Anyone know the specific Service Bulletin numbers? And what model years do the mentioned bulletins affect???

EDIT: might be bulletin number 02-145-13 that affects certain FB-series Subaru engines including certain FB20 and FB25 engines.

 

EDIT: might be bulletin number 02-145-13 that affects certain FB-series Subaru engines inluding but limited to FB20 and FB25 engines.

This means all XVs 2013 and 2014, right?

 

EDIT: might be bulletin number 02-145-13 that affects certain FB-series Subaru engines inluding but limited to FB20 and FB25 engines.

This means all XVs 2013 and 2014, right?

they didnt provide the actual bulletin, but after a quick search I came up with this http://techinfo.subaru.com/static/whatsNew.html If you look down to April 22nd 2014, you can see the item code 02-151-14 which is the problem, Revised Valve Train Parts to Reduce a Warm Engine Tapping Sound from the Left Cylinder Head. It is a fairly new issue, and I believe it covers both 2013-14 XVs since they both have the same motor.

 

so left side standing in front of the car looking at it , or left side sitting in the car?

 

so left side standing in front of the car looking at it , or left side sitting in the car?

DRIVER SIDE or PASSENGER SIDE?

 

Yes, thats what i would like to know?

 

Then of coarse drivers side depends on what country you are in too?

 

Cars right and left sides are set from inside the cabin. so......No matter where you are, he left side is always on your left when sitting in the car and facing forward. That said the right is your right.

 

What constitutes "bad MPGs"? I have a 2013 XV Limited. I'm getting about 30 mpg. I haven't heard about this problem. Guess I'll have to listen to the engine. Although my car is a year old, I only have 3000 miles on it. Is that too little to reveal the tapping?

 

My 2013 has seen a drop in MPG lately -- I am only getting about 22.5 according to the digital readout (I haven't hand-calculated in a while but it's probably even less). I haven't noticed any kind of odd noises or ticking, but I wonder if this bulletin may still apply to me? I'll call my dealer and see what they think.

Thanks for this, by the way. I am going to make it a sticky.

 

My 2013 has seen a drop in MPG lately -- I am only getting about 22.5 according to the digital readout (I haven't hand-calculated in a while but it's probably even less). I haven't noticed any kind of odd noises or ticking, but I wonder if this bulletin may still apply to me? I'll call my dealer and see what they think.

Thanks for this, by the way. I am going to make it a sticky.

What does that have to do with engine ticking? As far as only getting about 22.5 MPG, you probably got a tank of low octane or a higher % of gasohol.

Because if you read Geronomo's original post he mentions that this issue with the engine ticking may be causing a drop in MPG, too. As for gas, I basically use the same station every fill up because it's next to my work, and the lower MPG has been consistent over multiple tanks of gas.

 

What constitutes "bad MPGs"? I have a 2013 XV Limited. I'm getting about 30 mpg. I haven't heard about this problem. Guess I'll have to listen to the engine. Although my car is a year old, I only have 3000 miles on it. Is that too little to reveal the tapping?

Your engine hasnt broken in fully yet so I dont think you would begin to notice, however thats not ruling out the possibility. Just listen when the car is up to temperature, its pretty noticeable.

 

So has anyone else been successful with having their dealer correct this problem? Is it mandatory that they fix it since it's not a recall? What should I do?

 

My 2013 has seen a drop in MPG lately -- I am only getting about 22.5 according to the digital readout (I haven't hand-calculated in a while but it's probably even less). I haven't noticed any kind of odd noises or ticking, but I wonder if this bulletin may still apply to me? I'll call my dealer and see what they think.

Thanks for this, by the way. I am going to make it a sticky.

I managed to pull of 25 the other day on a trip but my typical is about 18. I can get that in my 330 HP Trans Am. I don't hear a ticking sound but I usually turn up the crappy radio. I also haven't driven it in a week.

 

I managed to pull of 25 the other day on a trip but my typical is about 18. I can get that in my 330 HP Trans Am. I don't hear a ticking sound but I usually turn up the crappy radio. I also haven't driven it in a week.

I agree about the crappy radio (not to mention the noisy tires), but I've been getting about 29-30 mpg commuting to Manhattan.

 

My 2013 has seen a drop in MPG lately -- I am only getting about 22.5 according to the digital readout (I haven't hand-calculated in a while but it's probably even less). I haven't noticed any kind of odd noises or ticking, but I wonder if this bulletin may still apply to me? I'll call my dealer and see what they think.

Thanks for this, by the way. I am going to make it a sticky.

I managed to pull of 25 the other day on a trip but my typical is about 18. I can get that in my 330 HP Trans Am. I don't hear a ticking sound but I usually turn up the crappy radio. I also haven't driven it in a week.

18 is awful! I am no light-foot on the gas at all and I haven't managed to dip that low, but it isn't that hilly in Los Angeles. I think I may take mine in and have them check it all out and ask them about the service bulletin just to hear what they say.

 

I called my service manager this morning at Bill Kolb Jr Subaru in Orangeburg, NY. He said a bulletin is just that - kind of a heads up, not a recall. Your car has to have the required symptoms for them to act on it - bad milage, tapping, excess oil, etc. So he said just to keep an eye out and let them know if any of the symptoms arise. FYI.

