I ask this because i have booked my Legacy turbo with a recommended Garage. I told them that I was currently using Millers 10W60 Fully Synthetic and after advice from 'Pavlo' I wanted to change it. I mentioned that I had been recommended a differeent grade more like 10W50. The guy I spoke to at this garage stated that I should not be using 'Fully Synthetic' at all rather it should be 'Semi synthetic' and they will provide everything I needed for the oil change (Subaru filter) and 10W30 oil due to the fact that with my old (banger) engine and the wear it will need 10W30.

I am slightly confused and worried...I have been told 10W60 in the past...'Pavlo' put me right on that (To use 10W50 or similar 'Fully Synthetic') now I am being told 10W30 'Semi synthetic'. There is also another problem I have booked it in with this Garage for next Saturday so I need an answer pretty sharpish please. The guys at the Garage are top, they are recommended here on 'Scoobynet' and I have had excellent service from them in the past. I just need to be put right reagrding this once and for all. I CANNOT AFFORD AN ENGINE REBUILD!!!

Please help!!!

 

I was reccomended castrol magnatec 10w 40 from auto sportif ,who also commented on using a semi synthetic oil.

Graham Goode recomended Mobil 1 15w 50.

Not sure what grade the main dealer reccomended but it was Shell Helix.

Since joining SN,Ive seen alot of varied opinions so not sure,but most consern on this subject seems to be related to avoiding engine failure.

Would be nice to put up a sticky thread with a list of reccomended oils,so that this question dosent keep getting repeated.

Help somebody.

 

People who I respect on here generally advise using a 10/60 or 15/50 fully synthetic by manufacturers such as Castrol, Mobil, Silkolene or Motul....can't see why you'd want less protection than any of these offer if you're bothered about the car. Arguably an older engine will want more protection in deference to the mileage it's covered. Magnetec is out of the question as it is known to be unable to cope with the temps a scoob engine will present it with. Stuff like Mobil 1 0/40 etc is too thin. It's said on here that Helix is a good oil for running in up to 5-10k, but should be followed by a permanent change to one of the four ( or similar ) mentioned at the start.

 

What about the mention of using 10W30 by this garage then...and saying fully synthetic for a car my cars age is not suitable? Its a J-reg 1992 with over 100,000 miles on the clock!!!

 

I'd think it would want a thicker oil to help stop it getting past the worn piston rings, valve stems etc.?

Synthetic is more stable and longer lasting than semi synthetic, so fully synth can take more wear.
UNLESS they meant the lower spec oil had more additives to mop up the fumes etc. that may pass into the oil from the engine as it is more worn ? In that case they may be right??

Personally, 10 / 50 or 10/60 viscosity of good quality fully synthetic oil is what I would go for, I do in my 78000 JDM modded wagon. Castrol RS or Mobil 1 motorsport 10/ something is usual.

 

Thanks for the advice...

 

My 149,000mile Impreza Turbo loves Motul Competion 300v 15W50..
I won't use anything else.. previously tried wee wee, I mean Mobil 1 15W50..
Car is no longer standard either.. no problems since changing to Motul.. tappets are quieter too..

www.camskill.com or Demon Tweaks sell it

Simon

 

Simon whats the score about the 10W30 they are mentioning and saying that I should not use fully synthetic? Motul is good but well expensive. What about Shell Helix Semi synthetic. People have recommended that in the past?

 

Simon

If I order Motul from camskill it will cost £53 (Postage as well). I need more than 4 litres don't I? Will it be worth it...I mean compared to other oils is it much better?

 

10w30....... semi!!! - maybe they have loads in stock and want to get rid of it - not recommended at all

Re Castrol Magnetec - that stuff is sludge (and would be an appalling recommendation) - Mobil 15/50 is better but the best 3 oils are:

Castrol 10/60, Motul 15/50 and Silkolene 15/50..

Re cost - Motul is about £10 a litre from Demon Tweeks - you need circa 4.7 litres - although this can vary............ sometimes there are group buys on Motul - as its regarded as one of the best oils for Scoob engines

 

AS Performance do a 4ltr + 2ltr of Motul (so enough for top up) for £40, can't remember but it may even be free postage aswell. 0191 4103770

 

using 10w40 semisyntc on MY98
70.000 miles
no engine rebuild yet

if you r rallying with your car ok go with full syntc

 

Aaquil, care to share with us the name of the 'recommended garage'?
SoNICa, fully synthetic provides better protection, full stop, you don't have to go rallying to benefit from it....look back at previous threads for explanations as to how and why, there are more clued up types on here than me all saying the same thing!

