Oil change options in EJ25 for towing season.....

[webfors]

Here's what I have on the menu for options:

1. Straight AFE 0w30
2. Straight Rotella T5 10w30
3. Blend (60/40) of AFE 0w30 and and M1 0w40

The first two options are front runners because I have the oil in my stash.

The last two options are front runners because of the viscosity increase I think would be warranted for an overworked H4.

I want opinions, comments, etc, regardless of bias

 

[CATERHAM]

Don't know what you're towing but unless you have an oil pressure gauge options 2 and 3 are a guess.

 

[webfors]

Here you go, this is the regular haul. Full family of 4, the 12 foot box is typically on the roof also, and I'm pulling a 1500 pound trailer:

 

[webfors]

Agreed that an oil pressure and temp gauge is important to know for sure... hence why I'm leaning towards the last two options for a 100 degree cst of 1-2 higher.

 

[ron917]

What does your owner's manual say? The manual for my '07 Outback (same engine as your Forester) recommends the following viscosities for severe duty such as high temperatures and trailer towing: 30, 40, 10W-50, 20W-40, 20W-50.

M1 0W-40 or Rotella T6 5W-40 might be good choices.

I've been thinking about this myself, since my Outback might pick up towing duty soon since my wife is saying "I'm done with minivans". Although she likes to be up high when she drives, so the minivan replacement might be an SUV.

 

[Rand]

there will be a continuous increased load with the excessive wind resistance of both trailer and rooftop cargo.

I'd probably go 40wt. something like m1 0w40 would be great.

 

[Eddie]

I agree that M1 0w40 would be my #1 option i just don't like the other 3 options when I see a trailer and a top loaded boat.

 

[sw99]

Awesome pic of the family! I really don't see why Rotella T5 10w30 cant handle this. The subie is easy on oil and that's not much of a haul in reality. I would run it for a season and send a sample to Blackstone.

 

[sw99]

The more I think about it, I like Rotella T 5w30 Synthetic for you application.


Rotella* T Synthetic 5W-40 –
Synthetic Heavy Duty Engine Oil 1.98
Applications:
• For new and older diesel powered vehicles – suitable for new
and older diesel powered vehicles from Class 8 tractor/trailers to
heavy-duty diesel pickups, delivery, utility, and school bus fleets
• Meets or exceeds diesel engine requirements – meets or exceeds
requirements of API CJ-4, Cummins, Caterpillar, Detroit
Diesel, Mack, Mercedes Benz, Volvo, Ford
• Gasoline engine applications – meets the requirements of API
SM
Performance Specifications:
Specifications and Approvals SAE Viscosity Grade 5W-40
API: CJ-4, CI-4 PLUS, CI-4, CH-4,
CG-4, CF-4, CF
3
API: SM, SL, SJ, SH 3
Caterpillar: ECF-3, ECF-2 3
Cummins: CES 20081 3
DDC: 93K218 3
Ford: WSS-M2C171-E 3
Mack: EO-O Premium Plus 3
MB Approval: 228.31 3
Volvo: VDS-4 3
Typical Properties:
ROTELLA T SyNThETIC 5W-40
Product Code 431-637
SAE Visocity Grade 5W-40
Pour Point, °C (ASTM D 97) -36
Flash Point, (COC) °C (ASTM D 92) 224
Viscosity @ 40°C cSt (D445)
@ 100°C cSt (D445)
95
15.5
Viscosity Index (D2270) 175
Low temperature cranking viscosity
@ -30°C cP (ASTM D 5293) 6400
Low temperature pumping viscosity
@ -35°C cP (ASTM D 4684) 28 000
Sulphated Ash, % (ASTM D 874) 1.0
Neutralization No TBN-E (D2896) 10.6

 

[webfors]

Originally Posted By: ron917
What does your owner's manual say? The manual for my '07 Outback (same engine as your Forester) recommends the following viscosities for severe duty such as high temperatures and trailer towing: 30, 40, 10W-50, 20W-40, 20W-50.

M1 0W-40 or Rotella T6 5W-40 might be good choices.

I've been thinking about this myself, since my Outback might pick up towing duty soon since my wife is saying "I'm done with minivans". Although she likes to be up high when she drives, so the minivan replacement might be an SUV.


Owners manual says the same for 08' Forester. I ran Rotella T 15w40 in it one towing season a couple summers ago. Towed fine, but you could feel the drag from the extra viscosity.

I've been impressed with how AFE holds is viscosity in the UOAs I've seen, hence why it's on my list.

