1996 Subaru Sambar with 30W recommendation

[PimTac]

660cc 4 cylinder or the EN07.

Are you sure it’s a four banger?

Edit: Never mind. I see it’s the EN07.

A lot of manufacturers used motorcycle engines in these vehicles. Around that time Japan changed the regulations on the size of the motor. This is a really tiny four cylinder.

 

[blufeb95]

SAPS, is Sulfated Ash, Phosphorous, and Sulfur. Sulfated Ash percentage is the result of a standardized testing procedure to determine the amount of ash that oil creates when burned, Phosphorous and Sulfur compounds are commonly used in oil as anti-wear additives but high phosphorous and sulfur in oil typically create more ash when burned which can contribute to plugging exhaust particulate filters, and phosphorous is implicated in fouling catalytic material, so to protect emissions systems most API S-rated oils are limited to 800ppm of phosphorous, and because of the push of GM dexos are limited to 1% ash (.9% when Dexos1Gen3 comes into effect), When they started putting DPFs on HD diesels starting with the CJ-4 specification HDEO has been limited to 1% ash. For diesel passenger cars in Europe they've been using mid-SAPS ACEA C sequences with a limit of .8% ash for years, more recently as gasoline has become ultra low sulfur in most of the western world, gasoline cars have switched the these mid SAPS oils because it supposedly helps keep the catalyst healthy longer and contributes less to creating deposits on the back sides of valves in GDI engines also in the coming years gasoline engines will start having particulate filters like diesels, there's a few cars out there that already do.

 

[Matt_V]

Are you sure it’s a four banger?

Yes, this was one of the only kei vans that I'm aware of with a 4-cylinder engine.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subaru_Sambar#Fifth_generation_(1990–1999)

 

[PimTac]

Yes, this was one of the only kei vans that I'm aware of with a 4-cylinder engine.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subaru_Sambar#Fifth_generation_(1990–1999)

I am familiar with Suzuki and their Kei offerings. They used motorcycle engines with a chain drive. Pretty simple.

That is really a unique vehicle and the style is something else. Most of these kei cars were built for one purpose and that was cheap transportation. Subaru added some class to that van.

 

[Slow Car Sport Mode]

I am familiar with Suzuki and their Kei offerings. They used motorcycle engines with a chain drive. Pretty simple.

That is really a unique vehicle and the style is something else. Most of these kei cars were built for one purpose and that was cheap transportation. Subaru added some class to that van.

I know of an individual that has a Mitsubishi Bravo. Not this one but one similar. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.mo...i-bravo-microvan-making-waves-california/amp/ I imagine it is a 3 cylinder 660cc. It is even left hand drive.

The Subaru one is a lot more stylish and may very well be smoother due to being a 4.

 

[SR5]

I'd expect straight 30 has an HTHS of around 3.5-3.7,

Most SAE30 monogrades I have seen have a HTHS below 3.5 cP

MAG-1 SAE30, HTHS = 3.37 cP
HPL SAE30, HTHS = 3.161 cP

Ref:
https://mag1.com/products/passenger-car-motor-oil/monograde-motor-oil/mag-1-sae-30-motor-oil/

https://www.hplubricants.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/PC-Engine-Oil-PDS.pdf

Still, I agree with your suggestion of Castrol Edge 5W30 A3/B4, its one of my fav oils. Plus it has a little more ZDDP than a typical ILSAC oil at about Zn ~ 1000ppm (instead of typical 700 to 800 ppm).

 

[ad244]

10w-30 anything.

 

[wolfox03SS]

OMG. I almost never, never, *ever* fall in love with any vehicle. But that K-kart is the bomb-shizzle, bro!

I'd snatched one up in a second if I knew how to find one. She a gorgeous and likely a very venerable machine.

