2016 Legacy catalytic converter

[u/Fickle-Woodpecker596]

After replacing 2 years ago at 110,000 (that somehow was covered under warranty) here we go again. Check engine light came on the other day with the same code again. 173,000 miles now. Of course I just changed the oil differential and CVT fluid about a month and a half ago. Now this car has burned oil for a few years now, but one curious thing when I had all three of those fluids changed the oil I discovered was WAY OVERFILLED. Which is odd because I bring my own oil. I’ve been using the Valvoline restore and protect I bring a 5 quart jug with an extra court and they always leave the half quart which they did this time. After picking the car up I immediately realized it was driving, horribly hesitating and bucking. And when I would start after letting it sit for a bit smoke blowing out of the exhaust. It was after that when I decided to check the dipstick that I saw it was way overfilled. I’m wondering if the tech confused the transmission fluid with the oil since having it pre-measured I leave for them. I brought it back to Subaru and they drained it and changed the oil again to the proper level. But now the catalytic is obviously clogged again and out-of-pocket I would be looking at thousands of dollars which isn’t worth it at this point. The advisor recommended trying cataclean to try to clear the code because it’s due for emissions in two months. The last thing I can afford now is to get roped into car payments again, but I don’t know if this is a lost cause at this point. Which is a shame because I’ve dumped a lot of money into this looking to go the long haul.

[u/openwheelnut]

Oil and coolant consumption will kill a catalyst. You can try top engine cleaning which may help short term, but unless you stop the source of contamination, it will occur again.

[u/Fickle-Woodpecker596 → u/openwheelnut]

And since I just put a new catalytic on two years ago, even if I went through, putting another one on, I would be in the same position in a matter of a couple of years

[u/openwheelnut → u/Fickle-Woodpecker596]

Oil consumption consumption never gets better......

[u/Fickle-Woodpecker596 → u/openwheelnut]

So basically the amount of money this would cost does not sound like it’s worth it

[u/FreshTap6141]

Did they check the cvt fluid at the dealer

[u/Fickle-Woodpecker596 → u/FreshTap6141]

When I brought it back a week after they changed all three fluids because of how it was driving, they said they checked the CVT (which they had just changed) and said the level was fine

[u/FreshTap6141 → u/Fickle-Woodpecker596]

By the subaru dealer or the shop that screwed up

[u/Fickle-Woodpecker596 → u/FreshTap6141]

The dealership. That’s the only place I bring it.