 

I don't know if I should...you know. It may just be a mistake on their part and otherwise their service and help has been very good.

 

I don't want to give people the wrong idea about a garage that may be total unjustified. So guys is MOTUL the best bet...If I am going to them next weekend should I just take them the MOTUL and ask them to use that?

 

I've read them all And I did not mean that semi-syntcs have better protection than full-syntcs. It is not necassary or waste of money for my driving style.

 

Yeah, they should be happy to use what you bring. They lose the profit margin off the oil, but your risk then if it blows !!

Fully synth and one of the top oils reccommended is the way to go.

 

Just go for the Motul

Dont risk inferior crap and definately not Semi-Synthetic in a Turbo, I'm saddened that people can eithen think of using Semi in a Turbo scoob - unless the owners car is a Sport or the owner is unaware - in which case my humble apologies

Its been documented on this thread and many others:

1. Do not 'ever' use Semi synthetic
2. Dont use thin oil - i.e. 0/30, 0/40, 5/30, 5/40 - although some 'informed' people think this is ok they are woefully misrepresenting the inteliigent community
3. Do not under any circumstances use sludge like Magnetec - Urrrrhhhhhh

 

motul 300v for me as well

 

thinnest I would use is 10/40, but only a proper fully synth, so no Mobil one.

Proper fully synths (as apposed to those using specially refined mineral oils as a base) include:

Motul 300v 15/50 competition
Silkolene Pro-R and Pro-S (different weights on each)
Amsoil Fully synth range
Redline Fully synth range
Castrol RS10/60w

Others such as SHell Helix ultra are proper fully synthetic but use a lower quality base. The high quality poly elfelin (I think that's them) bases give improved bearing strength, high temp stability and can live with fuel pollution much better than their "mineral synthetic" cousins, although both use the same friction modifiers, hence the synthetic tag.

I have found the Redline 10/40 to be quite good on my engine, considering it's only a 40w oil, Shell helix ultra was also good, and retained it's viscosity well.

For 300hp and above I would normally go with a 15/50w or 10/60 oil.

5/30 oil is is okay on lower stressed engines, and improves fuel consumption etc. Neither of which are really applicable to modified subaru engines.

Paul

 

Aaquil

I think Pavlo has answered your question............

 

You guys are top...I really appreciate all the responses.

 

Listen apparently my Leggy needs over 5 litres of oil and even with a discount at one place I was looking at just under £50 for 'Motul'. Tax man is coming and £50 at the moment is a bit steep especially since I had an oil change less tha 3000 miles ago. My worry was the 'tappet noise' recently getting worse but it seems to have settled down a bit.

 

Leggy doesn't need more than 5l of oil, it's 4.5 to the midway point, about 4.8 to full.

Paul

 

Thanks for that info Paul it is much appreciated.

 

the best two oils to go for mate are

castrol rs 10w60
and
motul15w50

these are the best

these are recomended by the best techie people on here ie bob rawle etc and they know there stuff.I know its expensive but well worth it in the long run.I work with bikes and scooters and see kids put 8.99 fully synthetic into their two stroke engines every week so they dont blow engines.If they dont do it they will eventually blow! so now engine oil is ever so important to me.As mentioned before try ALYN at AS PERFORMANCE for the motul oil and spark plugs and every thing else in fact as he has some great deals for us lads and he also owns a legacy turbo so he can help you with the 10w30 oil.Just make sure you ring him on friday so he does not run out of my oil for my service on thursday.

 

Nice one thanks for the advice.

 

Would say any of these are good for your Scoobies.

Mobil 1 15w-50
Castrol RS 10w-60
Silkolene PRO R 15w-50
Silkolene PRO S 10w-50

Esters will give the best protection as they are surface-active (electrostatically attracted to metal surfaces) they also operate from -50 deg C to 200 degC and is the reason why the aviation industry has used them for 50 years.

Cheers
Simon

 

Agree with you, Oilman.

Not familiar with the silkolene grades, but if fully synthetic, and I recall Silkolene being a good oil in the past, at those viscosities they would be fine.
A couple of other good oils about, Motul as mentioned.

 

No experience of Motul but have an excellent article written by John Rowland (Chief Chemist of Silkolene) called lubricating a Saburu. I think it was written for the SIDC but it recommends PRO S 10w-50 or PRO R 15w-50.

5 pages and excellent technical reading.

Cheers
Simon