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Old 11 December 2010, 12:05 PM
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djandyg
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Default semi synth or fully?

Gonna service my car (standard 2003 blob WRX, only mod is a backbox) - couple of questions, handbook/website guides all seem to say 5w30 for the WRX.... However heard some people say 5w is a bit on the thin side so was thinking of going for 10w40, will that be ok? Also, again site guides suggest semi-synth, but surely if a fully synth option is available then thats a better oil to have? Not too fussed on the cost of the oil...

Thanks
Old 11 December 2010, 12:13 PM
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L.J.F
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10-40 is ideal and i would recommend millers cf semi synth
Old 11 December 2010, 12:16 PM
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Mine has been lightly modded, 2002WRX running approx 270-280bhp and I'll be using this

http://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-60217-mi...ngine-oil.aspx
Old 11 December 2010, 12:20 PM
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Thanks for the advice. Whats the score with regards to pro's and cons of fully synth vs. semi-synth? As they offer a choice!
Old 11 December 2010, 12:33 PM
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Depends on who you speak to, but in general there is an opinion that fully-synth is a better oil. In my opinion, fully synth and semi-synth of the same grade are much of a muchness initially, but depending upon how you drive and the miles you do, the fully synth will be harder wearing and provide greater engine protection for a longer period.
Old 11 December 2010, 12:33 PM
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oilman will comment on this soon

but the esther based fully synthetic oils are best i use fuchs, yes expensive but when my engine goes bang at least i know ive done the upmost to prevent it. Opie do good deals on this as well
Old 11 December 2010, 12:41 PM
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yeh thats what iv always had the opinion of with regards to fully synth, hence why id rther use it, but just dont wanna use it if its actually worse for my car for some reason.

One of the reasons iv come into so much confusion is actually due to where my car falls on the vehicle look up on opie oils them selves (amongst other sites)
Iv done a separate thread about it
https://www.scoobynet.com/scoobynet-...ml#post9759922
Old 11 December 2010, 12:54 PM
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Originally Posted by JAutos
oilman will comment on this soon

but the esther based fully synthetic oils are best i use fuchs, yes expensive but when my engine goes bang at least i know ive done the upmost to prevent it. Opie do good deals on this as well
+1.

I think you will be looking at a good quality 5w-30, full or semi synthetic.
Old 11 December 2010, 12:55 PM
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Originally Posted by b13bat
+1.

I think you will be looking at a good quality 5w-30, full or semi synthetic.
Yeh, this is where the confusion and dilemma seems to come in for me haha. Some people say 5w30 other 10w40.
Old 11 December 2010, 01:06 PM
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5w30 is a bit horrid tbh, I would go for a 5w40 fully synthetic, remembering that miles also counts against what you use, for example, a 100k mile engine ran on semi synthetic all its life may as well be run on semi synthetic, a 20k mile engine ran on semi synth should have no difficulties swapping to a fully synthetic.
If you have a high mileage engine, stick to the semi synth as most of the wear has already been done.
Tony
Old 11 December 2010, 01:14 PM
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Originally Posted by TonyBurns
5w30 is a bit horrid tbh, I would go for a 5w40 fully synthetic, remembering that miles also counts against what you use, for example, a 100k mile engine ran on semi synthetic all its life may as well be run on semi synthetic, a 20k mile engine ran on semi synth should have no difficulties swapping to a fully synthetic.
If you have a high mileage engine, stick to the semi synth as most of the wear has already been done.
Tony
thanks for our input, engine is on 54000 miles so will probably stick to the fully synth.
Im still tempted to go for the 10w40 option tho
Old 11 December 2010, 01:30 PM
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Originally Posted by djandyg
Yeh, this is where the confusion and dilemma seems to come in for me haha. Some people say 5w30 other 10w40.
A 5w is better for this cold weather and a 10w would be good for warmer weather. I would use the 30 in both cases as it will flow quicker than a 40 which is an advantage when doing short trips in the cold. If we have a really warm summer or i was tracking the car then i would consider the 40 for my summer service.

Don't be to paranoid about it, and follow the pro's advice.

Have you checked www.opieoils.co.uk
Old 11 December 2010, 01:50 PM
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Originally Posted by b13bat
A 5w is better for this cold weather and a 10w would be good for warmer weather. I would use the 30 in both cases as it will flow quicker than a 40 which is an advantage when doing short trips in the cold. If we have a really warm summer or i was tracking the car then i would consider the 40 for my summer service.

Don't be to paranoid about it, and follow the pro's advice.

Have you checked www.opieoils.co.uk
lots of the engine tuning companys on here seem to suggest the slightly thicker oils from what iv read before.
I went on opie oils, the look up confuses me a bit....if u read one of my previous posts in this thread i put a link up to a thread which explains whats confusing me lol..
Old 11 December 2010, 03:21 PM
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Originally Posted by djandyg
iv looked in the manual it says 5w30,10w30 or 10w40 with 5w30 being preferred.
As above then, change the oil with the seasons/weather/use in mind.
There is not an 'all rounder' as such. As i said earlier, i would rather run a 5w in the cold winter. You require equal protection all year round and you change oil at least once a year, so when you change, take into account the above considerations.
The handbook is giving you the choice, i would think they have taken into consideration temp and use etc so you can make an 'educated' decision as to which is best for your circumstances at the time.
Old 11 December 2010, 03:27 PM
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Between semi and full synthetic the full synthetic is a better choice, they do a better job in everyway over the mineral based synthetic synthetic.

Viscosity wise on a good condition 2003 model I would probably go 5w-40 if driven with some spirit, dont worry 5w is NOT too thin.

Cheers

Guy.
Old 11 December 2010, 04:18 PM
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I change my oil twice a year (approx every 6,000 miles). I tend to go for a thinner oil in the winter (say 5w40) and slightly thicker in the summer (10w40) changing in the autumn and spring respectively (assuming engine doesn't keep coming out and need more oil changes )
Old 11 December 2010, 06:25 PM
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so would something like this be a good oil then?

http://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-68897-fu...ngine-oil.aspx

Also, anyone know how much a proper genuine Subaru oil filter is? I know scoobyworld do them for £15, are they more expensive from subaru themselves?
Old 11 December 2010, 06:28 PM
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dunno but opie do the filters too, and you can even get kits with oil&filter
Old 11 December 2010, 09:41 PM
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The Pro S is ideal, it's about as good as oil gets. It's buy 5L and get a litre free at the moment, so even better than normal.

Here's the filters we sell for it

http://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-64695-kn...il-filter.aspx
http://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-6782-oil...r-2325900.aspx

The UFI filter is really good. We've sold loads of the Impreza ones and have not had a problem at all. Filters are basically 'bolt-stoppers', they just stop larger bits of debris moving around, so they don't have to be too special, just give a decent amount of filtration and good oil flow rate. The UFI ones were tested against performance ones a while ago and stood up very well, especially as they are sold as normal rather than performance filters.

Cheers

Tim
Old 11 December 2010, 09:49 PM
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And what about some NGK PRF7B plugs, what's the Christmas deal
Old 12 December 2010, 04:49 PM
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Originally Posted by djandyg
so would something like this be a good oil then?

http://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-68897-fu...ngine-oil.aspx

Also, anyone know how much a proper genuine Subaru oil filter is? I know scoobyworld do them for £15, are they more expensive from subaru themselves?
Yes, as a top choice that would be ideal
Old 12 December 2010, 04:50 PM
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Originally Posted by JonMc
And what about some NGK PRF7B plugs, what's the Christmas deal
We can always do something, give me a call
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