car using oil

2002 SUBARU OUTBACK
78,000 MILES • 4 CYL • AWD • AUTOMATIC
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STINKER26
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  • 1 POST
My 2002 subaru outback wagon 4cyl is using oil. There are no oil marks on the pavement where it is parked. There is a slight smell of oil when I walk by the front of the vehicle after turning it off. No visible oil on the engine block. When I checked the oil yesterday it did not register on the dip stick. I put 2 quarts in before it registered. No oil light came on. There is no smoke coming from exhaust or tail pipe. Any information would help. Would like to be informed when I take it in to get checked. Thank You, Tom A. Omaha
Jun 6, 2011 at 2:36 AM
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DANLESABRE
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Do you know if the engine oil is cooled by the radiator that cools the engine coolant?
Jun 6, 2011 at 3:55 AM
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KHLOW2008
  • ✓ASE Certified Mechanic
  • 41,814 POSTS
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
If there are no signs of leakages, the most common cause would be worn valve seals resulting in oil being burnt in the cylinders. If the burning is minimal, smoke would not be present all the time and the catalytic converter can reduce quite a lot of the smoke.

How long ago was the oil level checked?
Jun 6, 2011 at 1:12 PM
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