I'm changing the oil and filter at the weekend on my scooby it's 1999 uk and is showing 92000 on clock what is the best oil to use? In my hand book it says 5-30, 10-30 or 10-40 which has got me a little confused also do I use semi or full synthetic

 

Tony Burns is your man to discuss the oil spec Just mind and pre-fill the oil filter and let it soak in before refitting and filling up the oil.

 

Well my mates computer says 5-30 for cold climate, 10-40 for mild climate etc for 1998 model.

I will be using on my 98 classic Castrol gtx magnatec 10-40 on mine. I was going to use edge 5W-40, i contacted castrol they said 5W-40edge or 10-40 gtx magnatec would be fine for my impreza but not to use any 0 grade. So i decided to stick with good old Castrol gtx magnatec 10-40, not sure if any diffrent for your model.

 

Use Millers CFS 10w-40, I have the same model car. I wouldnt use 5w or thinner.

 

Opie Oils says 10w-50 for my 94 WRX, used Miller 10w-50 and not had any problems at all

 

I use Fuchs Silkolene 10w-50 in mine, have done for years, it's a fantastic oil

 

All depends how much you want to spend.

Silkolene 10w-50 5L £56.66 inc VAT

Millers CFS 10w40 5L £52.37 inc. V.A.T or http://www.scoobyparts.com/acatalog/...0w_40_OIL.html does it for £49.00 with free filter

My castrol GTx cost 20 delivered but not as good spec these over oils even i'm confussed now doh.

 

Do I use semi or full synthetic

 

Semi

Comma 10W-40 at around £15 for 5 Litres is all you need pay for full protection.

5W is too thin and 50 is like putting treacle in your engine ... way too thick.

 

This is the stuff, don't be a mug and pay a penny more!

http://www.camskill.co.uk/m1b79s4325...re_-_5L_/RS_GB

 

Right on cue you can count on Pete

 

do people actually use that in their subarus apart from you though, out of interest?

 

Doubt it Grant

That said, Pete has a point to some degree in that there are lots of products that people use that they have no need for. A cheaper item will suffice. Then again for the small difference in price I'd rather pay and treat the engine well.

 

if there is one thing i have learned in life is you pay for what you get!!

no more said......

 

But your that tight you squeek when you walk

 

There is a whole industry built up around marketing the idea that one Oil is better than another .... it's all smoke and mirrors - and some fall for it

I'm an Engineer, very wise, have seen it all and I'm no mug ... I don't get drawn into any hype and I buy what is needed.

Then again, if it makes the meek sleep better, then that's fine. But, don't kid yourself that your £55 Oil is needed, it isn't! A £15 Oil meets all the relevant standards.

 

I agree with that although fully synthetic oil is better and most likely protect your car better. But in the end how many more miles will the engine do with exspensive oil who knows. I'm in a rock and a hard place castrol gtx or fork out for the good stuff

 

The main dealer who serviced my car from new used this;

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Shell-Semi-Syn...#ht_1314wt_907

Certainly worth a look

 

I'd go with Ryan@Indigo, he knows what he's talking about

 

For standard impreza? yes. A modified one pushing 40% + more power? No.

 

+1

 

My friend has an old classic car, it use to drink oil. He used semi synthetic oil. He decided to try fully synthetic oil.

His engine now uses no oil, i was blown away by this, as he was always topping it up after a run, only thing he noticed was engine seemed to be abit noiser, so he mixed it with abit of over oil which has now quieted the engine down. So goes to show there is a quality diffrence

 

Another can of worms thread :P

5w oil is not "too thin", nor is 0w, as it is the cold weight.

I've used 0w-40, 5w-40, 10w-50, and 10w-60 depending on the usage.

0w-40 on particularly cold winters when you need to get the car started in under -30C weather.

5w-40 during normal winters, and during normal summers, including light track time.

10w-50/60 during hot summers and track work.

 

I use 15w50 mobil 1 fully synthetic in mine

 

I've been told by castrol themselves scoobys don't like anything below 10w unless in cold winter then 5w

 

well thats not what the likes of opie oils recommend, as they recommended me 5w-40 and thats what i use with no issues.

as above it's a can of worms aint it lol

 

Castrol use manufacturer standard recommendations, we look at each car/bike/boat etc individually

 

I work in the oil refining industry, the company I work for makes lubricants, including engine oil as used by the ford wrc team.

Cold weights of oil being too thin is a myth. Warm weight = key.

I wouldn't use 5w-30, 10w-30, or SAE30 oil in a scoob.
But I would and have used 0w-40, 5w-40, 10w-50 and even 10w-60.

I find it particularly amusing when companies say things like:

5w-40 is too thin and will kill your engine.
Use 10w-40 instead it'll work better.

By all means, if you live somewhere warm, go for it.
Don't blame me when you try to start the car at -30 or lower with 10w oil with a pour point of -30 and damaga your motor.

 

I agree that in your climate, a thinner oil when cold would be appropriate. In the UK, temperatures rarely dip below -10 for sustained periods. Therefore a 5 or 10 is appropriate

 

My cars service history receipts show 10w40 shell helix although since I have had it have used 5w40 fully synthetic, next oil change I have shell helix ultra 5w40.