oil preference? - Subaru Enthusiasts Car Club of the Sierras

ryan4601 · 2004-05-30, 02:48 PM

has anyone put 15w30 in their wrxs instead of 5w30? if so did you notice any difference in performance, gas milage, etc. thanks
ryan

khail19 · 2004-05-31, 04:25 PM

Who makes an oil in 15W-30? I've never seen one working at Napa or Kragen. I've used 0W-30, 5W-30, and 10W-30 Mobil 1, and the only difference I've noticed was slightly better mileage while using 0W-30. But since you can't really tell how well you're motor is being protected until it's too late, I've been using 5W-30. I would guess you'll get slightly worse mileage with 15W-30, and in cold weather it might be a bit thick at first.

Khail

drfunk · 2004-05-31, 04:26 PM

i recomend 5w40 full synth. it covers all the temprature range that you would need to worry about, and is delo approoved; so it has more detergents and cleaners that protect and clean your motor as it runs. plus being synth. it wont break down like the 5w30, it just gets dirty....damn chevron should pay me more than this.. :wink:

Dean · 2004-05-31, 04:37 PM

Mobile 1 5-30.

A 5-40 seams like way to broad of a range. I recall some manufacturers specifically reccomending against 10-40 due to it's wide viscosity, and I would think 5-40 would be even worse.

Assuming you drive about 6K or more a year, it should not be that big a deal to change weights in the middle of the spring/fall or as needed per season.

I would stick to manufacuteres reccomended weights.

ryan4601 · 2004-05-31, 05:14 PM

sorry, i meant 10w-30 not 15. im just wondering because the 10 has a higher heat tollerance than the 5-30 since its summer and everything now. im just wondering if anyone has noticed any performance gains from running different oil from the standard 5w30.

ryan

sperry · 2004-05-31, 07:07 PM

I run Mobile 1 5w30 in the winter, and I used to run 15w50 in the summer when I'm racing in the heat. However, I seem to have gotten my over-reving-during-racing issues under control, so I've just left 5w30 in there this year. If it's crazy hot later this summer, I might bump back to 15w50 my next oil change.

kamenrider · 2004-06-02, 07:40 AM

I run redline 10w-30 in my sti, so far so good=)

AtomicLabMonkey · 2004-06-02, 07:55 AM

Just FYI I have heard not-so-good things about redline engine oil from people "in the business" around here...

sperry · 2004-06-02, 08:07 AM

I still want more info on that "Mobile 1 is no longer fully synthetic" argument that was floating around a while back. Kevin, you hear anymore about that?

MikeSTI · 2004-06-02, 08:42 AM

I run the cheap stuff

Life Time Dealer Service = whatever they put in it

Dean · 2004-06-02, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AtomicLabMonkey

Just FYI I have heard not-so-good things about redline engine oil from people "in the business" around here...

In what business? The oil business, the oil change, mechanics, race shops, what? I can't imagine why. Redline is probably the premier race and high performance oil. It is used in some of the harshest race and off-road applications I am aware of by the people who have to pay for their oil. (AKA, no big oil sponsor.)

The Stealth has nothing but Redline fluids form engine to rear diff, and has seen some pretty harsh conditions and has not suffered the common spun bearing common on that car. I have threatened to switch the WRX over to it, but am using Mobil1 right now which is about 1/2 the price or less.

MikeSTI · 2004-06-02, 08:49 AM

maybe the bad side to Red Line is price to proformance like you showed Dean at 1/2 off for a great product?

sperry · 2004-06-02, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dean

Quote:

Originally Posted by AtomicLabMonkey

Just FYI I have heard not-so-good things about redline engine oil from people "in the business" around here...

In what business? The oil business, the oil change, mechanics, race shops, what? I can't imagine why. Redline is probably the premier race and high performance oil. It is used in some of the harshest race and off-road applications I am aware of by the people who have to pay for their oil. (AKA, no big oil sponsor.)

