2002 Subaru WRX 38k Penzoil 5w30

[Al]

We rarely see over 5K miles on a dino oil. This is a great report. Now the oil did thin back to a 20 wt. It doesn't seem to have hurt you though. You probably have some fuel dilution with that lower flashpoint-it should be say 20 degrees higher. But this is still a good report-hasn't hurt you a bit.

Since colder weather is coming I would suggest you try the German Castrol (Syntech)0W-30- Make sure it says Made in Germany on the back.

 

[williar]

Good report, for dino oil, but I wouldn't recommend running any gas turbo motor on anything but a good fully-synthetic oil, if you want the turbos and your engine to last, that is. M1 0w40 and Made-in-Germany Castrol 0w30 are great choices.

 

[cdvma]

Ah, yes the insolubles were 0.3% and fuel <0.5%. 0% water and antifreeze. I guess that a switch to synthetic will do good but with almost 40k on the motor is it recommended?

 

[Johnny]

I personally do not see any reason for a change. You just pushed a Group II+ 5W30 2,000 miles past where everyone thought it would go, and all it did is thin down a little. Everything else looks great. Do what you want, but I would keep using it and change your interval to 5,000 miles. Even Patman changes out his GC at 5,000 miles.

 

[Motorbike]

I agree with Johnny , why change brands ? You can fill this motor 5 times for the price of 1 synlube change just about .

Drop the interval back a bit and if you race it deduct accordingly .

Look at that phos . And to think some are afraid of API SM levels of it . This Pennzoil reminds me of M1 supersyn in how they use the different additive pack with reduced phos/zinc and still keep wear in check .

Pennzoil was doing it this way before the Supersyn came out though

Thanks for posting your analysis

 

[buster]

Pennzoil is good stuff. I'm impressed with it. I wasn't aware they were doing that before Mobil 1 but I wouldnt doubt it being they are owned by Shell who is a industry leader. Doesn't Shell and ExxonMobil jointly own Infineum?

Johnny, all we need now is for you guys to put some of your high end synthetics on the shelf and you will have a complete, kick @ss line up of oils on the shelf. Soooo when can we expect those?

 

[Motorbike]

Think - EOP EOP EOP EOP EOP EOP EOP

 

[cdvma]

quote:

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Originally posted by Motorbike:
Thanks for posting your analysis

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Thanks for the advice. I thought I'd now mention that this motor has been packing 150% of the original power (340hp vs 227 stock) by running a larger turbo and I daily drive it at full power levels of 20 to 21 PSI (14 stock). Does this change/ammend views of the analysis?

 

[jason07-1zzfe]

Depends, did you have a insolubles value? thanks

 

[Johnny]

Jason: The insolubles were 0.3%. Considering what he said about the turbo boost, I'm even more impressed.

Buster: Pennzoil was doing all the stuff Motorbike was talking about long before Shell bought us. And I agree, I can't wait for them to introduce the new line of synthetic. I just hope it's soon. Trust me, it will all be up to the attorneys and marketing. The new EOP product is already developed.

 

[jason07-1zzfe]

Just realised, insolubles would be skewed by the fuel loading. But still impressive!

 

[Motorbike]

quote:

---

Originally posted by cdvma:

I thought I'd now mention that this motor has been packing 150% of the original power (340hp vs 227 stock) by running a larger turbo and I daily drive it at full power levels of 20 to 21 PSI (14 stock). Does this change/ammend views of the analysis?

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Double ****

If it will hold up with that engine just think how it would do
in your fathers Oldsmobile

 

[Johnny]

It's to bad they don't make Oldsmobiles anymore.

But I will sure be using this in my wife's new Outback.

 

[Brett Miller]

Hard to beat for the price!

 

[txmatt]

Not that it's occurring here, but what in a UOA would signify coking of oil in the turbo bearings?

The main reason to run synthetic in turbos is to deal with the extra heat in the turbo. With the heat being confined to a small area and maybe only on the occasion when it's shut down hot, might coking occur without hammering the overall TBN/viscosity since a small volume of oil is abused at any given time?

Matt

 

[Geoff]

Don't some UOA show % oxidation? Seems like that would measure how much the oil is coking.

 

[cdvma]

7k on this oil change, which is a bit longer than usual for me but I hadn't done any racing with the car in this interval. Test by Blackstone:

code:

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Element PPM Univ. Avg

Aluminum 4 4

Chromium 1 1

Iron 10 9

Copper 7 4

Lead 3 2

Tin 1 1

Molybdenum 58 72

Nickel 1 0

Manganese 0 0

Silver 0 0

Titanium 0 0

Potassium 6 1

Boron 82 101

Silicon 8 7

Sodium 7 7

Calcium 1687 2564

Magnesium 5 138

Phosphorous 706 785

Zinc 805 933

Barium 0 0



SUS viscocity @ 210*F: 53.3

Flashpoint: 360

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I'm new to the oil analysis and know just about nothing when it comes to oil breakdowns. I was givin a link to the board today so I figured I'd ask for others opinions.

Does the oil appear to be good enough for the job? It was pointed out on another forum that the viscosity is low. Would a heavier weight be in my future? The car may see its first track day soon so a switch to a synthetic may be appropriate (oil temp wise). Thoughts on switching this late in engine life?

Thanks in advance.

 

[jason07-1zzfe]

Insolubles?
Did they give a fuel percent? With that flash, I'd guess so...

 

[rjundi]

Interestly the recommended oil change interval for normal conditions in the WRX is 7500 miles or 3750 severe with only dino specified but synthetic can be used according to manual. In this case it appears that Subaru manual is correct for normal interval.

Thanks for the post. I am leaning toward using dino in my 2004 WRX every 3750 miles although I really am more the normal conditions. Maybe a $1500 mistake later (or whatever it costs for a turbo) but I am confident with Subaru's design. The turbo apparently still flows coolant after car is shut down by thermal expansion, the coolant turns to steam inside the turbo once it stops flowing and and rises to high point of the cooling system drawing relatively cooler coolant behind it into the turbo. Too bad the oil did flow shortly or natural convention was designed into that system.

[ August 20, 2004, 05:37 AM: Message edited by: rjundi ]

 

[Dave]

As others have mentioned, this oil did a great job in this engine!

That said, I would still recommend using a synthetic for it's ability to resist sludge buildup and it's better cold-start characteristics. It should also resist thinning down as much as this Pennzoil has.

You can't beat the price of this Pennzoil, though compared to synthetics!