Moderators, please don't move this thread as I think it deserves a wider audience.

Both me & my mate had the 1K services done this morning and the dealer has used Castrol SLX 0w/30 oil

My fault for not checking first...doh!

This oil is too thin for the WRX engine, but the dealer insisted it is approved by Subaru.
Have checked the handbook and the lowest it mentions is 5w/30.

Cant find out a definative answer on the correct oil to use.

My mate has had his oil changed immediately at TSL today, and the oil that came out was like donkey pi$$ ! I've seen thicker cooking oil in Asda...

I'm having my oil changed again tomorrow at TSL...

I'm no oil scientist, but IMHO if you have had your oil changed at a newish Subaru dealer located within a million miles of M1 jcn 34 and had this pi$$y oil put in your engine, change it NOW.

How many other dealers are using the "wrong" grade of oil? Worth asking your dealer what they use !

Does anybody know for sure that the 0w/30 is NOT recommended for the '02 WRX ?

If I can prove it, I intend to return to the dealer and demand a refund.

Slightly off subject, I had asked them the cost of the 1k service 2 weeks ago and was told(in writing) £70 inc VAT give or take a couple of quid. Today they tried to charge me £136.95 (included the cost of clear fog light covers@£26.95) WTF !
Reminded them they told me ~£70ish, eventually they produce an invoice for £99 including the lights. How many people would have just paid the bill without querying it?

I haven't named the Soth Yorks dealer in case of problems for SN

BOB

PS.If I have got this oil thing all wrong please let me know...

PPS. They even had the cheek to ask me if I knew what the 0w/30 numbers represented...the look on his face was a picture when I told him exactly what they were...but they still would not admit they were wrong...you can't educate pork!

[Edited by WRXBOB - 3/14/2002 7:03:59 PM]

 

0 rated oil is too thin for subaru engines, id expect to see something like 5w30 which is approved or 10w40 but not 0w30

Tony

 

Blimey Bob - I know which dealer you've been to, as I was thinking of going there myself. I can assure you that there is nothing libellous either for you or SN if we name names. This is an interesting point, as when I looked in my handbook over the weekend, I was surprised how low a viscocity the approved oil is.

In the past, I've always used Mobil 1 in modded Corrados and Audis, but I guess this is just too thick for the WRX. Who actually makes approved oils for these vehicles? I'd read somewhere on SN that Mobil do manufacture a specific grade of '1' for Scoobys, and that it's only available from the dealer.

I'm assuming that you'll kick up a fuss with the people in Hillsborough, so that if your engine is subject to any adverse wear characteristics, you'll be making a claim.

Cheers, HB.

 

Harry,
Well you know where I went today for servicing...
the lowest rating Subaru recommend is 5w/30,but looking at the temperature ranges/viscosity charts, a 10w/40 or 10w/50 oil is better suited to our climatic conditions.

Unfortunately I don't have documented evidence that 0w/30 is too thin for the scooby, so without it I don't think I'd get a refund, but will still try. I don't know if "the dealer" has the caller display function on their telephone system, but when I rang them back later today(from the mobile number I gave as my contact number) they wouldn't answer the phone to me!

The standard Mobil 1 is 0w/40 and is too thin for the scoob, they do a 5w/40(?) specially for the Subaru but its not available to the general public.

I can recommend TSL for any servicing work...

We went in my mates car(left mine behind) to TSL today to discuss mods, my mate had his oil changed while there(twice in under 4hrs!) and I'm taking my car down to TSL tomorrow for another oil change!

Will be posting a thread about TSl in a few mins...

BOB

 

Cheers Bob - Yes, CLI makes you suspect something there. I honestly did OK with them when I negiotiated a discount on the 500 Quid's worth of accessories I bought the other week.

Personally, I'll be quizzing whoever does my servicing now (you've successfully put a doubt in my mind...) on exactly what goes in the sump. In fact, I'm tempted to stand over tham and watch them do it - bugger their protestations about Health & Safety and Occupiers Liability etc....

Ideally, I'd be looking at the 5W40 Mobil stull, as I've always trusted their fully synth stuff implicitly. Hope you're Mate's engine was OK nipping down to Trouser's with corn oil in the sump!

 

Bob - What did TSL put in your Mate's Rex???