The Stealth has nothing but Redline fluids form engine to rear diff, and has seen some pretty harsh conditions and has not suffered the common spun bearing common on that car. I have threatened to switch the WRX over to it, but am using Mobil1 right now which is about 1/2 the price or less.

I'm assuming "the business" he's referring to is road racing, since that's what they do with their American Iron mustang.

AtomicLabMonkey · 2004-06-02, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dean

In what business? The oil business, the oil change, mechanics, race shops, what? I can't imagine why. Redline is probably the premier race and high performance oil. It is used in some of the harshest race and off-road applications I am aware of by the people who have to pay for their oil. (AKA, no big oil sponsor.)

I have no detailed tech to bring to the table right now, it's just what I've heard from people who have used various different oils in large displacement N/A engines (for instance Mustangs...) and small displacement turbo engines (for instance WRX's...) in a road racing setting. They were saying that it doesn't hold up as well as other common brands in controlled tests, and bearings don't look so good after engine tear-downs. Take that for whatever it's worth...

Dean · 2004-06-02, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AtomicLabMonkey

I have no detailed tech to bring to the table right now, it's just what I've heard from people who have used various different oils in large displacement N/A engines (for instance Mustangs...) and small displacement turbo engines (for instance WRX's...) in a road racing setting. They were saying that it doesn't hold up as well as other common brands in controlled tests, and bearings don't look so good after engine tear-downs. Take that for whatever it's worth...

Interesting info. Exactly the opposite of what you would expect based on their business model... Another reason to stick with Mobil1... besides being available at Walbogs.

Kevin M · 2004-06-02, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sperry

I still want more info on that "Mobile 1 is no longer fully synthetic" argument that was floating around a while back. Kevin, you hear anymore about that?

There was nothing more to hear. I layeth the internet smackdown on some SnakeOil, I mean AmsOil guerrilla fighter. He brought up the accusation but never substantiated it. It stemmed from the reclassification of some synthetic stock back to non-synthetic stock. It was a highly technical argument that only the very chemistry-savvy would really appreciate. Savvy=Master's at a minimum to my way of thinking. Basically, nobody's formula's changed, just the way they were classified. And I don't even think that Mobil 1 was using the base stock in question for their full synth blend.

LetItRev · 2004-06-09, 11:19 PM

So that about covers the synthetic stuff. I am about to change my oil at 6000 miles. I remember reading that it was the opinion to not go to synthetic this early. What would you all recommend for a weight if I go with dino oil?

dknv · 2004-06-10, 07:35 AM

Alot of people switched to synth after the breakin period, which I thought used to be around 5k for the 02 WRX. I think I switched at 6k. What is the break-in period for an 04?

This thread also had more detail about oil weight:
http://www.seccs.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=267

Theo · 2004-06-10, 08:34 AM

An interesting site: http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/

Theo

2004-05-30, 02:48 PM	#1
ryan4601 EJ22 Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 244 Car: 2004 wrx	oil preference? has anyone put 15w30 in their wrxs instead of 5w30? if so did you notice any difference in performance, gas milage, etc. thanks ryan

2004-05-31, 04:26 PM	#3
drfunk EJ22 Real Name: Sean Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Ammon,ID Posts: 182 Car: 2003 subi 25rs turbo	i recomend 5w40 full synth. it covers all the temprature range that you would need to worry about, and is delo approoved; so it has more detergents and cleaners that protect and clean your motor as it runs. plus being synth. it wont break down like the 5w30, it just gets dirty....damn chevron should pay me more than this.. :wink: __________________ the beauty of RS-T

2004-05-31, 04:37 PM	#4
Dean Señor Cheap Bastarde Real Name: Dean Join Date: May 2003 Location: $99 Tire Store Posts: 9,294 Car: $.04 STI Class: Fast,Cheap & Reliable=STI Deal, did somebody say Deal? Oh, Dean, yeah that's me.	Mobile 1 5-30. A 5-40 seams like way to broad of a range. I recall some manufacturers specifically reccomending against 10-40 due to it's wide viscosity, and I would think 5-40 would be even worse. Assuming you drive about 6K or more a year, it should not be that big a deal to change weights in the middle of the spring/fall or as needed per season. I would stick to manufacuteres reccomended weights. __________________ I am a Commodore PET --- Now get off my lawn you kids...

