ruffrydaa

hey guyz...

im thinking of changing the oil in my wrx 2004.

the last change was about 3k miles ago at the 60k service.

do you think this is needed or is it ok to go for another 3-4k.

considering i drive 300 miles a week. with casual thrashes every now and then .

what type of oil is recommended???

thanks in advance guys

Mark'sWRX

The official oil change interval is 10k, but most people think this is too long. I suggest doing an oil and filter in between services i.e. every 5k.

As for oil, ask 10 people and get 11 different answers. Mine would be to use a synthetic in the 5W/40 to 10W/50 range from a known brand. Some argue that if you change the oil regularly, then you don't need the full synthetic, just a semi-synthetic. It depends how much you care!

pslewis

It has nothing to do with how much you care, it has a lot to do with how confident you are in what Subaru says you need

Look in your Handbook and if the car is standard simply follow what they say.

I change mine every 6 months and I use £12:99 Semi 10W-40 .... exactly what Subaru tell me to use

Mark'sWRX

Subaru say you only need to change the oil every 10k/year, but most experts say this is too long.

VW say you can go 20k between oil changes and now I've heard that the engines aren't surviving.

You believe who you want .

Back to the original poster: By all means check your handbook for oil requirements, as the new age is different from Mr Lewis' Classic.

pslewis

Funny that, I 'thought' the experts would be those who designed, drafted, approved, built, reviewed, tested, invested, researched and delivered my car to me??

Silly me .............

DYK

in my old scoob i always used the expensive oils,but after a while started to find it was a waste of time,because i change my oil on a regular basis anyway.infact just changed it over the weekend and used comma 10w/40..14 quid for five litres..But don't think you will ever get a satisfied answer on this subject in here,because everyone will tell you different...

Scoobybits

Millers cfs 10/60
as often as you can afford..

New_scooby_04

iTrader: (4)

Buy the best you can, why anyone would scrimp on such a vital (and inexpensive) consumable is beyond me.

Look for a fully synth oil like Silkolene Pro S. Ask Oilman on here for a recommendation.

Ns04

GazTheHat

I just take it to the dealer, ask for the fully synthetic and they do the rest.

OK, i have to pay more for it, but my fingernails stay nice and clean.

pslewis

The dealer doesn't disconnect the sensor thingy ... or, pre-fill the filter

Your car is doooooomed ......

Buying what Subaru recommend is not 'scrimping' ... it is a highly intelligent and sensible choice. Buying what you don't need is folly.

New_scooby_04

iTrader: (4)

Buying an oil of a higher quality than subaru say is adequate is the choice of the informed enthusiast and those of us that are of financial means such that we don't need to save pennies on the life blood of our car

Ting Tong bleeding you dry, Pete?

Ns04

Mark'sWRX

I deal with CAP, Glass's and Emmox, who calculate running costs (as well as residuals). I've been told that longer service intervals reduce running costs for companies, so manufacturers try to extend them as much as possible to sell more cars to fleets. However, this is not good for the engines in the long term. People like you, who keep their cars beyond 3 years should do what they can to prevent premature wear.

New_scooby_04

iTrader: (4)

Its the same story with oils, it's specified to a price to keep certain punters happy! The enthusiasts however, know better than to buy to a price and treat their cars to the best they can get!

There is no way manufacturers are going to suggest you buy the most expensive fully synths to cries of "How much to put oil in a Subaru" from the press, but if you had a quiet word with anyone who designed that (or any engine) I'm guessing they'll say that there is better oil than the manufacturers suggest and if you can afford it, use it!

To this date I've not met one Subaru specialist that has advocated just using the brands suggested by Subaru. One Subaru dealer even told me off the record that Magnetec simply wasn't in the same league as a "proper" fully synth and that he'd seriously suggest spending the extra, especially on PPP or other modified scoobies (and that's hardly a vested interest since he could not supply the oil, only put it in the car)

Ns04

deangtiuk

iTrader: (3)

VAG use 5w 30 and have a thermo oil sensor fitted in the sump which measures the oil quality and advise through the dash panel as to when the vehicle needs servicing upto a maximum of 20000 miles. Surely a sensor that measures oil quality would suffice in these vehicles? Subaru' are a different kettle of fish all together. By the way I change mine aprox every 5k after all its not that expensive.

bushiwarrior

millers range

Wulsey

iTrader: (1)

Millers cfs 10w60 every 3000miles for me!

Ginge !

iTrader: (1)

most oils are very over engineered these days

as for oil man,,,,,, THE BLOKE HAS BEEN SELLING SILKOLENE TO EVERY SINGLE WEBSITE IVE USED FROM FORDS TO BMW'S, hes brain washed everyone over the internet !!!!

most car manufactuers have advertising deals,,, the kit out a garage with the pumps and in return then recomend only there oil,,,,, best example is all focus's sold before 2005 had a " we recomend bp petrol " in the service books,,,, then when they STOPPED being paied to have that its no longer in the service books !!!

unless its gonna be hard track use/abuse all the time a general semi synth is PERFECT for a scoobie engine every 3k,,, but then what would i know,, ive just put mineral in my scoobie

oh and oils these days also tend to have additives so you can mix oil

we all seem to be forgetting WHY theres the great oil debate, and its down to back in the 80's where you would buy castrols rubbish stuff in paint style tins,,,, that was very crap oil but its MUCH better these days !!!!

pslewis

It's really oil down to opinions.

I am an Engineer, so understand fully the Engineering principles and practise - I am MORE than happy to run my cars on FUCH's/COMMA/Halfords 10W-40 Semi ..... the current price of FUCH's is £12:99 for 5 Litres. As an Engineer, not an Oil salesman, that is absolutely perfect for my engines.

Bear in mind, please, that my engine is now on 85,000miles without so much as a need for any work whatsoever ....... testament if ever there was one to the wisdom of my words.

On the other hand we have the Hobbyist Owners - I am Enthusiatic about my car, so avoid the word Enthusiast ...... as that brings to mind visions of geeks in overalls and rather **** persons and that would be unfair - so, Hobbyist it is. They do not really understand Oil, they read about it, they listen to salesmen, they are happy to pay £40 for what they don't need ..... because it makes them feel good and they can tell eveyone what a great owner they are because they spend silly money on their car.

So, basically, if you understand your car and understand Engineering you will do what you believe.

If you are not that clear about Engineering, you will believe the scare stories and will feel good about spending lots of money on Oil.

Both camps are correct for their own worlds - the worlds will never collide - we will always have differences of opinion on this subject ......... carry on

MrJim

Motol fully synth 15/50

New_scooby_04

iTrader: (4)

We do all agree on one thing though, if you use what Subaru reccomend, you're not exactly going to go wrong - they're not going to tell you to put the wrong stuff in there, afterall!

Just that there is better oil out there if you want to pay the extra and I'd certainly suggest you do if the car is modified!

Ns04

pslewis

I hear the word 'better' so often and no-one ever defines it .... maybe you can?

If better means that it is better between extended service intervals then, yes, I agree ........... but, believe me, if you change your oil every 6 months then there is NO BENEFIT whatsoever in an expensive oil ..... all the benefit you have paid for goes down the tip without being called into action!