Which oil is best?

[Shamrock83]

Firt time subaru owner here. I have a 2010 Subaru Legacy Premium (yes, I have the CVT...don't hate me!).

 

My question is: is there any preferred oil for subaru legacy's? I would like to get synthetic oil, is this recommended? If so what oil is recommended (penzzoil, mobil 1, etc)? Finally, would I be able to go 7-7500 mile oil change intervals with a synthetic? MY book maint schedule says every 7500 but I would not go that long without a synthetic oil. Thanks a bunch.

 

JSS

[bluesuby]

I think someone's head is about to explode....

[Subadozer]

Firt time subaru owner here. I have a 2010 Subaru Legacy Premium (yes, I have the CVT...don't hate me!).

 

My question is: is there any preferred oil for subaru legacy's? JSS

 

I haven't been around here very long but the first thing you want to do (after reading the thread for new members) is use the search feature. It takes a bit of time for some topics but pretty much everything you asked about has been discussed from both sides and extensively. From all that I read there's no definitive answer so you really need to gather as much info as you can and then make your own decision. Remember, 'Search' is your friend.

[HDTurbo]

Don't use 'baby' oil. I always wondered what the origin of 'baby oil' is...aren't they inherently 'droppable enough, without the added lubrication? And are there presses to generate such a product? Just seem wrong all around.

 

If you don't have time to read all the opinions about motor oil, just change it (and the filter) at the manufacturer's recommended intervals (or sooner) using the manufacturer's recommended oil specifications. Otherwise, there are variables to consider...who has the time?

[PoisonousBeef]

This is like asking which beer is best.

 

There is an entire website dedicated to debating the question you asked. In short, there is no officially "recommended" oil. There is not necessarily any "best" oil and pretty much everyone has an anecdotal opinion that you should take with a grain of salt. Search this forum for threads on oil, visit bobistheoilguy.com and decide for yourself.

 

While it is widely (though I won't say universally) accepted that most synthetics are better than dino oil, there are people who will debate it. If you don't want to spend days reading about used oil analysis, data on base stocks and additive packages, just choose your favorite brand and follow the oil change intervals in your manual.

[BAC5.2]

The best oil is the one that you have good luck with.

 

I use Motul.

[executor485]

I had a FS thread on some used Spec B oil... Best thing in the world for any car.

 

But on a serious note, this is a HIGHLY controversial topic. Not saying this to be rude, but more for your information, use the search and read all the debates people have. There is not one all knowing oil, which is basically the summary of all the threads. :S

[Max Capacity]

I use whatever is the cheapest oil that meets Subaru's standards, which is just about any oil on the market.

 

I have 129,000+ miles and now oil issues.

 

Just change it and the filter on a regular basis. If you drive it hard...yea, right with CVT, then change it sooner. I have gone 5500 miles during the winter and 3000-3500 during the summer.

 

Just use your head, it's not rocket science.

[naimouasta]

so now you have oil issues?!? LOL typo...i hope.

[Subadozer]

There's been some new activity on one of the older oil threads:

http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php/rotella-t-5w40-run-sti-oil-analysis-bitog-105302.html?p=3034401#post3034401

Some well reasoned thoughts have been added so even if you don't want to read the whole thread, which actually I found to be quite informative when I was mulling the topic, the recent discussion may prove helpful to the OP.

[Gire]

Castrol.

 

I use their "Syntec" line. Go synthetic if you want, but it doesn't do anything magical to the car, to me it just makes the oil changes more expensive and further apart.

[Malt Beverage]

[bluesubie]

N/A Subarus are very easy on oil. You should be able to go 7,500 miles on any synthetic, IMO. Although, I would probably so a used oil analysis at 6,000 miles just to see how it's holding up.

 

The proper oil grade is probably more important than brand. For example, using 5W-30 while towing in the desert is not the proper grade. Turbo and N/A Subes do really well on 5W-40's, based on used oil analyes that I've seen.

 

-Dennis

[f1anatic]

Mobil 1 SuperSyn. For the past 78,000 miles. Every 3000 miles. No exceptions. No compromise. I thrive on using evil products !

[m sprank]

Cod liver oil.

 

But according to Rao no oil is best.

[rao]

That is true. There doesn't seem to be a consensus on any one type of oil and it is too important of a decision not to have certainty.

[jjwink]

The manual for my 2010 LGT says to use 5W30 as the standard thing, BUT for constant hot conditions and heavy use it actually lists: SAE 30, SAE 40, 10W40....

 

SAE 30??? Not even multi-vicosity?

 

I think for break in, all things being super tight I will do 1 change at 5w30 and maybe run that winter time, but am trying to decide what to run in summer, thinking 10w30?

[bluesubie]

The manual for my 2010 LGT says to use 5W30 as the standard thing, BUT for constant hot conditions and heavy use it actually lists: SAE 30, SAE 40, 10W40....

 

SAE 30??? Not even multi-vicosity?

 

I think for break in, all things being super tight I will do 1 change at 5w30 and maybe run that winter time, but am trying to decide what to run in summer, thinking 10w30?

 

The oil recommendation chart in the owner's manual hasn't changed much since the early 90's. My '04 FXT is the same as my '97 Outback Sport was.

 

5W-30 and 10W-30 are both 30 grades at operating temps. and some 5W-30's are actually thicker than 10W-30's. What you could gain from a 10W-30 though is that is a better base oil and that will have less viscosity index improvers and may hold up better than a 5W-30.

 

Note that the manual says that 5W-30 is preferred for fuel economy.

 

-Dennis

[jjwink]

I'll look later, I don't think the words "for fuel economy" actually appear in the manual, I could be mistaken.

 

I do remember reading (it may have been from the Bobistheoilguy) that the further they stretch the oil's ability the worse it was for it's longevity. Sometime about molecular strands, something something something. That's why I was thinking 10w30 in hotter weather, but it seems as though reading here people run anything up to 20w50 which sounds REALLY high to me.

 

My first car was a 1976 Olds 98 with the 455 v8 engine. I ran 10w40 in that and it was perfectly happy, burned no oil and no extra clicking. But if I ran thinner, I would tend to consume a slight bit. But with that we are talking about a cast steel block and probably all steel internals built to 1976 engine tolerances. I'm thinkinging newer engines around wound a little tigher, so going too think makes me nervous when it comes to flow. I knew a few people back then with same era Chevy 350s, all with leaky valve guides on the back two cylinders. Later on, the common assumption of the cause of that was running too thick of oil and so having issues with lubrication delivery and sludge buildup settling around the guides.

 

I ramble. I will ramp up my summer oil next summer but will do so cautiously. I all for max lubrication, but am nervous about going too thick.

[Subadozer]

I'll look later, I don't think the words "for fuel economy" actually appear in the manual, I could be mistaken.

 

It may not be mentioned specifically in those words but I think the oil standard for my '05 includes fuel efficiency as part of the rating. I think it was in the Rotella thread that this came up in regard to using their T6, which is 5w-40. A comment was made to the effect that performance car drivers are often not primarily concerned about fuel economy.

[boymk123]

this will never end, isn't it

 

 

[AZZMAN]

+1 but every 5k miles.

 

Mobil 1 SuperSyn. For the past 78,000 miles. Every 3000 miles. No exceptions. No compromise. I thrive on using evil products !