 

Harry,
Not 100% certain but think it was Silkolene Pro-S 10w/50

Will know for sure as I'm going there tomorrow to get mine changed as well...will be taking it steady driving there with "corn oil" in the engine.

BOB

 

Let me know Bob - I'm not gonna let anyone near my pert little alloy bonnet before I'm happy with their motives ;-)

 

Read the threads! 10/40 semi synthetic ie (Mobil super s) whilst running in, whatever you decide is appopriate, 1000 miles 5000 miles etc then Mobil motorsport 15/50 fully synthetic after and don`t go back to semi synth. simple, don`t listen to dealer crap, read every one else,s advice

 

Harry,
Me and my mate are now entrusting ALL work on the cars to TSL.
Warranty should't be a problem 'cos they use genuine Subaru parts, but then again, I would prefer to have NO warranty and let TSL do the work, rather than having a warranty and allowing a dealer to wreck my engine by putting sub-standard oil in the engine

See my post on TSL here:
http://www.scoobynet.co.uk/bbs/threa...threadid=79570

Going the "approved Subaru Dealer" route has wasted me £70 so far and could have recked my engine...and no doubt the engine would have died when it was "just out of warranty Sir" !!!!

BOB

 

I have to echo what you're thinking 100% Bob. Used to travel 150 mils each way for a service on the Corrado.

 

Bob, know the dealer you mean most of the staff are from Bentleys who were the franchise holders previously.I prefer to take my P1 to Triangle at Chesterfield as I have not been impressed with service in the past.
Cheers
Andy

 

Andy - Bob and i both run MY02 Euro imports. Do you know if Triangle will touch 'em? That's the rerason we'd been looking at the 'other bunch' in the past....

 

Even more worrying when you consider this oil would have then been in the car for 10,000 miles or a year

And that equates to a lot of SERIOUS driving on your roads Bob.

 

Mill Lane in Basingstoke used 10/40MOBIL on my 1000 miler

 

Bob, a conversation with this dealer when something like

'Madam you cannot test drive the car unless you buy it'

'How do I know I want to buy it before I have test drive it?'

'No I am sorry we only do test drives for the people who have already bought car'

Needless to say I bought a UK300 from elsewhere and went back to to the SY dealer to show them how lovely it was and they told me they did not sell enough cars to be allocated any UK300s. surprised I was not.

 

Dr,

I think you may have got the wrong dealer as the one Bob is referring to has only had the Subaru franchise since January, the UK300 was last years special edition. They were'nt open then

That maybe why they missed the Oil bulletin from Subaru dated Jan 99.
Give them time chaps, I am sure they have got a lot to learn (though I believe the technicians came from Bentleys, they serviced my MY99 a treat for 3 years)

Yorkie

 

Hey Yorkie, OK I am told off (and now I got last year's model as well!). Jen.

PS Do you know of any daytime meets on Sats or Sundays, my 10 year old nephew is scooby crazy and it would be a great treat for him? (around Donny/Wakefield)? Jen.

[Edited by Dr Lurve - 3/15/2002 8:46:02 PM]

 

Hi Yorkie,

Where you been lurking...enjoying your new motor...?

I tried to explain the problem of the oil to them but was treated like an idiot who was talking out of his @rse.

They couldn't even get the tyre pressures correct on the service, TSL kindly adjusted them to the correct pressures for me today.

I WILL be going back to them though....to get a refund for the oil they charged me for that I had to have changed again today.

I won't mention about them still having old '01 cars for sale as new...OOPS, I just did

BOB

 

Bob,

I think most of the Subaru main dealers still have "old" stock to shift. The dealers in Chesterfield and Mansfield both have 01 models as well. The roof mounted aerial gives 'em away

Glad you got yourself sorted with a dealer, best stick with them for your requirements. When I get mine I think I'll be going to Triangle. Not long to go now !!!!

Yorkie

 

CORNER !

 

Harry
Triangle will service euro imports, its jap imports they are not happy with although I know they have serviced at least one of those
Andy

 

Dealer in Cheltenham did my 37500 ml service and the invoice says Castrol GTX!!!
Seemed a bit strange - any one think I need to get it changed again?

 

Andrew - cheers Mate. Will give 'em a try.

Graham - see my post on the official IM position as at today.