16vmarc

Ive just booked my car (MY00 PPP) in for an oil change. Decided to buy my own oil as i dont agree with their using semi synthetic. Paid 26.99 for 5ltrs of Shell Helix Ultra 5w:40 from Motor Factors, how Halfords can charge 35.99 is beyond me

Theyre also going to seal my STi lights for £15 which i didnt think was bad, as it wil probably cost me that to buy some.

Bubba po

I think 5W 40 might be too thin, but I'm no expert.

jjones

most recommend using 10w, 5w is too thin

16vmarc

Damn!!

STi wanna Subaru

iTrader: (1)

isn't 5w what Subaru recommend themselves?

16vmarc

Well thats what it says in manual, 5w 40, or 10w 30 i think.

STi wanna Subaru

iTrader: (1)

UK turbo I thought was 5w 40

16vmarc

The container says its suitable anyway?

micared

Haven't you read the 10 million threads on here about oil suitability for subaru engines? 0/40 or 5/40 of any brand is too thin, Magnetec's rubbish, Helix is o.k for running in. If you're bothered about the car, it's gonna be Castrol RS 10/60, Silkolene or Motul 15/50 etc, ad nauseum. Sorry, but it's starting to seem a bit repetetive now. If you need confirmation of the above, do a search.

Allan

iTrader: (1)

Magnetec's rubbish........, should I phone my main dealer and ask why they are using it ?

Allan

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

People "SAY" Magnatec is rubbish, think of it as the old dears having a natter at the local cornershop

Usage is the key here. Hard fast driver - use a thick high temp oil.

Old duffer who never goes above the speed limits and no mods, what the dealer uses does the job.


BTW the first bit of oil viscosity is the COLD VISCOSITY rating...the latter part is the HOT viscosity. So 5w-40 and 10w-40 both have similar hot temperature viscosities. Although the 10w-40 will be probably have a higher breakdown temperature.

micared

Have I wandered into the Austin Allegro owners forum by accident?......."Magnetec is for old duffers who never go over the speed limit and no mods" , never a truer word spoken....but this is a Subaru forum. I had 18 laps ( less than 35 miles? ) of Castle Coombe in a Corrado VR6 a couple of years ago, 6 lap stints with an hour break between, using Magnetic....oil pressure light came on at tickover when I came off the track after the third session, oil was thinner than p!ss! I doubt the Corrado is as hard on its oil as a scoob. If it's possible to trash an oil that quickly, then I'd agree with anyone who accused it of being rubbish. Think you'll find that the dealers ( any dealers ) agenda on oil is significantly different to yours.....whatever brand they happen to be using this week, they're using it because they get a good deal on bulk purchase, nothing more nothing less!

scoobyboy

in the 10 yrs we been using magnatec we have never had a problem with it

STi wanna Subaru

iTrader: (1)

yeah but what about the owners

scoobyboy

neither have they or else judging by most people on here we would be replacing engines left right and centre at our own expense. granted it may not be up to track use but then you should be using specialist oil anyway, but for general use it's ok if you don't intend to cane it to within an inch of it's life then it won't be a problem

Allan

iTrader: (1)

Well said scoobyboy, I did ask the question knowing the answer.

I have no problem with being an old duffer, I don't do track days and don't cane the car to within an inch of it's life, even 6 inches for that matter.

I’ve just checked the owners manual, I can’t see where it says I have to drive around Castle Coombe .......

Allan

sulli

Why not get it done properly.....and do it yourself?
Will they use your oil?
Will they do the turnover without spark thing before starting car, so oil circulates?
Will they be as careful as you?

micared

Heard of a guy called Bob Rawle? Don't think there's many people on here would choose to contradict his findings on Magnetec.....pretty sure he doesn't make it up!

G TOMO

So is the MOBIL 1 (0/40) in my car not gonna do the job?,

I though this was the best oil money could buy !

G TOMO

micared

AllanP, not suggesting you drive around Castle Coombe, whatever your style of driving..... the point of that was that it took less than 35 miles of hard use, with long spells of cooling down to wreak havoc with a supposedly reputable product. If I'd known then what I know now about Magnetec, I wouldn't use it to oil the hinges on my garden gate! Why fly in the face of well meant advice about oil though? If you can use a product that no-one can fault, ( Castrol RS10/60, Silkolene or Motul 15/50 ) as opposed to another product that lots of people on here question the merits of, what decision is there to make? Ultimately, it's your choice what you use.....wouldn't you rather know if people have had a bad experience with something before you spend your money?

Allan

iTrader: (1)

I know the Magnatec argument has been done to death.

So the converstaion goes something like this.

ME...hello Mr dealer can you service my car please, oh and can I supply my own oil.

Dealer... certainly sir what oil is it ?

ME.... don't worry it's good stuff, apparently you can do more than 18 laps of CC in it before it breaks down.

Dealer... no problem sir, although you do realise that if your engine develops a fault you may not be covered under warranty.

ME....oh! can I have a nanosecond to think about that then....


Micared, I'm not suggesting Magnetec is good oil, just that it's good enough for my use.

Allan

micared

AllanP, fair enough, not in the business of trying to change peoples minds ( well, not unless I can profit from it anyway ). However, don't think your dealer can legally object to you supplying your own oil for your own car, as long as it's suitable! Certainly never heard of that happening in the seven years I worked for Toyota, or the other three years I was at Ford. . Btw, certainly not accusing anyone on here of being an old duffer....at my age, it'd be a pot/kettle scenario!

Allan

iTrader: (1)

OK cool ,
I know you can scare yourself about the warranty thing, it's just that you hear so many stories.

Allan

Trucker Ted

For a MYOO , Subaru recomend Shell helix 10/40 semi synthetic,and thats what a dealer will use albeit at an over inflated price.

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

I never looked at a Scooby warranty in detail...but you do know that for the first year at the very least the dealer DOES NOT have to service the car? Just as long as it's serviced and uses genuine parts you can do it anywhere you like.

The remaining 2 years may have to be done by the dealers (batty isn't it? ) due to the 1st year being a mandatory warranty set by the industry, so manufacturers cannot force customers to go to their dealerships to service their cars to comply. However under the 3 year warrantee system for many cars the next 2 years are voluntary (i.e the manufacturer doesn't have to provide it), so they can stipulate any conditions they like for the warranty to be honoured and that may include the vehicle being serviced at a dealer after the 1st year.

Hopefully the new block exception rules should help things somewhat in this muddled up area.

edit: Just looked at my warranty booklet for my MY97, and it is as above - 1st year can be done anywhere, next 2 years must be done at an official dealer.

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

Graham at TSL has some fairly strong opinions on Subaru engine oil. I for one will be using Silkolene Pro-S fully synthetic in my new STI once it's run in - a pleasant option to have given that it's a JDM car and not therefore subject to using Subaru UK's choice of oil for warranty purposes.

Good oil is much, much cheaper than an engine rebuild, and buying your own good oil is as cheap as getting the dealer to supply whatever they can get in bulk anyway.

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

And I've regretted posting that word as a description of someones driving.

How about: Someone who drives EXACTLY in accordance to the highway code instead?

micared

Ali-B, yeah, whatever, you old duffer!

Allan

iTrader: (1)

Not so I'm afraid, I've had both Shell Helix and Magnetec used by different main Subaru dealers.

Allan

krazy

Supposedly the IM recommended oil is 10w40 semi for <=MY00 at least. Its within subaru basic specs ie 10w30, 10w40, (30, 40 , 10w50 20w40 and 20w50 is recommended for harsh environments)
Even subaru in japan sell rebranded motul 300v competition 15w50 as sti oil though.