Hey guys,

Just ran across this little bit of useful info regarding Subaru turbo motors.  Apparently there have been oil starvation issues with some turbos, especially if upgraded to higher output models.  I'll be checking mine - for sure, but think I've already replaced the offending part with an AN fitting?

http://www.boostplanet.com/subaruoilstarvation.htm

Jeff

My 2.2T didn't have a screen, so I'm all set...

Not surprising - that post is 3 years old.  As I recall, it had to do with a small OEM screen filter on the inlet to the turbocharger oil feed - or somewhere on that line, maybe at the engine block fitting?  Just check all your oil lines carefully, especially to the turbo.

I have also been told you oil feed a ball bearing turbo differently than a plain journal turbo.  Tom

WOW, what a great topic to find near the top after my prolonged absence. Hi everyone! I was surfing this very subject and something clicked in my brain, like, what's going on at subbug??? So I am looking for answers for my '05 Outback XT turbo problem and run right into Jeff's post regarding oil starvation. We recently bought the showroom condition '05 with 61K on it and was loving it big time when at about 67K the turbo let go after about 9 hours into a 14 hour trip. $2,250 later we have a brand new turbo from Subaru Parts and it all good. We never found a cause for the failure but I did find out by surfing that there were a lot of these VF-40's going bad. The main culprit seemed to be bearing failure due to loss of oil flow to the turbo, there are a couple of TSB's about replacing the screen in the banjo bolt to prevent the replacement turbo from failing also, but no real info on why the VF-40 is the one that seems to have the problem. Anyway, my mechanic did all the steps in the TSB, pulled the oil pan, flushed the motor oil, replaced the screen, and 4K miles later the new turbo starts going. Subaru Parts thinks the screen is plugged, but I'm very sure my guy followed the necessary steps and that isn't the cause. Thinking the VF-40 is a crappy failure prone turbo, I called Brian at BNR to talk to him about his Mitsubishi TD05 CHRA based hybrid turbo and during the discussion I mentioned using Mobile1 synthetic and he pounced on that immediately as the reason for the failure. It seems Mobile1 5W-30 is very low on zinc, like almost half the zinc as in some of the other oils out there. It makes sense to me as the first turbo failed around 4K after our first oil change which was probably the first time Mobile1 was put in it, and then the second one fails with 4K. Needless to say, I'm going to doing the work myself this time, I'm going to use the hybrid Mitsubishi TD05 CHRA turbo and avoid the VF-40 turbo like the plague, and lastly stay away from low zinc oils. Good seeing you guys. -Terry
Links from my surfing...
http://www.bnrsupercars.com/
http://store.forcedperformance.net/merchant2/graphics/subaru_oil/02-106-08.pdf
http://www.mobil.com/USA-English/MotorOil/Files/Mobil_1_Product_Guide.pdf

OK, I am confused and concerned.  We just changed Katlheen's Subi engine to Mobil1 after breaking it in on Dino oil the 1st year and using 1/2 & 1/2 Dino/ Synthetic after that.  Is the oil the problem or the oil screen (that we don't have)?  If it is the oil, can I add Zinc to Mobil 1 like regular oils to avoid the problem?  No hell has the fury of a woman with a blown turbo in the middle of car show season.  LOL  Thanks!  Tom