Oil for a road trip with numerous mountain passes?

[Owen Lucas]

I think the only thing that matters is the oil is not EOL, just run the factory weight.

 

[4wd]

So, what do you think people use Subarus for in Colorado?

Off-road trail chicanes?

 

[IndyIan]

Will your car have a problem? no, and if you don't plan to go over 200k miles with it, oil viscosity probably doesn't matter at all.
I think in general its better to run 0/5W30 in vehicles that see some higher oil temps(my subaru sees 210-220F in the summer with smaller hills) and computer optimized lugging for fuel efficiency, which is everything with an automatic or CVT these days.
Who knows what your dealer actually puts in, my dealers 0W20 seemed to varnish up a lot for easy 6000m OCI's of mostly highway...
We plan on using this car till the end, so switching to known good XW30 seems to be the best bet IMHO, and if we go over the OCI a little, I don't worry about it either.

 

[edyvw]

Off-road trail chicanes?

Lol. True!

 

[tired]

Will your car have a problem? no, and if you don't plan to go over 200k miles with it, oil viscosity probably doesn't matter at all.
I think in general its better to run 0/5W30 in vehicles that see some higher oil temps(my subaru sees 210-220F in the summer with smaller hills) and computer optimized lugging for fuel efficiency, which is everything with an automatic or CVT these days.
Who knows what your dealer actually puts in, my dealers 0W20 seemed to varnish up a lot for easy 6000m OCI's of mostly highway...
We plan on using this car till the end, so switching to known good XW30 seems to be the best bet IMHO, and if we go over the OCI a little, I don't worry about it either.

Yep, a lot of dealers buy whatever cheap, bulk oil they can find. I read about a tech at a Toyota dealer who went into work one day and saw Costco oil in cases. I used to think they used TGMO.

 

[vregan]

Thank you to all who responded.

 

[Sienna dude]

Yep, a lot of dealers buy whatever cheap, bulk oil they can find. I read about a tech at a Toyota dealer who went into work one day and saw Costco oil in cases. I used to think they used TGMO.

They are only obligated to use the oil that meets the spec. They are also obligated to fix your motor if you show proof that you used Costco oil, they cannot say no. Also TGMO is not a such a great oil.

 

[Ayrton]

Yep, a lot of dealers buy whatever cheap, bulk oil they can find. I read about a tech at a Toyota dealer who went into work one day and saw Costco oil in cases. I used to think they used TGMO.

Kirkland Synthetic is probably pretty premium compared to a lot of bulk oil. I know what you mean though!

 

[Sienna dude]

Kirkland Synthetic is probably pretty premium compared to a lot of bulk oil. I know what you mean though!

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

They are only obligated to use the oil that meets the spec. They are also obligated to fix your motor if you show proof that you used Costco oil, they cannot say no. Also TGMO is not a such a great oil.

Only if you ask for it and there is a premium oil charge. My old Toyota dealership used Chevron.

 

[fat biker]

All the more reason(s) to DIY!

 

[Speedy3861]

Having driven Hondas exclusively for some years, lately with 1.5t engines and not being totally conversant with Subarus, I can't make an informed opinion other than this: If you’re on the edge over using 0w20, especially a dealers bulk/ unknown oil in what would be marginally severe service in any direct injection engine, using Mobil 1 Extended Performance 5w30 or ESP wouldn't have any negatives.