Questions about 0w20 in new impreza

[Joe1]

I just purchased a new Impreza. I was surprised to see a 6k max interval for a synthetic. Dealer told me NJ is a severe service climate and to change it every 3750 miles.

If I am diligent about checking the oil level,is it reasonable to run Mobil 1 Extended Performance 0w20 for 10 k intervals? There is no way l will change a synthetic at 3750 miles.

I had an 05 Forester that I ran for 10 to 15k intervals with Mobil 1 5w30 Extended Performance. I added a quart every 5 to 6 k miles. The engine was running well when l traded it in with 170k miles. I realize a lot changes over 10 years and I don't know much about these new 0w20 oils.

I am also upset that my new vehicle has a black made in Japan oil filter that is not readily available in the US and l will have to settle for the blue OEM filters.

 

[ExMachina]

Originally Posted By: Joe1

I am also upset that my new vehicle has a black made in Japan oil filter that is not readily available in the US and l will have to settle for the blue OEM filters.


Use Fram Ultra oil filter, or Royal Purple, the best for filtering.

 

[ExMachina]

Originally Posted By: Joe1
I just purchased a new Impreza. I was surprised to see a 6k max interval for a synthetic. Dealer told me NJ is a severe service climate and to change it every 3750 miles.

If I am diligent about checking the oil level,is it reasonable to run Mobil 1 Extended Performance 0w20 for 10 k intervals? There is no way l will change a synthetic at 3750 miles.


NJ severe service? Dealer just wants more business. Really if you usually drive more than 10 miles at a time, idling is less than 20% of your trip time, its not severe service. If you do have severe service, I'd agree a good synthetic should gets you 6 months/6,000 miles, severe service. ... If you drive more than 10 miles at a time, then go 1 year or 10,000 miles on Mobil 1 Extended Performance 0w20 agreed. AMSOIL Signature Series or Castrol Edge gold bottle the same.

 

[Rand]

Black is toyo roki, should still be available as a mazda part number or BRZ filter (I forget which)

Blue is honeywell(aka fram)

not many aftermarket filters have a 24psi bypass pressure but wix makes one.

I would just run whatever quality syn for the max interval in this case 6000miles.

I change mine at about 4000miles/4month in the winter as I have a 1 mile drive in the winter

and 6000miles or when convenient in the summer.

I have the similar fb25 in my forester.

 

[gathermewool]

Originally Posted By: Joe1
Dealer told me NJ is a severe service climate and to change it every 3750 miles.

Of course he did...of course he did

 

[gathermewool]

Originally Posted By: Rand
Black is toyo roki, should still be available as a mazda part number or BRZ filter (I forget which)

Blue is honeywell(aka fram)

not many aftermarket filters have a 24psi bypass pressure but wix makes one.

I would just run whatever quality syn for the max interval in this case 6000miles.

I change mine at about 4000miles/4month in the winter as I have a 1 mile drive in the winter

and 6000miles or when convenient in the summer.

I have the similar fb25 in my forester.


The filter is Tokyo Roki, and it's pretty well constructed. I cut open a few Honeywell's after 7k+ miles on my STI and they all looked fine, with slightly wavy media pleats.

In the winter, you drive 1 mile to work, but do you actually drive 4k miles in 4 months? That must mean you include some longer trips in there, as well.

//

OP, follow your owner's manual and do some research. You should forget anything and everything your dealer dealer said to you.

 

[Bigdaddyeasy]

I wouldn't use ow20 in your sub is. Sopus products seem to handle fuel dilution well. I would however, suggest redline 5w30 from my best personal experience.

 

[anl0109]

As far as I know, all US-spec '15 Imprezas come with Subaru's FB20 DOHC N/A engine. Similar to what manuals for other FB-gen engines say, the one for '15 Imprezas includes the following text regarding oil which in connection with "mandated" 6K mile OCI might be necessary to comply with for warranty coverage:

0W-20 synthetic oil is the required oil
for optimum engine performance and
protection. Conventional oil may be
used if synthetic oil is unavailable.

*: If 0W-20 synthetic oil is not available,
5w30 or 5W-40 conventional oil may
be used if replenishment is needed but
should be changed to 0W-20 at the next oil change.

If that's not a concern then I don't see why OCI can't be extended with something like Mobil 1 Extended Performance fluid.

 

[Bigdaddyeasy]

Just to add, RT6 is by and large the favorite amongst the subbie crowd. My wrx did well with it and very well with the red line.
You should inquire with other subbie owners about their experiences with the cars. I think you will hear the same thing reiterated quite a bit. I think you'll find m1 is not highly recommended with them, unless somethings changed. I haven't had that car for a couple years now so haven't kept up.

 

[Bottom_Feeder]

Originally Posted By: Bigdaddyeasy
Just to add, RT6 is by and large the favorite amongst the subbie crowd. My wrx did well with it and very well with the red line.
You should inquire with other subbie owners about their experiences with the cars. I think you will hear the same thing reiterated quite a bit. I think you'll find m1 is not highly recommended with them, unless somethings changed. I haven't had that car for a couple years now so haven't kept up.

And my Impreza had T6 in the sump when it spun a rod bearing at 114k. Just sayin'.

 

[6starprez]

OP does not have a turbo and should not use RT6. I would do 6K OCI's while under warranty. It used to be 7,500 miles until they decreased it not to long ago.

From the first oil change, I used 5W-20 Pennzoil Ultra up to 50,000 miles until they switched to Ultra Platinum and my local Walmart stopped carrying it. I also used 0w30 before and couldn't tell the difference.

