M1 5w30, 7534mi, 2003 Subaru WRX wagon 2.0 turbo

[Dave]

Latest numbers on the left using M1 5w30 and oem oil/air filter, just over 49k on the car.

code:

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Miles 7534 7490 7382 7666 7247 5339 3305

Oil M1 M1 AMS M1 M1 mix M1

Vis 5w30 10w30 5w30 5w30 5w30 mix 0w30



Aluminum 3 2 2 4 5 5 5

Chromium 1 0 1 1 1 1 1

Iron 10 5 6 9 11 7 8

Copper 2 2 3 4 6 6 3

Lead 3 1 1 1 2 2 2

Tin 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

Molybdenum 74 58 26 67 72 71 83

Nickel 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Manganese 1 0 1 0 1 1 1

Silver 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Titanium 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Potassium 3 1 0 1 1 1 2

Boron 120 110 33 112 78 74 152

Silicon 10 3 5 6 6 8 8

Sodium 11 7 6 9 9 8 9

Calcium 2604 2324 2028 2537 2735 2465 2568

Magnesium 181 37 558 24 131 125 33

Phosphorus 813 673 832 687 755 784 828

Zinc 862 720 990 886 859 921 943

Barium 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Sus Vis 58.3 60.0 65.4 60.9 62.6 61.2 58.3

FlashPt 375 405 390 390 380 395 420

Fuel%
Antifreeze% 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Water% 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Insolubules% 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.4 0.2 0.2

MakeUp (qts) 0.5 1 0.5 1.5 1 0 0

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Seems like the wear numbers went up a decent amount this interval, but still are pretty good. Refilled it with M1 5w30 again and will see how it holds up after 8k mi. Looks like the 10w30 may work a bit better in this application.

Subaru recently switched their OEM filter to a new smaller filter (used for the first time in this last fill), I wonder if it may be filling up and causing the slightly elevated readings, or was the last one abnormally good?

Previous thread here.

Scan of original Blackstone report.

 

[oilyriser]

Is Subaru now using Fram filters in CA, like they are here?

 

[AndyH]

I think I'd be using the M1 10w-30 if it was my WRX and I lived in San Diego.

Which OEM filter are you using? Part #15208AA080 or #15208AA100 (the new # for the 15208AA080 filter). I use the same filter on my STi, and from everything I've read it is a very high-quality filter. It is made in Japan by Tokyo Roki.

Here's a good STi oil filter analysis performed by WolfPlayer posted over on one of the STi forums:
http://www.imprezawrxsti.com/postnuke/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=16625

 

[Bill]

Dave,

This OCI 7534 miles, the last OCI 7490 miles,
Silicon went from 3 ppm to 10 ppm, up more then three times the amount.
You mentioned that the Air Filter size changed?
If you put a new Air filter in your airbox, maybe the Air Filter is not seated properly?

Just something to think about, you could look at the filter to make sure it is seated correctly in the Airbox, make sure none of the seals are pinched, etc.

For the last four UOAs before this one, each Silicon reading was getting lower with approximately the same amount of miles driven, Air Filter may have been getting better with use.
The 10W-30 oil appears to give the best wear numbers but that interval also had the lowest Silicon numbers to.

 

[AndyH]

quote:

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Originally posted by Bill:
Dave,

This OCI 7534 miles, the last OCI 7490 miles,
Silicon went from 3 ppm to 10 ppm, up more then three times the amount.
You mentioned that the Air Filter size changed?

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I believe he was referring to the oil filter, which Subaru made smaller for the turbo models to provide additional clearance from the oil filter to the exhaust headers.

 

[Bill]

posted by Andy

quote:

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I believe he was referring to the oil filter, which Subaru made smaller for the turbo models to provide additional clearance from the oil filter to the exhaust headers.

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Forget my comment about the Air Filter changing size but the Silicon DID triple in PPM, why did this happen?
Dave, did you replace the Air Filter?
Have this vehicle been driven in dustier areas for this interval?
if not, then it is possible you may have inherited an air leak somewhere in the intake.

By the way, the oil filter used in this interval was smaller in size?
I believe the oil filter worked fine, this OCI with 5W-30 has lower Insolubles then the other two OCIs run with 5W-30 and the larger filter.

quote:

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Subaru recently switched their OEM filter to a new smaller filter (used for the first time in this last fill), I wonder if it may be filling up and causing the slightly elevated readings, or was the last one abnormally good?

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Dave, the Silicon has been trending down within the last five UOAs, and the Iron wear has gone down with the trending down of the Silicon in the last five OCIs, I do not know if the last OCi was abnormally good but it looks like the Silicon has lessened with each suceeding interval until this one.
I do not think the oil filter is capable of filtering ppm wear and Silicon maybe someone else will have some input

Bill

 

[Dave]

The air filter has been in the car for almost 20k, I haven't touched it or the airbox the entire time. I did replace the air filter when changing the oil this time.

I doubt that I have an intake leak, do it's pre-MAF sensor as the Subaru's ECU is sensitive to such things and will throw a code for A/F ratio too lean.

I did drive out to near the Grand Canyon and back, on the way back there was a heavy head wind (probably 25mph+) which was blowing up a lot of debris for a few hours of driving at 80mph or so.

I am running P/N #15208AA100 for the oil filter, while it looks just as good as the 080 filter, it is smaller. Still appears to be made in Japan.

Thanks for the feedback!

 

[SilverGGA@Work]

I've been told by an online Subaru parts dealer that the 080 and 100 are the same filter, and the only difference is the part number change.

I ran the 080 along with Mobil T&SUV 5w-40 and had a fine UOA. It is somewhere in this forum.

However, I have been using 0w-40 lately and will switch to the 10w-40 EP in my next oil change, and will do another UOA. I want the A3 rating.

Are you using the API SM M1 now? You should consider running their EP version, which is API SL certified and should be good enough for your 2003's requirement. Only MY05+ cars require API SM.

 

[AndyH]

quote:

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Originally posted by Dave:
I am running P/N #15208AA100 for the oil filter, while it looks just as good as the 080 filter, it is smaller. Still appears to be made in Japan.

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That is odd, the 080 and 100 filters look pretty much identical to my eye...I've got some of both.

I swear I read on one of the Subie forums that these two filters are virtually identical in size...not sure why the part number changed.

The old, larger-sized oil filter that Subaru had been using on the turbo engines was part # 060 and was white in color. This is outlined in this message thread from NASIOC:
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=434057

 

[Dave]

Ah, yes, I was mixing up the 080 with the 060. Not sure what API of M1 I'm running... will have to run out and check.