changing the way we do our delivery process because apparently it's NOT common sense that you turn your gas cap until you hear it click, so we tell EVERYONE know to do so - otherwise your dash will end up resembling a Christmas tree with all the red lights on and you'll be coming in to see our guys to reset the code.
Yep. The worst offender is the "missing gas cap".

apparently it's NOT common sense that you turn your gas cap until you hear it click, so we tell EVERYONE know to do so - otherwise your dash will end up resembling a Christmas tree with all the red lights on and you'll be coming in to see our guys to reset the code.
Carl, I will tell you I bought a used 2006 OBXT with 65Kmiles at the end of 2012. I had it not 3 days and 200 miles when I got a bunch of dash lights. I called my salesman, he assured me it was something simple like the gas cap and to drive to the dealer (about 15 miles). The car made it about 5 before the motor grenaded.

Luckily, FrankenWagon still lives.

The sad stories of the XT. I would still caution folks regarding CELs on a boosted car. I know the 2.0DIT has proven itself very reliable...But in 5 years, things might be different. The biggest tell tale with any CEL is how the car is behaving. If it's acting normal, you are probably OK to drive to the dealer. If it's coding and shaking, shut it off and call a tow.
Yeah, the first thing I tried was tightening the gas cap. I am actually kind of neurotic abou that, anyway, because when I lived in CO my Toyota Matrix acted up a few times because of that...I got in the habit of turning the cap till it clicked multiple times. In this case, it didn’t fix the problem (though like I said, I don’t know what did, because the lights went off by themselves).
An OBD code for an oil leak makes no sense.
I went in today for my 2 week check in with the tech guy and while I was there stopped at the service department to ask whether missing turbo bolts could have generated the error code with my Ascent. He said that they actually ordered a turbo actuator for my car and I would receive an automated call from Subaru when it was in.

They didn't say anything to me about ordering any parts when I had it in there on Saturday, and I don't know anything about mechanics so I have no idea what a turbo actuator even is. Is it strange that now they're ordering a replacement part but didn't tell me about it on Saturday?
check the pan under engine

I just mentioned on another thread, that the pan under the engine can hold ALOT of fluid.


Therefore a technician may smell something, see alarm, and shrug shoulders and add fluid.


If you have issue again ask them remove pan while they troubleshoot, as it may help them quickly realize that there is a major leak
Hey guys. My Ascent has a rather large oil leak. Unknown of where it’s coming from. Getting it checked out tomorrow morning. Any one had any other oil leaks? Got mine last week. Have put about 700 miles on it so far.
Hey guys. My Ascent has a rather large oil leak. Unknown of where it’s coming from. Getting it checked out tomorrow morning. Any one had any other oil leaks? Got mine last week. Have put about 700 miles on it so far.
9,473 miles, including beach, off-road and towing. No oil leak here. Definitely have it checked out.
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