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2020 Subaru Crosstrek Burning Oil: Diagnosis & Fixes

By ClearTheCode · Published 2026-05-31 · ~7 min read

Is your 2020 Subaru Crosstrek burning oil excessively? Learn common causes, how to diagnose the issue, and find effective fixes to keep your engine healthy.

At a glance

Difficulty
6/10 — Easy to moderate
Est. repair cost
$100 – $800 (parts + typical shop labor)
OEM tooling
Standard OBD-II scanner and hand tools
Common symptoms
  • Rapid oil level drop: You find yourself adding a quart of oil every 1
  • 000 to 3
  • 000 miles
  • significantly more often than
  • Exhaust smoke: Blue or blue-gray smoke emanating from the tailpipe
  • which is distinct from white steam (water vapor) or

Experiencing a 2020 Subaru Crosstrek burning oil can be frustrating, leading to frequent top-ups and concerns about engine health. This guide addresses the common reasons why your Crosstrek might be consuming excessive oil and provides a clear path to diagnosis and repair, helping you understand what's happening under the hood.

What drivers notice on this 2020 Subaru Crosstrek

Drivers of a 2020 Subaru Crosstrek often first notice they're needing to add oil more frequently than expected, sometimes every few thousand miles or even sooner. This can manifest as:

  • Frequent oil top-ups: The dipstick consistently shows low oil levels, requiring you to add a quart or more between scheduled oil changes.
  • Low oil warning light: The oil pressure warning light may illuminate, especially during turns or braking, indicating critically low oil levels.
  • Blue-ish smoke from the exhaust: This is particularly noticeable during cold starts, hard acceleration, or after prolonged idling, signifying oil is being burned in the combustion chambers.
  • Burning oil smell: A distinct odor of burning oil may be present, especially after driving or when the vehicle is stopped at a light.
  • Engine noise: In severe cases, low oil levels can lead to increased engine noise, such as ticking or knocking, due to inadequate lubrication.

At a glance: difficulty, repair cost, and diagnostic workflow

  • Difficulty Rating: 6/10 — Easy to moderate
  • Common Symptoms: Rapid oil level drop: You find yourself adding a quart of oil every 1,000 to 3,000 miles, significantly more often than ; Exhaust smoke: Blue or blue-gray smoke emanating from the tailpipe, which is distinct from white steam (water vapor) or ; Oily residue on exhaust tip: A dark, sooty, and oily buildup around the inside of the exhaust pipe.; Spark plug fouling: Inspection of spark plugs reveals oil deposits, which can lead to misfires and reduced engine perfor
  • Estimated Repair Cost: $100–$800 (parts + typical shop labor)
  • OEM Tooling Required: Standard OBD-II scanner and hand tools

Diagnostic workflow:

  1. Confirm the symptom on your vehicle.
  2. Scan for stored or pending codes with an OBD-II tool.
  3. Inspect the most common causes in this guide (visual checks first).
  4. Run verification tests before replacing parts.
  5. Repair, clear codes, and verify on a test drive.

Symptoms and warning signs

If your 2020 Subaru Crosstrek is burning oil, you'll likely observe one or more of these tell-tale signs:

  • Rapid oil level drop: You find yourself adding a quart of oil every 1,000 to 3,000 miles, significantly more often than typical for a modern engine.
  • Exhaust smoke: Blue or blue-gray smoke emanating from the tailpipe, which is distinct from white steam (water vapor) or black smoke (rich fuel mixture).
  • Oily residue on exhaust tip: A dark, sooty, and oily buildup around the inside of the exhaust pipe.
  • Spark plug fouling: Inspection of spark plugs reveals oil deposits, which can lead to misfires and reduced engine performance.
  • Decreased fuel economy: While not always direct, severe oil consumption can sometimes be accompanied by a slight decrease in fuel efficiency.
  • Check Engine Light (CEL): Although less common for oil consumption itself, a CEL could illuminate due to fouled oxygen sensors or catalytic converter issues resulting from excessive oil burning. You can learn more about general OBD-II codes if this light appears.

How to verify and confirm the issue

Confirming excessive oil consumption on your 2020 Subaru Crosstrek involves a systematic approach:

  • Perform an oil consumption test: Top off your engine oil to the full mark. Drive for 1,000 miles under normal conditions, then recheck the oil level. Document how much oil (if any) you need to add to bring it back to full. Repeat this process to establish a consistent consumption rate. Subaru considers consumption of 1 quart per 1,000-1,200 miles as excessive.
  • Visual inspection for external leaks: Thoroughly inspect the engine bay, oil pan, valve covers, front and rear main seals, and oil filter housing for any signs of external oil leaks. Clean the engine and recheck after a short drive if necessary. Often, what seems like consumption is actually a leak.
  • Check the PCV (Positive Crankcase Ventilation) system: A malfunctioning PCV valve (stuck open or clogged) can contribute to oil consumption. Inspect the valve and its hoses for clogs or damage.
  • Compression test: This test measures the pressure within each cylinder, indicating the condition of piston rings and valves. Low compression in one or more cylinders can point to worn piston rings or valve issues.
  • Leak-down test: A more precise test than a compression test, it introduces compressed air into each cylinder and measures how much air escapes. You can listen for escaping air at the oil fill cap (piston rings), exhaust (exhaust valve), or throttle body (intake valve).
  • Endoscope inspection: Using a small camera (borescope) inserted into the spark plug holes can reveal oil residue on piston tops or valve stems, directly indicating internal oil burning.

What is different on this year and model

Subaru has a documented history of oil consumption issues in some of its Boxer engines, particularly in earlier model years. While the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek, equipped with either the 2.0L FB20D or 2.5L FB25D engine, benefits from design improvements, some owners still report excessive oil consumption. These engines use a low-tension piston ring design for reduced friction and improved fuel economy, which, in some cases, can contribute to oil passing by the rings and into the combustion chamber. It's less prevalent than in the 2011-2014 era engines, but it's not unheard of for a 2020 model to exhibit these symptoms.

Common causes (most likely first)

Understanding the common culprits behind a 2020 Subaru Crosstrek burning oil can help narrow down the diagnosis:

  • Worn piston rings: This is a primary suspect in many Subaru oil consumption cases. Piston rings seal the combustion chamber and scrape oil from the cylinder walls. If they are worn, stuck, or improperly seated, oil can enter the combustion chamber and burn.
  • Worn valve guides or valve stem seals: These components prevent oil from the cylinder head (which lubricates the valvetrain) from seeping down the valve stems into the combustion chamber. Over time, they can harden, crack, or wear out.
  • PCV (Positive Crankcase Ventilation) system issues: A clogged or stuck-open PCV valve can create excessive crankcase pressure or allow too much oil vapor to be drawn into the intake manifold, where it's burned.
  • External oil leaks (mistaken for consumption): While not true

This guide is not a substitute for OEM service procedures; use a qualified technician for safety-critical repairs.

Frequently asked questions

How urgent is this problem?

If symptoms are worsening or safety systems are affected, diagnose soon; minor issues can often wait for a scheduled service visit.

Can I drive with this issue?

Short trips may be acceptable for some faults, but stop driving if you notice overheating, loss of braking, steering problems, or strong fuel smells.

Do I need a dealer scan tool?

A basic OBD-II scanner helps confirm codes; some steps still need visual checks and meter tests described above.

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