2017 Outback periodically blows large cloud of grey-dark grey smoke when started.

[Labradog13]

Purchased new. After talking with the mechanic, my impression is that this was my fault as the owners manual says to change the oil every 6 months or 6000 miles, whichever comes first. I'm retired, I don't put a lot of miles on the car so I was changing the oil every 6000 miles and it may have taken 9 or 10 months to get 6000 miles. Since these motors burn oil, my impression is the oil level may have been chronically low but not quite low enough to trigger a warning light. He said that the oil scraper ring was clogged with old, dirty oil. He also said that he is seeing this more frequently than in earlier generation cars and he thinks that the manufacturers may have changed the composition of the ring or the design. He didn't really specify if this is just a Subaru problem or it was happening with other cars. His recommendation was to top off the oil every 1000 miles and change the oil every 3000 miles. That's my new maintenance plan. I like the car, apart from this it's in good shape and I can't afford new one. Of course, I can't afford another engine rebuild either so I'm going to be very religious with topping at the oil and changing.