If I had her, I'd feed her straight up premium xW-30, to a 0W-40 Euro ... both full synthetic. It's not a performance or power dense power plant. But she's going to haul hard for you for a very long time on nearly any thick to slightly thicker major brand. You want to keep her bulletproof as you reach into the power band between shifts with your boot on the floor. ^.^ A tiny engine like that only gets any real power as you go deep into the band in upper RPMs and a rare girl like that is going to reward you if you go dosh-out-splurge on heavier gasser oils or sport/Euro oils up to its limit of a xW-50. (Not a limit, but a no-no at that point)

 

[ka9mnx]

Are these street legal?

 

[Slow Car Sport Mode]

Are these street legal?

I think they have passed the 25 year "Import" restriction, so, I think they are.

My friend's Mitsubishi Bravo is actually branded as a Metro MicroVan by the way, and I have only seen it sit.

 

[jqgz]

Personally I'd use an HDEO 10w-30 conventional. There's a guy on YouTube, Mr. Subaru, who owns one of these. He has plenty of videos on maintaining it. If you ask him he'll probably answer on his oil choice.

 

[addyguy]

Sorry, I just have to say that is an adorable little van!
My choice would be an A3-rated 5W-30, like the Castrol Edge. Think that would work perfect in a hard-revving little 4-cylinder.

 

[Matt_V]

Are these street legal?

Yes and no. They are federally legal to import under the 25-year rule, however some states how banned these vehicles from being registered and are now limited to off-road use only.

 

[ka9mnx]

Yes and no. They are federally legal to import under the 25-year rule, however some states how banned these vehicles from being registered and are now limited to off-road use only.

Thanks. That's what I was thinking.

 

[Slow Car Sport Mode]

I see a Honda "kei" flatbed pickup for sale, if anyone is interested. DM me, I suppose..

They lowered the price and now want less than $6000 for it.

 

[UglattoSkid]

I am familiar with Suzuki and their Kei offerings. They used motorcycle engines with a chain drive. Pretty simple.

That is really a unique vehicle and the style is something else. Most of these kei cars were built for one purpose and that was cheap transportation. Subaru added some class to that van.

I realize this is an older thread, but I try to correct misinformation when I find it. Suzuki never used a motorcycle engine in any of their kei vehicles. The original Suzuki kei vehicles were sold under the Suzulight brand. Nor were they ever chain driven. None of the early kei vehicles by any of the big five manufacturers were powered by motorcycle engines or chain drive. I think you are referring to Honda's S500 which was chain driven but had a high tech (for the time) purpose built engine, but it was not a kei class car.

 

[72westy]

These vehicles are real cheap in Japan (~$500-$2000) on a used car lot. They are easy to work on and reliable. The Subaru is a non interference engine so if the timing belt breaks it won't mess the head up. I own a 1990 Subaru Try XS Supercharged (in USA) and a couple other Kei cars I have in home in Fujieda -Japan.

Use any decent X-30 or X-40 weight oil and you'll be good. I'd lean towards a decent diesel oil like T6-Rotalla 5w-40 or Chevron Delo 5w-40. And don't follow the OCI in the manual (it was written over 30 years ago when those oils didn't exist. No reason that ANY decent oil today can't go 10k easy.

This is my 1990 Sambar Try XS AWD (5SPD-MT) Supercharged....2nd pic is of the engine (bumper folds down) also has engine hatch in the rear cargo bay (3rd pic).

 

[CleverUserName]

I wish we could register these in the PRK. California sucks…

 

[72westy]

I wish we could register these in the PRK. California sucks…

They were until a couple months or so ago allowing it. It wasn't the DMV that held it but the C.A.R.B. and without any explanation as to why. I hear there may be a suit against the state as a result. They're going to lose the mag ban and assault weapons ban here shortly...LOL! Could not happen to a better bunch of commies.

 

[CleverUserName]

They were until a couple months or so ago allowing it. It wasn't the DMV that held it but the C.A.R.B. and without any explanation as to why. I hear there may be a suit against the state as a result. They're going to lose the mag ban and assault weapons ban here shortly...LOL! Could not happen to a better bunch of commies.

Lack of federal emissions certification. I have never seen one of these on a public road in California. They are present at construction sites and used as farm vehicles.