So I am trying to figure out what type of oil to use in the wifes car for the first oil change.

I dont want this thread to become come giant debate thread (which i know it will) I just need some help.

After thumbing through countless websites, including this one, I havent come up with a definite answer to any of my questions.

I dont have any answers from my car because my car came with service prepaid for the first 30k.

I am at just a little over 1000 miles on the forester.

so here are my 4 questions:

#1 Is there really a break in oil to use for the first oil change? If so what kind.

#2 What conventional oil do you guys recommend? I use castrol edge in the wagon, and i waited til 35k to switch over to full synthetic. No reason for 35k just decided to go full syn at that time.

#3 What is a good mileage to switch over to full syn? There is so many myths as far as waiting for x amount of miles so the seals break in properly.

#4 Is it ok to switch over to a syn blend sooner than full syn?

 

Break in oil is used on a brand new motor, freshly honed. Keep it in the for 1k or so an dump it. Cheap stuff is fine pennzoil 10/30. Switch to full syn after first oil change. Don't bother weening to syn. just dump it.

You motor from the factory has already run through some paces. Again after 1K dump the pot and switch to syn.

 

I would just stick with castro. No need for synthetic on a n/a commuter.

 

Don't even wait. Switch to SYN NOW. 100% Syn. Whatever Syn you like. I use Mobil 1, works perfect in the NA Cars. My motor went 153k before snapping a rod, not due to my oil, due my incredibly abusive driving. I've now put another 38k on my rebuilt motor.

0w-30 syn oil, and your car will be VERY happy.

Also, don't let anyone tell you "it's too thin"... all oil is too thick at startup, and made to a certain thickness once hot. Run syn because it's much thinner than dino oil at startup, so therefore protects better. hot thinned oil is what protects, not thick oil. All multi-weight oils are made to be similar thickness once the engine is warm. You want the thinest oil at start up, which will be a syn.

 

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/cms/

Get reading. It's exactly what my HS shop class text book said 13 years ago.

 

Please read: http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/cms/

 

Sythetic oil will protect better. Commuting and stop and go traffic is the most abuse many cars see.

 

Once the engine is warm, oils are similar. It's at start up where the protection of oil is needed the most. It's why synthetic works so well, and all OEs have switched to it. Also many OEs are 5w or 0w now as well, to get the oil the thinnest possible at room/statup temp.

 

Thanks for the read, and advice

 

Advice noted.

 

Honestly, I'd recommend Castrol Syntec EUROPEAN FORMULA 0w-30 as we run that exclusively in both of our Foresters.

http://www.subaruforester.org - a GREAT resource for all things Forester related.




-Gregory
site founder, subaruforester.org