My STi8 is going in for it's 10k service shortly (in just 3 months of very happy driving :D). I was wondering what oil is used by the dealerships by default. Is it fully synthetic? Do they offer an option of a better oil, or do they use the best stuff available already?

Any thoughts, ideas, suggestions most welcome!

All dealers seem to use differing oils, depending what they get the best deal on, not what's necessarily best for your car!!! I would ring and ask the dealer what oil they use. Personally I use castrol Formula RS 10w60 and supply it when having a service, do a search on oil, a lot of people have differant views.

Good suggestion :(

I just checked with the dealer (Cross Country Vehicles aka Cotswold Subaru) and they use Castrol Magnatec 10w40 in everything they service (STis, WRXs, Justys...). Any opinions on this? Do I need to find some good stuff and supply that instead?

(PS I know half of sod-all about oils... Sorry!)

[Edited by ThrustSSC - 12/8/2003 4:10:52 PM]

Supply your own, (mobil1 or motul - do a search on here about oils) but ask for the empty containers back , my dealer uses BP fully synthetic in my MY00.
Fully synthetic is usually considered better though.

iv just had a service and was told to buy semi synthetic

So much depends on the type of journeys you do and how much mileage, I think the main difference between fully synth, semi synth and mineral oil (other than the price !) is the way they break down, mineral oils will over time and use break down and become less efficient, their characteristics also change with temperature whereas synth oil remains pretty constant.
But if you are doing 12k miles per year and changing your oil every 6k then semi synth would be fine.
IMHO.

Is Magnatec a semi-synthetic?

Yup, semi synth 10/w40

I would supply my own, castrol Formula RS 10w60 (fully synth) from www.castrolclassicoils.co.uk , free delivery if you buy more than £30 worth, which you will as I suspect you will need nearly 5 litres. Ask the dealer how much is req'd, you'll probably pay less for the RS than the semi synth magnatec from the dealer and it's a far superior oil.

Magnatec - about £25 dealer supplied.
About 315 Costco supplied.