i went out to kragens to get some oil, and this being my first new car, i asked what weight to get. he told me 5-20 and not to use full sythetic until 8000 miles. i have about 2800, and after reading around the forums, i see that it's ok to switch to synthetic, so im ging to go back and exchange the oil. but im not sure which weight to use. i see that 5w30 popular, but what do you guys use/like/recomend?

thanks

-tj

-also, what about tanny fluid and rear differential fluid, when should those be changed?

 

I use 5w-30. That''s what i believe is the best for the Subie. And get yourself Mobil1 if you got a little extra cash. It's the greatest oil out there.

-rich

 

15k mi. ?

 

Oh and i've been running synthetic since day one. And if you run your can anywhere near as hard as i do you'll still change your oil ever 3000 - 4000 miles. They say that with synth you can go as much as 6000 but i never do.

 

whats that purple junk i hear about that lasts for some crazy long time?

 

I use 10w-30 during the summer months and use 5w-30 during the winter. Always synthetic. Mobil 1.

 

not its not.

recommended is 5w-30

i use 5w-30 in the winter and 10w-30 in the summer and sometimes in the real hot parts of the summer i will run 15w-50

oh yeah and i only use mobile 1 synthetic. switched over to it after 10k miles

 

ya if u live in the bay area i doubt u will ever need 5w30... 10w30 protects from -18C and up... when does it really get below that around here

the reason they recommend 5w30 is cuz its kinda universal and lots of people that live in the snow buy subys

 

I use Kendall 10W30, and recommend waiting until 6,000-7,500 miles before switching.

I will switch to Redline 10W30 at that time on my STi.

I did the same with my old WRX to great results.

As most have noted, we don't get cold enough out here for 5W30.

Besides, full synthetic flows better than dino oil at a specific weight, so you can go heavier.

 

I use Mobile1 5w-30 because it's cheap at COSTCO

 

I have heard from a few different Subie techs that you should wait until 7500-10K miles before going synthetic. They said it had to do with setting the seals in the engine.

 

Owners Manual contains a chart in the Maintenance and service chapter, with oil weight recommendations based upon your local area temperatures. For the Bay Area, I'd use 5W-30 for good cold start oil flow and a possible marginal increase in fuel economy (that's the claim but I don't think I've ever noticed a difference). Where I live, the summer temps go over 100° F so I might be better off using 10W-40 in the summer time.

Check the other documents that came with your new vehicle. You should also have a Warranty and Maintenance booklet that has a schedule that owners should follow.

--
0==WW==0
"…axles of evil…" - george w. bush

 

i use 15w-50 race formula mobil 1, has the red top.....

i have 38,000 miles tho