I got my first Subaru recently, a 2019 Forester. I really like it, but after driving about 45 miles, I’ve noticed a few things that don’t seem right.
The car feels really hot after driving. The coolant and oil temps look fine on the display, but when I park and walk around, I can feel the heat coming off it. I popped the hood once, and everything was really warm to the touch. It was low on coolant when I got it (about 2 inches below the min line), so I topped it off with Subaru Super Coolant. That seemed to help a little, but it still feels hotter than other cars I’ve had. I don’t think it should be losing coolant this fast unless there’s a leak… or am I overthinking this?
Gas mileage is bad… like 15 MPG bad. I live in a city with awful traffic, but I was expecting at least 19 MPG since I drive pretty gently. I keep the revs low, use auto start/stop, and it even says I’ve saved about a third of a gallon so far. Should I be worried?
The oil level is always above the high mark on the dipstick. No idea if that’s bad. The car currently has 5W-20 in it, even though I think the manual says 0W-20. Should I switch it next time?
It leaks some kind of liquid after using the AC. I tried not running the AC to see if it stops, but it’s way too hot outside. When I park, I can actually hear liquid dripping, and it leaves a decent-sized puddle.
Any ideas? I plan to take it to an independent Subaru shop next week, but in the meantime, is there anything I can check myself?
If your gauges say temps are fine, I wouldn’t stress too much. You’re right that coolant shouldn’t drop that fast. Make sure to check it when the engine is cold to get an accurate reading. If it keeps dropping, then yeah, I’d get it checked for leaks.
I get about 18-19 MPG in city traffic with my 2022. Have you reset your trip meter? It might still be averaging MPG from the previous owner. You can reset it by holding the trip reset button near your steering wheel.
A little overfilled oil isn’t a big deal. 5W-20 is okay, but 0W-20 is what Subaru recommends. Just switch it next time you change the oil.
Totally normal. The AC creates condensation, and it drains under the car near the transmission. Mine does this too, even when it’s not super hot outside. It freaked me out at first too, but it’s just water.
What exactly feels hot? Oil and coolant can hit 200°F pretty easily. If it’s hot outside, everything will feel even warmer. If you’re not seeing any warning lights and the fluid levels are steady, I wouldn’t worry.
> Gas mileage is bad… like 15 MPG bad.
City MPG is all over the place for Subarus. My old 2011 Legacy was rated for low 20s in the city, and I got around 25. A family member with the same car barely gets 15. It really depends on how much stop-and-go traffic you have.
> The oil level is always above the high mark on the dipstick.
If it’s just a little over, it’s fine. Too much oil can cause pressure issues and leaks, but if it’s barely above the line, don’t stress. 5W-20 is okay, but 0W-20 is what Subaru officially recommends.
> It leaks some kind of liquid after using the AC.
That’s just water from the AC. It’s completely normal. Look under the passenger side of the car, and you’ll probably see a little rubber hose where it’s dripping from. Bigger puddles can happen if it’s really hot and the AC is working hard.
Looking back, the only time it got really hot was when the coolant was low. I live in a hot area (18-32ºC most days), so maybe I was just overthinking it.
Stop-and-go traffic and hills probably explain the bad MPG.
It did leak some fluid the day the coolant was low, but not since then. Will keep an eye on it. Planning to switch to 0W-20 next oil change. The dealer here uses 5W-30, though, which is weird.
Makes sense. Just seemed like a lot more water than I was used to seeing from other cars.