I'm not sure I want to spend $40+ dollars on M1's 0w40 when I have other options on hand. I agree it's a great oil, used it last winter and was surprised how quiet the EJ25 was with it.

 

[oggb]

It'll pop a headgasket or the transmission will fail before the engine dies because you used 0/5/10w-30.

Extra protection is always nice, though, so I'd still go with 0w-40 or Rotella T6 5w-40.

Rotella T5 10w30 has served my WRX very well.

 

[CATERHAM]

Originally Posted By: webfors
Agreed that an oil pressure and temp gauge is important to know for sure... hence why I'm leaning towards the last two options for a 100 degree cst of 1-2 higher.

Does the Forester have a coolant/oil heat exchanger?

BTW it's better to think in terms of HTHS viscosity.
OK, since we're guesstimating I think you're options 2 and 3 are fine, don't need to go any heavier than that.
Option 3 would be my first choice (est HTHSV 3.35cP) and due to the higher VI you'll hardly notice any increase in oil drag when cold. But since you already have the Rotella 10w30 you could lighten it up a bit adding 30% of M1 0w30 giving the same HTHSV as Option 3 while improving the VI of the straight 10w30 somewhat.

 

[webfors]

Originally Posted By: CATERHAM
Originally Posted By: webfors
Agreed that an oil pressure and temp gauge is important to know for sure... hence why I'm leaning towards the last two options for a 100 degree cst of 1-2 higher.

Does the Forester have a coolant/oil heat exchanger?

BTW it's better to think in terms of HTHS viscosity.
OK, since we're guesstimating I think you're options 2 and 3 are fine, don't need to go any heavier than that.
Option 3 would be my first choice (est HTHSV 3.35cP) and due to the higher VI you'll hardly notice any increase in oil drag when cold. But since you already have the Rotella 10w30 you could lighten it up a bit adding 30% of M1 0w30 giving the same HTHSV as Option 3 while improving the VI of the straight 10w30 somewhat.


I'm not sure if it has a coolant to heat exchanger. I do have a scanguage that can provide coolant temps... maybe useful for trending.

You don't find it taboo to mix oil brands? I would expect those two oils to have very different make ups. Maybe mix in some of Rotella's 0w30

If I use the T5 I can keep the 0w30 for winter, and not buy oil for 12 months (which is a love/hate relationship).

What's the HTHS of T5? I would expect 3.5+?

 

[CATERHAM]

The reason I asked about a coolant/oil heat exchanger is that it is an oil cooler when the oil temp's rise above the coolant temp's and the coolant gauge can therefore be a more effective indicator of oil temp's. In other words if the coolant temp's don't rise above normal when towing them the oil temp's are normal as well. But I suspect you don't have one, just thought I'd ask.

I have no problem mixing oils of different brands and Rotella is a rather conventional formulation anyway.
And yes since you have the T5 10w30 (HTHSV 3.5cP) you may as well use it up during the summer or return it if you can and get the much superior T5 0w30 (HTHSV 3.4cP, VI 180).

 

[webfors]

Hey Caterham, why is T5 0w30 rated SJ? I rarely see it on the shelf.

 

[CATERHAM]

Originally Posted By: webfors
Hey Caterham, why is T5 0w30 rated SJ? I rarely see it on the shelf.

That's the only negative with that oil. It is a diesel oil after all, I just don't think they've bothered to up-date the PCMO classification for it. The oil's been around for quite a while now.

 

[webfors]

I'll keep an eye out for it.

With a 5mt, is there any concern about transmission heat when towing? And is the only thing that can be done about that is using thicker oil? Currently running a 75w90 gear oil from subaru in the tran and rear diff. Ran fine last year, but without a temp gauge it's hard to know with any certainty.

 

[CATERHAM]

I wouldn't be worried at all about the transaxle with that fluid.

 

[Planb]

Originally Posted By: webfors
I'll keep an eye out for it.

With a 5mt, is there any concern about transmission heat when towing? And is the only thing that can be done about that is using thicker oil? Currently running a 75w90 gear oil from subaru in the tran and rear diff. Ran fine last year, but without a temp gauge it's hard to know with any certainty.


Don't worry about the trans, unless your banging gears towing the 5 speed will take very well.

It gets a bad rap because people beat the XXXX out of them.

As for the oil, use up your 10w30 stock supply up in the summer and save the 0w30 for the winter.

Thats what I have been doing with my ej25.

 

[addyguy]

I think the Rotella T5 10w30 would be an excellent shoice for this service.