All,

everyone talks about changng oil every 3k miles. Is this optimum? or a waste of cash? Where did this figure come from? How does the type of journey effect the oil (short journeys as opposed to 10mile+ runs)??

I have a new STI7 and the best intentions of looking after it? My current thinking is one interim oil change (every 5k miles) using one of the big 3 oils recommended regularly, new Subaru filer etc.

I don't do many short journeys, normally 20+ miles, warm up, cool down etc Will this be ok?

....or am I just being a tight git??

Cheers

 

Every 5k miles sounds fair, but I'd make sure it was every 6 months or whichever was the sooner.

 

come on chaps....you must all have same dilema??

 

good quality fully synthetic oil in the right grade (10w60 / 15w50 dependant on use) and change every 5K or 6months, we recomend/use SILKOLENE or MILLERS OILS products
alyn - as performance

 

alyn,

'dependent on use' - what would be the criteria for each selection?

cheers

 

we normally run our competition customers (or hard trackday/road users) on 10w60 due to the extra high temp protection and everyone else on 15w50......
mail me for any advice
alyn - as performance

 

2500 miles is suggested by Subaru in Japan. Its a shame that we dont get many of their oils such as Boxer oil or Microlon which are formulated especially for Boxer engines.

Cheers

Gez

 

Why such frequent changes - aren't today's oils created to maintain there properties throughout a wide heat range and for long periods of time.

I'm running in a WRX currently (going for its 1000 mile first service next week) and have just traded in a Golf 4Motion which has 20K mile service intervals with no oil change needed between (granted if this was a car that was going to be driven really hard, day in day out and at the track).

But surely for everyday use and driving the standard service intervals are fine? Or does the Scooby engine really abuse the oil that badly?

 

My mate in LA has just bought a new WRX and they told him every 3.5K miles - but then again they do service with 5-30 !

T.

 

My last service they filled it up with Shell Helix Ultra which I think is 5/40.

Do I need to change more regularly than the service interval?
Do about 30 miles a day cross country mostly B roads, I keep up a reasonable pace but rarely rev the **** out of it. Some short trips for shopping etc..

 

I agree - 3.5 to 4k is what I would do on any decent turbo motor.
The Boxer engine is sensitive to oil types and levels isn't it?
Is it the case that you shouldn't fill to the MAX mark, but somewhere between min and max?

Cheers
Grant

 

...but where is this '3k change oil knowledge' coming from??

Has an research been done? or are we all being taken for a ride by the oil companies??

 

5w40 is far too thin. a 10w or 15w is as low as you should go - optimum for road use is a 15w50
alyn - as performance

 

So everyone changes at 3k??? Hope 2k isn't better??....are we all playing 'follow the leader' here.

Somebody must have come up with this 'magic' oil change figure based on something??

I would also be interested in the general trends of Scooby owners - let me know how often yo change and what you use (also if cheap, where you get it from!!)

 

Andy,
i suspect its 3-4k because thats half the service interval on the old shape (7,500) ??

cheers alan

 

Alyn,

I have a little card in my owners pack that say 'Subaru recomend only Shell Helix Ultra' has this been knocked up at the local supermarket. If it is genuine do you know if helix ultra comes in different grades?

 

Oh and to answer a question posed earlier on. NEVER fill up to the max mark, this can seriously gum up yer boost control solenoid. 3/4 between min and max is about right.

 

The 2.5-3k miles oil change interval has been advised by Subaru Japan. I dont know on what they have based this upon but im sure they know better then of us.

Gez

 

I change the oil on my Legacy Turbo between 3-4k. Any longer than that and it sounds a little "tappety". Change the oil and it's back to normal. I know it's a bit of a pain and extra cost but it's cheeaper to change the oil four times a year than it is to replace the Engine or Turbo.
Matt

 

5w30 oil in LA
I take it the dealers over there dont look at the manual then
The 5w30 is an oil recommended for LOW temps (zero deg and below), as in HIGH temps it doesnt protect the engine anywhere near as well as a thicker oil (like a 15w50).
Could be a few worn out engines in US scoobs soon!

Tony

 

Tony,

Maybe that explains the amazingly high horsepower figures they are getting out there!

Moray

 

I've had my 1996 Scooby 8.5 months and have just had the oil changed at the recommended service intervals. This is 6 monthly for me as I do about 12,000 miles a year. I've had it done by the local Scooby dealer and they use Shell Helix but I'm not sure what rating.

I've never noticed any problems, what happens if you leave it too long??

 

Tony,

Thats what he tells me - I'll give him a buzz and double check but I'm sure he's correct.

Scared the crap out of me - I told him to go somewhere else and go for 10-40 min and he said that 3k oil changes were part of the deal when he bought the car...

throw new ReallyWorriedException();

T.