 

I called my service manager this morning at Bill Kolb Jr Subaru in Orangeburg, NY. He said a bulletin is just that - kind of a heads up, not a recall. Your car has to have the required symptoms for them to act on it - bad milage, tapping, excess oil, etc. So he said just to keep an eye out and let them know if any of the symptoms arise. FYI.

Cool, thanks for calling. I was driving back from a hike in the mountains the other day (about 1 hour drive) and I thought I did hear a tapping coming from underneath the steering column area. It wasn't constant, it would come in and out in waves every 5 seconds or so. However, I only noticed it for about 10 minutes and then I either drowned it out in my head or it went away. I'll keep listening for it.

 

My 2013 has seen a drop in MPG lately -- I am only getting about 22.5 according to the digital readout (I haven't hand-calculated in a while but it's probably even less). I haven't noticed any kind of odd noises or ticking, but I wonder if this bulletin may still apply to me? I'll call my dealer and see what they think.

Thanks for this, by the way. I am going to make it a sticky.

I managed to pull of 25 the other day on a trip but my typical is about 18. I can get that in my 330 HP Trans Am. I don't hear a ticking sound but I usually turn up the crappy radio. I also haven't driven it in a week.

18 is awful! I am no light-foot on the gas at all and I haven't managed to dip that low, but it isn't that hilly in Los Angeles. I think I may take mine in and have them check it all out and ask them about the service bulletin just to hear what they say.

I drive 3 miles to work and that includes the time in the parking ramp. I know that short distance doesn't help but 18 is really bad. It makes me miss my Prius. I spent more money to feed my dog ($50 a month) than I did my Prius.

I'm pretty certain that in the next year I'll trade it for a pickup anyway but that I'll reserve for another thread some day.

 

Three miles to work is barely enough time for your coolant to get hot let alone to proper operating temperature of approx 200F. I bet it never gets above 145F. Your oil never reaches operating temps since it takes about three time longer to get there. Everyone needs to remember that the mpg rating for the XV (or any other vehicle for that matter) is at proper operating temps.

There's a gal where I work who has a new Impreza; she bought it in November 2013. As of right now, it only has 600 miles on it and she drives it every day. She takes the Max into work so she drives the 7/10 of a mile from her home to the Mac station. She also questioned why she wasn't getting good mpg (she's only filled it twice....). I patiently explained to her that she really needs to take t out on the freeway once a week for 30 miles (at freeway speeds) so it gets to proper operating temps to cook off the moisture in the oil. Even then, I recommended she change the oil at least once every 6 months regardless of the mileage.

 

Three miles to work is barely enough time for your coolant to get hot let alone to proper operating temperature of approx 200F. I bet it never gets above 145F. Your oil never reaches operating temps since it takes about three time longer to get there. Everyone needs to remember that the mpg rating for the XV (or any other vehicle for that matter) is at proper operating temps.

There's a gal where I work who has a new Impreza; she bought it in November 2013. As of right now, it only has 600 miles on it and she drives it every day. She takes the Max into work so she drives the 7/10 of a mile from her home to the Mac station. She also questioned why she wasn't getting good mpg (she's only filled it twice....). I patiently explained to her that she really needs to take t out on the freeway once a week for 30 miles (at freeway speeds) so it gets to proper operating temps to cook off the moisture in the oil. Even then, I recommended she change the oil at least once every 6 months regardless of the mileage.

I understand all of that but when I can get 16-18 in my trans am doing the same 3 mile trip, it seems ludicrous that the XV can't do a little better. Yeah the V8 warms faster but still.....

 

I have had my XV for about 2-months and have 2,000 miles on her. I average 32 mpg which is mostly highway miles. We recently went on an 800 mile trek where we used our roof carrier where we averaged 29 mpg. So far no ticking noise, Ill keep my fingers crossed. My question is break in procedures. My salesman told me straight up that the XV did not require any type of break in and I could hit the freeways running. I see a lot of posts talking about break in periods. So what is it?

 

I have had my XV for about 2-months and have 2,000 miles on her. I average 32 mpg which is mostly highway miles. We recently went on an 800 mile trek where we used our roof carrier where we averaged 29 mpg. So far no ticking noise, Ill keep my fingers crossed. My question is break in procedures. My salesman told me straight up that the XV did not require any type of break in and I could hit the freeways running. I see a lot of posts talking about break in periods. So what is it?

Your salesperson outright lied in your face. The owner's manual indicates a 1000 mile break-in period, and indicates to keep the revs below 4000RPM and avoid heavy acceleration and extended periods of cruising at the same speed.

 

Your salesperson outright lied in your face. The owner's manual indicates a 1000 mile break-in period, and indicates to keep the revs below 4000RPM and avoid heavy acceleration and extended periods of cruising at the same speed.

What is this world coming to when you can't trust a car dealership?

 

Thanks for the responses. So it got me thinking and I called the dealership. I spoke to the service department and I asked them about the break in procedure and what the salesman told me. The technician agreed and assured me that as long as you don't go out and "race it" or go a 100 mph your fine. He said freeway speeds were ok. He stated that because the Crosstrek does not have a "turbo application" the break in procedures are not necessary. I can't imagine way or what the reason for lying about it would accomplish unless its a conspiracy to get my car in for service.