new trailer... my Subaru H4 needs your help :)

Pennzoil motor oil
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Originally Posted By: webfors
Many of you have seen the subaru viscosity recommendations before. Here they are just in case:

visc_h4%20001%20%28Large%29.jpg


The only viscosities not mentioned are 20 weights. That leaves a whole lot of options.

Addguy, what about Rotella or Delo 15w40? Keep in mind I'll be doing the warranty mandated OCI of 6k km (3750 mile).
It says about towing.
 
Originally Posted By: rudolphna

If the engine is supposed to use 5w30, and it is rated to tow, it will be fine, otherwise it would say "if towing use 10W-40" or something.


It does say something along those lines for severe service, which includes towing. See the scanned image above.
 
But you are not towing all the time. A 3-7 hours trip here and there is not going to be a issue. The engine is easy on the oil. The oil is a good oil.

Like I said, stay with what you are doing. If you want to bump it up to 10w30 then fine. But more time than not in the 3750 mile OCI its going to be normal use.

Bill
 
Originally Posted By: webfors
Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
3750 mile OCI for warranty? I'd just stay with the Valvoline 5w30 conventional (or if you want to get racy 10w30) and get on with it.

The engine and oil will be fine.

Take care and enjoy the trailer! Bill


Correct, 3750. My first instinct was to put a 10w30 in for the summer and towing season, and I happen to have some Quaker State 10w30 in my stash.

I guess the real question is does the application warrant a thicker oil, as recommended by the manual, or would everything be just fine with the current fill of Valvoline conventional, as Bill mentioned.

Where are you going with your camper? North route around Superior, Laurentians? A 33C day with the AC on, chugging up a hill in 4th(or 3rd) at half throttle into a headwind for a few minutes might have oil temps a bit higher than you'd like to see with a conventional 30 weight in there. IMHO its better to take the 0.5% mileage hit of heavier oil and not have a problem.
Subaru allows a straight 40 weight to be used, so I don't think you have anything to worry about using a heavier HDEO.
 
We always say on here to use what the manual specifies, right?

Here, Subaru wants you to use 10w30 or 10W-40 under NORMAL conditions (above 0), so even if he wasn't towing, a 40-weight would not be too thick.

When towing, they want you to use straight 30 or 40, or 20W-50 (since 10W-50 and 20W-40 don't exist anymore)...they don't say how much towing, so I'd say for ANY amount of towing, a 40-weight oil of some kind (0W-40, 5W-40, 10W-40, 15w40) is a MINIMUM you should use.

Since you are limited to 6k km OCI's , you want to keep the cost down, so I'll change what I said and agree that an inexpensive 15w40 (like Rotella 15w40 in 9L jugs at WM), or a 10W-40 on sale (like F1 10W-40), is the way to go.
 
Rotella T Synthetic or Mobil 1 Turbo Diesel Truck, IMO. And I would probably push the OCI past the severe OCI of 3,750 and closer to 7,500 unless you're running conventional.

19.gif

-Dennis
 
Originally Posted By: IndyIan
Originally Posted By: webfors
Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
3750 mile OCI for warranty? I'd just stay with the Valvoline 5w30 conventional (or if you want to get racy 10w30) and get on with it.

The engine and oil will be fine.

Take care and enjoy the trailer! Bill


Correct, 3750. My first instinct was to put a 10w30 in for the summer and towing season, and I happen to have some Quaker State 10w30 in my stash.

I guess the real question is does the application warrant a thicker oil, as recommended by the manual, or would everything be just fine with the current fill of Valvoline conventional, as Bill mentioned.

Where are you going with your camper? North route around Superior, Laurentians? A 33C day with the AC on, chugging up a hill in 4th(or 3rd) at half throttle into a headwind for a few minutes might have oil temps a bit higher than you'd like to see with a conventional 30 weight in there. IMHO its better to take the 0.5% mileage hit of heavier oil and not have a problem.
Subaru allows a straight 40 weight to be used, so I don't think you have anything to worry about using a heavier HDEO.


Right.. never know where you'll end up. Might as well be prepared.
 
Originally Posted By: addyguy
We always say on here to use what the manual specifies, right?

Here, Subaru wants you to use 10w30 or 10W-40 under NORMAL conditions (above 0), so even if he wasn't towing, a 40-weight would not be too thick.

