MY99 Impreza, oil

[chippy17]

Subaru recommend a semi synthetic but does anyone know what they use specifically, it was put in at the last service I had with Subaru but I am going to change the oil myself next time and wondered if anyone knew, I found it runs better on the semi...thanks

[chippy17]

'bueller, bueller; anyone, anyone?'

[Nicol@]

Not very patient are you, some people have to fit work into their day

You will get an answer here...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[Orangecurry]

he won't get an answer there - that thread will provide what the Oilman recommends, not what Subaru use. Does it not say on your service record/sheet from the last Subaru service?

[chippy17]

Nicol@ said:

Not very patient are you, some people have to fit work into their day

You will get an answer here...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

lol, sorry, boring question as well...

[chippy17]

Orangecurry said:

he won't get an answer there - that thread will provide what the Oilman recommends, not what Subaru use. Does it not say on your service record/sheet from the last Subaru service?

no just says 'oil' annoyingly, I should ask them really

[Orangecurry]

my service records say either GTX Magnatec, or just 10/40 semi synth, depending on the garage.

[chippy17]

Orangecurry said:

my service records say either GTX Magnatec, or just 10/40 semi synth, depending on the garage.

thanks Orange, nice collection of cars btw, I called them last night, fyi they use Total Quartz 7000 10w40 semi, my car certainly runs better on this than the Motul fully synth, the last guy used.

[Orangecurry]

chippy17 said:

Orangecurry said:

my service records say either GTX Magnatec, or just 10/40 semi synth, depending on the garage.

thanks Orange, nice collection of cars btw, I called them last night, fyi they use Total Quartz 7000 10w40 semi, my car certainly runs better on this than the Motul fully synth, the last guy used.

opinion is divided ( as usual ) on oil for the impreza engine, but people who actually work on them for a living suggest 10W/40 or 10W/50 if you track it, but no lower; i.e. NOT 5W and definately not 0W

[el_f*ckwit]

Mine's a MY05 WRX - not sure if that makes a difference, but my main dealer told me to use Shell Helix Plus 10W-40:

http://www.shell.com/home/Framework?siteId=uk-en&a...

when I asked him what to use for top ups, as this is what they fill it with at service. He also said never use fully synthetic, sorry can't remember what the reason was now.

[BIG DUNC]

I have always used 10W/40 fully synthetic in mine without any problems?
When you say it was not happy with fully synthetic, why not? I mean what were the symptons?

[EJ Doc]

We use Millers motorsport performance synthetic 10w40

[el_f*ckwit]

BIG DUNC said:

I have always used 10W/40 fully synthetic in mine without any problems?
When you say it was not happy with fully synthetic, why not? I mean what were the symptons?

If I recall he pretty much just said use oil with some mineral content as Subaru don't recommend fully synth.

There is a massive thread on Scoobynet here:

http://bbs.scoobynet.com/scoobynet-general-1/53943...

and if memory serves there was a fair bit of reference to the fact that the handbook recommends 10-40 Semi so that's what you should use. Never going to be a simple answer to this one though, everyone has an opinion!

[dnb]

Whatever type (synth, semi-synth etc...) of oil gets used, both of mine have had a strong preference for 10W40 oils.

[jimpson]

Castrol Edge Sport for me

[chippy17]

BIG DUNC said:

I have always used 10W/40 fully synthetic in mine without any problems?
When you say it was not happy with fully synthetic, why not? I mean what were the symptons?

hi there, nothing major and didn't really notice anything whilst on the fully synth (I used Motul 300v in my E30 M3 and it loved it) and by fluke the specialist I took the Subaru to first of all recommended the same oil, great thinks I.
I then moved and had no choice but to use the local dealer, as I was knew nothing about the area, and they put in said semi and the engine just idles smoother, sounds smoother etc, nothing performance related that i could tell but it did get me thinking that there must be a reason for Subaru to recommend a semi in the the UK cars

[chippy17]

el_f*ckwit said:

BIG DUNC said:

I have always used 10W/40 fully synthetic in mine without any problems?
When you say it was not happy with fully synthetic, why not? I mean what were the symptons?

If I recall he pretty much just said use oil with some mineral content as Subaru don't recommend fully synth.

There is a massive thread on Scoobynet here:

http://bbs.scoobynet.com/scoobynet-general-1/53943...

and if memory serves there was a fair bit of reference to the fact that the handbook recommends 10-40 Semi so that's what you should use. Never going to be a simple answer to this one though, everyone has an opinion!

thanks everyone, so to sum up, use 10w40 either semi or full, the choice is yours, IMO I am going to stick with what Subaru recommends as they did of course design and build the car allegedly, or was it Fuji Heavy Industries (aerospace division)?!

Edited by chippy17 on Thursday 14th June 18:12

[stara]

just to confuse matters, different subaru dealers use different oils, just depends on what they have in bulk, and at the best price i suppose. i have mine serviced privately with an ex-prodrive mechanic and he swears by castrol RS...

[Orangecurry]

stara said:

just to confuse matters, different subaru dealers use different oils, just depends on what they have in bulk, and at the best price i suppose. i have mine serviced privately with an ex-prodrive mechanic and he swears by castrol RS...

but what grade? 10w40?

[stara]

10w-60