Whaddaya mean I have to change the oil?
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,402
From: Bay Area
Car Info: 02 WRX wagon=dead; rollin' in a Craptastic Camry!
Originally posted by twistedsymphony
actually subaru says not to use synthetic before 10000 miles... ")
actually subaru says not to use synthetic before 10000 miles... ")
However, based on my own research from sources other than Subaru, I did use dino until 10K, changing every 3,000. Now I'm using Mobil 1 and changing it every 4K or 4 months, whichever comes first. I use Mobil 1 because it is readily available at the local auto parts store and is a less expensive than the Redline's and Amsoil's of the world.
I tend to agree with Joseph, if you change the dino stuff regularly you should be in great shape. My gut tells me the tranny will be the limiting factor of my car's life and not the engine. However, I run synthetic because it resists heat break down better than conventional stuff and turbos make a lot of heat. It increases the operating cost of my vehicle, but it is still way cheaper than trying to keep a comparable BMW on the road and it gives me peace of mind.
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I used Mobil 1 in my VR6 Corrado that I sold to buy the WRX. I sold it to a VW technician and he said it was the strongest VR6 he had ever driven. That was with 150,000 miles of hard hard use in the US and Italy. I would drive for hours at 140mph without any problems. The motor was as fresh as the day it was new with leak test and compression all still within spec.
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Originally posted by shark80
Have to agree, the seals and gaskets need some "quality time" with the Dino in order to seat properly. I remember the NASCAR crews were blowing rears all of the time when they first switched to Syn because the gaskets were not seating properly. I think something in the Dino Oil bonds with the seals and gaskets.
Don't shun me for bringing NASCAR into the conversation.
Have to agree, the seals and gaskets need some "quality time" with the Dino in order to seat properly. I remember the NASCAR crews were blowing rears all of the time when they first switched to Syn because the gaskets were not seating properly. I think something in the Dino Oil bonds with the seals and gaskets.
Don't shun me for bringing NASCAR into the conversation.
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i have heard engines get used to having a certain type of oil. i don't use synthetic and i have almost 28k on my wrx. after all this support for synthetic though i am thinking of starting to use it. would i be better off just sticking with non synthetic since i already have 28k without it?
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 570
From: Nor Cal
Car Info: 2010 370z Roadster, 2008 Frontier CrewCab
I'm confused. I couldn't find any mention of synthetic in the manual ('03 WRX). When I talked to the salesperson, he said they don't usually fill with synthetic unless requested at extra cost. If you buy the Subie maintenance plan they don't refill with synthetic either. It seems like the cost of synthetic is more reasonable if you are changing your own oil (I plan on doing this).
Are all you autoX'ers running synthetic?
Are all you autoX'ers running synthetic?
Originally posted by GR8-WRX
I'm confused. I couldn't find any mention of synthetic in the manual ('03 WRX). When I talked to the salesperson, he said they don't usually fill with synthetic unless requested at extra cost. If you buy the Subie maintenance plan they don't refill with synthetic either. It seems like the cost of synthetic is more reasonable if you are changing your own oil (I plan on doing this).
Are all you autoX'ers running synthetic?
I'm confused. I couldn't find any mention of synthetic in the manual ('03 WRX). When I talked to the salesperson, he said they don't usually fill with synthetic unless requested at extra cost. If you buy the Subie maintenance plan they don't refill with synthetic either. It seems like the cost of synthetic is more reasonable if you are changing your own oil (I plan on doing this).
Are all you autoX'ers running synthetic?
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From: pompous douchebag
Car Info: $200,000 sports car
well, I decided to go with AMSoil 100% synthetic since i'm past the 10,000 mile point and have been using dino oil up till now. I found a store locally that has it and Redline for like 25 cents more than Mobil 1, and I've had really good luck with AMSoil products in the past. thanks for all the input guys.
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 201
From: Dallas Texas
Car Info: 2003 WRX Blue
I am running Royal Purple for just a little while now and it seems to be doing good. I did not wait till 10,000 like some of you said I hope that does not do any damage going a head with synthetic.
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2003 Subaru Impreza WRX owner's manual page 11-5
"* Synthetic Oil
You can use synthetic engine oil that meets the same requirements given for conventional engine oil. When using synthetic oil, you must use oil of the same classification, viscosity, and grade, shown in this owner's manual, and must follow the oil and filter changing intervals shown in the maintainance schedule."
I still got more than 1500 miles to go before I have to decide for the first change... Sounds like I should for extended turbo life?
From what I heard, worn gaskets and seals over the years that have been filled with dino oil sludge will get washed away with clean synthetic oil, resulting in leaks. So I think it's fine to go from synth to dino, but going from dino on a high miles car to synthetic may cause sealing sludge to get washed out and oil to seep where it hasn't been in the past.
but how about this: what filters do you guys use? I'm thinking just going to the dealer and getting what they have (for now)... but these filters look a lot like champion labs filters in design... nothing wrong with champion labs filters I hear, but $2 from walmart seems like a better deal for the "same" filter...
[corrected one typo]
"* Synthetic Oil
You can use synthetic engine oil that meets the same requirements given for conventional engine oil. When using synthetic oil, you must use oil of the same classification, viscosity, and grade, shown in this owner's manual, and must follow the oil and filter changing intervals shown in the maintainance schedule."
I still got more than 1500 miles to go before I have to decide for the first change... Sounds like I should for extended turbo life?
From what I heard, worn gaskets and seals over the years that have been filled with dino oil sludge will get washed away with clean synthetic oil, resulting in leaks. So I think it's fine to go from synth to dino, but going from dino on a high miles car to synthetic may cause sealing sludge to get washed out and oil to seep where it hasn't been in the past.
but how about this: what filters do you guys use? I'm thinking just going to the dealer and getting what they have (for now)... but these filters look a lot like champion labs filters in design... nothing wrong with champion labs filters I hear, but $2 from walmart seems like a better deal for the "same" filter...
[corrected one typo]
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 570
From: Nor Cal
Car Info: 2010 370z Roadster, 2008 Frontier CrewCab
Originally posted by RussB
well, I decided to go with AMSoil 100% synthetic since i'm past the 10,000 mile point and have been using dino oil up till now. I found a store locally that has it and Redline for like 25 cents more than Mobil 1, and I've had really good luck with AMSoil products in the past. thanks for all the input guys.
well, I decided to go with AMSoil 100% synthetic since i'm past the 10,000 mile point and have been using dino oil up till now. I found a store locally that has it and Redline for like 25 cents more than Mobil 1, and I've had really good luck with AMSoil products in the past. thanks for all the input guys.
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 570
From: Nor Cal
Car Info: 2010 370z Roadster, 2008 Frontier CrewCab
Originally posted by eccerr0r
...but how about this: what filters do you guys use? I'm thinking just going to the dealer and getting what they have (for now)... but these filters look a lot like champion labs filters in design... nothing wrong with champion labs filters I hear, but $2 from walmart seems like a better deal for the "same" filter...
...but how about this: what filters do you guys use? I'm thinking just going to the dealer and getting what they have (for now)... but these filters look a lot like champion labs filters in design... nothing wrong with champion labs filters I hear, but $2 from walmart seems like a better deal for the "same" filter...
http://www.ntpog.org/reviews/filters/filters.shtml