When towing, they want you to use straight 30 or 40, or 20W-50 (since 10W-50 and 20W-40 don't exist anymore)...they don't say how much towing, so I'd say for ANY amount of towing, a 40-weight oil of some kind (0W-40, 5W-40, 10W-40, 15w40) is a MINIMUM you should use.

Since you are limited to 6k km OCI's , you want to keep the cost down, so I'll change what I said and agree that an inexpensive 15w40 (like Rotella 15w40 in 9L jugs at WM), or a 10W-40 on sale (like F1 10W-40), is the way to go.


That's my interpretation of the manual, which brings you into really thick oil territory if you're to follow their recommendations. Rotella or Delo 15w40 don't "seem" too thick anymore.
 
I would certainly use some sort of 40 weight in there. It not only makes perfect sense, but the manual says so too! Maybe a 30 weight would be just fine, but you know a 40 weight WILL be fine, whether towing or not.

A conventional 15W40 is fine, but if you think you'll spill into cold weather while towing, then a syn 5W40 would probably be the best (although more costly) choice. I like all of the Rotella options, Delvac, or Delo myself. Many good options out there.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: Steve S
3,750 miles severe use or that is the oil change interval for all use?


In Canada we *all* fall under the US severe service interval of 3750. So the 3750 mile oci is the 'normal' oci here. Towing is above and beyond that 'normal' service.

I just purchased some Motomaster Formula 1 10w40 today as an option to use. However, it's only SL rated. Any arguments for or against using an SL rated 40 weight?
 
I'm still considering Rotella T 15w40 and T6, which I might buy in upstate NY next week when I visit.
 
Originally Posted By: webfors
Originally Posted By: Steve S
3,750 miles severe use or that is the oil change interval for all use?


In Canada we *all* fall under the US severe service interval of 3750. So the 3750 mile oci is the 'normal' oci here. Towing is above and beyond that 'normal' service.

I just purchased some Motomaster Formula 1 10w40 today as an option to use. However, it's only SL rated. Any arguments for or against using an SL rated 40 weight?
By the MFG or just because?
 
On my phone so I didn't read the entire thread so pardon me if I ask somehing that was already answered.

What do you plan on towing with it, and how much more weight is it?

I drive a forester as well and if it was my forester I'd up it to rotella t6 5w-40 to be safe. But that's just me
 
When I used to tow my boat (2500-3000 lbs total) by 2000 Legacy with 2.5L H4, I used 5W40 Rotella. Great oil and good UOA results (were posted here many years ago). The only minus was 50-10% decrease in MPG when my wife drove short trips in city. I used all synthetic fluids, max tire pressures, and a huge ATF cooler. Never any lubrication problems except for noisy rear diff at 60000 miles before the car was totaled by a crazy drunk driver.
 
"The Forester has had Pennzoil Platinum 5w30 most of it's life, with current fill being Valvoline conventional." "I own a 2008 Forester, 5 speed manual."

Well it couldn't have been on synthetic too long. If you have mild summers I don't think you need synthetic now. And if the Forester is low mileage you don't need 10w-40 but for severe duty I'd use it anyway because it has a little more zddp than enegy conserving grades have.
 
Subaru apparently thinks SL is just fine, since they say so in their manual.
It says the same in the manual for our '09.
 
Just got back from a kayak camping adventure up in Frontenac county! Wonderful country! What a great time
grin2.gif


I think I'll go ahead with the SL 10w40 for towing season and continue using my 5w30 stash in the fall/winter/spring.

I agree I could use T6, but I won't be going past the 3750 mile warranty oci, so it's probably a waste. I really have turned the corner on using conventional over synthetic when it comes to short OCIs. When I'm out of warranty I'll reconsider and extend my OCI accordingly.
 
Originally Posted By: Steve S
Originally Posted By: webfors
Originally Posted By: Steve S
3,750 miles severe use or that is the oil change interval for all use?


In Canada we *all* fall under the US severe service interval of 3750. So the 3750 mile oci is the 'normal' oci here. Towing is above and beyond that 'normal' service.

I just purchased some Motomaster Formula 1 10w40 today as an option to use. However, it's only SL rated. Any arguments for or against using an SL rated 40 weight?
By the MFG or just because?


Yeah, Subaru thinks it's fine. I want opinions for/against just because
grin2.gif
 
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