Subaru Legacy Forums - Should i run a dif oil? Suggestions??

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Should i run a dif oil? Suggestions??

My 97 LGT is just about to turn over 184K miles. I am the second owner and know the complete history of the car. That being said its gotten 5W30 synthetic(Mobil 1 etc) since it was new. I know that oil is kinda thin. I was wondering if there might be a better choice for a higher mileage car? Would it hurt anything switching to a thicker oil since the car has always had synthetic in it? If i should run something dif any suggestions? Keep the same weight oil?

5w 30 is not recommended for hotter climates. i doubt PA qualifies as a hotter climate.
10w30 is recommended for most climates EXCEPT extremely hot or cold. i would run 10w30 since that is the factory spec. but seeing as how the engine has made it this far on the 5w i doubt it makes a difference.

but more important than the type of oil is the fact that you change it. i don't think 180k is a significant mileage for selecting a different oil. but oil is one of those things where everyone has an opinion and everyone has a favorite. and we all have a reason it.

happy motoring.

interesting write up. it is so extreme i do not know if i can believe it. but i thought you would enjoy the read.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DPsSube3 (Post 477637)

Well, I worked for Mobil Oil when Mobil 1 was developed. We used two test fleets.... Took the engines apart in each fleet and measured all engine tolerances related to oil wear affected parts before the beginning of the test. Both fleets of cars were driven for 100,000 miles. The Mobil 1 test fleet did NOT have the oil changed for 100,000 miles, BUT the filter was changed every 3,000 miles and the filter oil loss was added. The other test fleet of cars with conventional oil had the oil and filter changed every 3,000 miles. Every 3,000 miles the engines in both test fleets were torn down and measured. After 100,000 miles the Mobil 1 fleet showed less wear than the conventional oil fleet showed after 3,000 miles.

Since the mid 70's I have only used synthetic oil in my cars. I have never had an engine problem. I have always changed to synthetic at 3,000 miles and then followed the car company interval which ranges from 3,000 miles to 15,000 miles (BMW). Subaru has gone to synthetic oil in the 2013 Outback. On a new Outback they want the oil and filter changed at 3,000 miles and then 7,500 mile intervals. With synthetic oil one can go beyond the change interval without too much worry. Note that the filter size on the new 2013 Outback is fairly small, which is why I would not extend out the interval. If you ever saw a BMW oil filter you would recognize why they are able to push out the interval to 15,000 miles.

I would not recommend synthetic oil on an older car where conventional oil has been used for multiple years.... The engine wear is already done. Synthetic oil will have little benefit and if anything may show up as leaks in the gasket areas etc....

My 2 cents worth... I hope this helps...

ROTELLA T6 5w40! GOGOGO

Your dif should always be run with oil.

T6 5w40 FTW. At 190k and switched to that. Engine isn't as ticky and quieted down a lot and just overall feels healthier

Yeaaa budddy! T6 is the best! DDO IT!

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How expensive is the Rotella T6 oil?
Also what oil filters do you guys run?

21$ for a gallon at tractor suppply co

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Toallhisdoom (Post 4157354)

21$ for a gallon at tractor suppply co

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About the same at Walmart. Quarts run about $6.50.

Rotella T6 with Wix filters

Quote:

Originally Posted by LJ08GT (Post 4157296)

How expensive is the Rotella T6 oil?
Also what oil filters do you guys run?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toallhisdoom (Post 4157354)

21$ for a gallon at tractor suppply co

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Quote:

Originally Posted by BarManBean (Post 4157358)

About the same at Walmart. Quarts run about $6.50.

Dang... It cost $14 for a 5 quart container at the Walmart by me...

I run this oil until it starts to get cold. Then I switch to 10W-40. Then when it starts getting really cold I switch to 5W-30.

Pretty sure that's not the same oil. I've never seen rotella t6 in a 5 qt container.

There are 3 different rotella oils, t3, t5, and t6. The t3 and t5 are in the $14 range and the t6 is around $21. All of them come in 1 gal jugs or you can pick them up in quarts also.

Hmm.. Maybe I'm not remembering right. I do know that it's 15W-40 and $14. I'll go check when I get home.