Mobil Clean 5000 for my new Subaru (?)

[LoneRanger]

I keep hearing that the naturally aspirated 2.5 Subaru boxer engine is easy on oil, so I'm thinking about running Mobil Clean 5000 come oil change time. Unless anyone knows of any anecdotal evidence against using MC 5000 in a subie. I like it because its cheap. Maybe Exxon Superflo, about the same thing as MC 5000.

 

[DragRace]

Mobil clean 5000 is an excellent oil and cheap, go for it!

We use in in a Crown Vic w/ the 4.6 motor.

 

[scoobie]

Mobil Clean will even work in high stress situations. Any SM 5w30 will work in a Subie 2.5NA. I like supertech because it's cheap, but i use whatever is the cheapest SM on sale. I also just change my oil filter every other time, i use the bosch 3323 because it's bigger than the little tiny baby oem filter, but not too big that it would get too close to the exhaust, which would risk cooking the oil purolator also makes a corresponding pure one which is also just as good a choce. i think cooking the oil is more of a feature of the turbo, but i'm not sure because i've never owned one. i prefer the na because with that size of an engine, you don't need a turbo, the na is plenty powerful enough, especially with the 2008 redesign. i would imagine turbo repairs aren't cheap either.

 

[Bill in Utah]

Originally Posted By: LoneRanger
I keep hearing that the naturally aspirated 2.5 Subaru boxer engine is easy on oil, so I'm thinking about running Mobil Clean 5000 come oil change time. Unless anyone knows of any anecdotal evidence against using MC 5000 in a subie. I like it because its cheap. Maybe Exxon Superflo, about the same thing as MC 5000.

Excellent oil.

One thing to remember is that the boxers do have some "concerns" with head gasket leaks (My 2007 has an external leak) and Mobil 5000 (along with GTX) has quite a bit of sodium in it and that could mask a coolant leak in a used oil analysis.

But, the oil is a excellent oil for under $10 for 5 quarts. (Picked up 5 jugs tonight)

But I will not run it in the Subaru until I'm 1000% sure we have the coolant leaks and possible head gaskets (after they tear the head off) leaks gone.

The only thing they did to the motor since 2005 is some programming of the ECU in 2008 (the torque went up a few lbs a little lower RPM and lost some hp in the end) so the engine is the same on oil.

(From a article on a 2008 Subaru)

Quote:
the 2.5-liter boxer four carries over largely unchanged from the previous-generation. The Subaru's engine management programming has been tweaked for a few more lb-ft of torque (170 vs. 166); the brain-box changes also move the boxer's peak torque to a lower engine speed (4000 rpm vs. 4400 rpm). Horsepower takes a small hit in exchange, dropping 3 hp to a new peak of 170. Like its predecessors, the flat four is very quiet at idle, but it still produces enough growl to keep your attention on the way up to its 6000-rpm power peak.


The Mobil 5000 is fine up to the 7,500 mile OCI if you do it within the 6 months. (as long as those 7,500miles are not severe).

Take care, bill

 

[VK56VD]

Run any conventional 10w-40 in your Subaru. 5w30 is too thin for the flat 4 engine.

 

[Titan]

I've run several 5w30 oils in several NA Subaru. Subarae? used oil analysis were stellar, even went up to 10,000 miles with PP. ZERO problems in any of them. I even ran 5-20 in my current one just for kicks. Stellar used oil analysis. The proper viscosity has more to do with operating temps than a simple statement that X is "too thin". 5-20 wasn't too thin for the operating conditions of mine at that time. Although 20-50 might be "just right" for some high heat conditions. Use what is appropriate for the specific application.

 

[LoneRanger]

Originally Posted By: Spartuss
Run any conventional 10w-40 in your Subaru. 5w30 is too thin for the flat 4 engine.


Ummm... I was gonna use what the owner manual recommended for my temp zone, which I believe is 5W30.

 

[mrsilv04]

Originally Posted By: LoneRanger
Originally Posted By: Spartuss
Run any conventional 10w-40 in your Subaru. 5w30 is too thin for the flat 4 engine.


Ummm... I was gonna use what the owner manual recommended for my temp zone, which I believe is 5W30.


Yes, please do. I'd say that Subaru has a better idea as to what your engine needs... especially when it is under warranty.

 

[VK56VD]

Doesn't the owner's manual specify 10w-40 good to -20 degrees Fahrenheit and up? How cold does it get where you are?

Refer to this thread: https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/posts/1283588/

 

[robot]

According to the owners manual 10w-40 is acceptable down to -20 degrees Celsius

However now 5w30 is the "preferred" lubricant from 40 degrees and below.

 

[VK56VD]

5w30 is the new spec to meet CAFE standards not longevity for the engine. Before, Subaru did not recommend 5w30 for high speed driving and for temp. above 30 degrees Fahrenheit. There were never as many engine problems with Subaru's as there are now with the 5w30 recommendation.
Bottom line, it's your car, use what you want!

 

[scoobie]

everybody keeps mixing up the NA engine, and the blown engine. The blown engines tend to blow, unless they are fed a nice diet of xw40 synthetic, but the NA engine lasts forever, with 5w30. that's because the 5w30 shears down to a 15-20 weight, within 2000 miles in the turbo engine. the stresses in the NA engine are very little, and the UOA in 5w30 after 9600 miles Super Tech synthetic 5w30 show shearing down maybe 9.2 cSt, (still almost a 30w spec) I know, because I read this on the internet.

 

[Buffman]

mobil clean 5000 10w30 doesn't have high sodium issues as the other viscosities available.

 

[JonnyHotcakes]

I really like the additive pack on the MC. The high sodium "issue" is just an antiwear additive. Tons of antimony in there as well as moly and boron.