2004-05-31, 07:07 PM	#6
sperry The Doink Real Name: Scott Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 20,335 Car: '09 OBXT, '02 WRX, '96 Miata Class: PDX/TT-6 The way out is through	I run Mobile 1 5w30 in the winter, and I used to run 15w50 in the summer when I'm racing in the heat. However, I seem to have gotten my over-reving-during-racing issues under control, so I've just left 5w30 in there this year. If it's crazy hot later this summer, I might bump back to 15w50 my next oil change. __________________ Is you is, or is you ain't, my con-stit-u-ints?

2004-06-02, 07:55 AM	#8
AtomicLabMonkey Nightwalker Real Name: Austin Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Oshkosh, WI Posts: 4,063 Car: '13 WRX YGBSM	Just FYI I have heard not-so-good things about redline engine oil from people "in the business" around here... __________________ "None of you seem to understand. I'm not locked in here with you.. you're locked in here with me."

2004-05-31, 04:25 PM	#2
khail19 EJ205 Real Name: Khail Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 1,769 Car: 2016 VW GTI Meets? We have meets?	Who makes an oil in 15W-30? I've never seen one working at Napa or Kragen. I've used 0W-30, 5W-30, and 10W-30 Mobil 1, and the only difference I've noticed was slightly better mileage while using 0W-30. But since you can't really tell how well you're motor is being protected until it's too late, I've been using 5W-30. I would guess you'll get slightly worse mileage with 15W-30, and in cold weather it might be a bit thick at first. Khail

2004-05-31, 05:14 PM	#5
ryan4601 EJ22 Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 244 Car: 2004 wrx	sorry, i meant 10w-30 not 15. im just wondering because the 10 has a higher heat tollerance than the 5-30 since its summer and everything now. im just wondering if anyone has noticed any performance gains from running different oil from the standard 5w30. ryan

2004-06-02, 07:40 AM	#7
kamenrider EJ18 Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 28	I run redline 10w-30 in my sti, so far so good=)

2004-06-02, 08:07 AM	#9
sperry The Doink Real Name: Scott Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 20,335 Car: '09 OBXT, '02 WRX, '96 Miata Class: PDX/TT-6 The way out is through	I still want more info on that "Mobile 1 is no longer fully synthetic" argument that was floating around a while back. Kevin, you hear anymore about that? __________________ Is you is, or is you ain't, my con-stit-u-ints?

2004-06-02, 08:42 AM	#10
MikeSTI EJ205 Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 2,354 Car: 2004 STi Class: TSM I can't complain	I run the cheap stuff Life Time Dealer Service = whatever they put in it __________________ Cobb Stage 2

2004-06-02, 08:49 AM	#12
MikeSTI EJ205 Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 2,354 Car: 2004 STi Class: TSM I can't complain	maybe the bad side to Red Line is price to proformance like you showed Dean at 1/2 off for a great product? __________________ Cobb Stage 2

2004-06-09, 11:19 PM	#17
LetItRev R.I.P. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Reno, Nevada Posts: 501 Car: 2004 WRX	So that about covers the synthetic stuff. I am about to change my oil at 6000 miles. I remember reading that it was the opinion to not go to synthetic this early. What would you all recommend for a weight if I go with dino oil?

2004-06-10, 07:35 AM	#18
dknv EJ207 Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: 39n53, 119w90 Posts: 2,698 Car: RX-8 Class: CS maybe	Alot of people switched to synth after the breakin period, which I thought used to be around 5k for the 02 WRX. I think I switched at 6k. What is the break-in period for an 04? This thread also had more detail about oil weight: http://www.seccs.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=267

2004-06-10, 08:34 AM	#19
Theo EJ22 Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 133	An interesting site: http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/ Theo __________________ White WRX Family Wagon

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