 

[Bigdaddyeasy]

Originally Posted By: 6starprez
OP does not have a turbo and should not use RT6. I would do 6K OCI's while under warranty. It used to be 7,500 miles until they decreased it not to long ago.

From the first oil change, I used 5W-20 Pennzoil Ultra up to 50,000 miles until they switched to Ultra Platinum and my local Walmart stopped carrying it. I also used 0w30 before and couldn't tell the difference.


I would bet my left nut that any typical car in America could run 5w40 and be just fine of not better for it.

 

[Bigdaddyeasy]

Originally Posted By: Bottom_Feeder
Originally Posted By: Bigdaddyeasy
Just to add, RT6 is by and large the favorite amongst the subbie crowd. My wrx did well with it and very well with the red line.
You should inquire with other subbie owners about their experiences with the cars. I think you will hear the same thing reiterated quite a bit. I think you'll find m1 is not highly recommended with them, unless somethings changed. I haven't had that car for a couple years now so haven't kept up.

And my Impreza had T6 in the sump when it spun a rod bearing at 114k. Just sayin'.


And you believe the oil is to blame?

 

[Dyusik]

This oil viscosity largely over reacted over (?)...anyway.
My dad had a VAZ 2163 (car is not the point here) and used to the good ole АС-8 (AS-8, meaning KV100 of 8cst) made by God knows who in teh USSR. Car ran fine. Later in the years we was able to get his hands on some SAE40, again, car had no idea and did well. Oil was used year round, (in the winter my dad used a BIG bucket of hot water, it got cold in Almaty). So going to an oil with a KV of chewing gun made the car do absolutely nothing different. Remember, the SAE40 wasn't the fancy multi-grade stuff you speak of.

 

[SR5]

Originally Posted By: Bigdaddyeasy
Originally Posted By: 6starprez
OP does not have a turbo and should not use RT6. I would do 6K OCI's while under warranty. It used to be 7,500 miles until they decreased it not to long ago.

From the first oil change, I used 5W-20 Pennzoil Ultra up to 50,000 miles until they switched to Ultra Platinum and my local Walmart stopped carrying it. I also used 0w30 before and couldn't tell the difference.


I would bet my left nut that any typical car in America could run 5w40 and be just fine of not better for it.


I'm with you Bigdaddyeasy, left nut and all

 

[Bigdaddyeasy]

Originally Posted By: SR5
Originally Posted By: Bigdaddyeasy
Originally Posted By: 6starprez
OP does not have a turbo and should not use RT6. I would do 6K OCI's while under warranty. It used to be 7,500 miles until they decreased it not to long ago.

From the first oil change, I used 5W-20 Pennzoil Ultra up to 50,000 miles until they switched to Ultra Platinum and my local Walmart stopped carrying it. I also used 0w30 before and couldn't tell the difference.


I would bet my left nut that any typical car in America could run 5w40 and be just fine of not better for it.


I'm with you Bigdaddyeasy, left nut and all


Lol

 

[anl0109]

Originally Posted By: 6starprez
OP does not have a turbo and should not use RT6. I would do 6K OCI's while under warranty. It used to be 7,500 miles until they decreased it not to long ago.

From the first oil change, I used 5W-20 Pennzoil Ultra up to 50,000 miles until they switched to Ultra Platinum and my local Walmart stopped carrying it. I also used 0w30 before and couldn't tell the difference.


I have a '02 Forester which has EJ25 N/A engine designed in mid-90's. According to OM, 5w30 is preferred oil but a variety of other grades including 10w-40 and 20w-50 are mentioned. In my experience, that engine if used for ordinary driving is not very picky as long oil grade is 30 or higher. I do know that the Soob community really likes Rotella T6 5w-40/0w-40 and "German" Castrol 0w-40. Pretty sure "European" Mobil 1 will work great too. I'm actually planning on treating it with Mobil 1 0w-40 soon.

In 2010 or so, Subaru started advertising improved fuel economy figures. I'm sure the redesigned boxer engine (FB series) and 0w-20 synthetic had a lot to do with it.

 

[bluesubie]

There's no need for T6 in an n/a 148 hp Impreza!

NJ is usually considered severe service because of all of the stop and go driving in this most densely populated state in the country. But I never had a problem getting warranty work done sticking with the normal service schedule at my dealer, Flemington Subaru. If your dealer insists that you follow the severe service schedule (it's actually 3,000 miles now), I would find another dealer. But definitely check your oil level on a regular basis.

One reason that the interval was reduced was likely so dealers could keep an eye on oil consumption thanks to oil burning problem that plagued early FB20 Impreza's. The low oil level sensor isn't 100% reliable, especially for people that ignore it!

Here's last week's thread about Subaru dealer's recommending shorter OCI's than the SoA.
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/3784566/1

Of course, if you exceed 6,000 mile intervals you are on your own! Not something I would recommend giving this new engine's history of consumption.

 

[gathermewool]

Originally Posted By: anl0109
*: If 0W-20 synthetic oil is not available,
5w30 or 5W-40 conventional oil may
be used if replenishment is needed but
should be changed to 0W-20 at the next oil change.[/i]



Good luck finding a conventional 5W-40.

Originally Posted By: Bigdaddyeasy
Just to add, RT6 is by and large the favorite amongst the subbie crowd. My wrx did well with it and very well with the red line.


RT6 is by and large the favorite of SOME Subie crowds (kind of negates the by AND large portion of that statement, right?) In particular, it is highly regarded in the turbo EJ-engined Subarus and, to a lesser extent, other EJ platforms.

The new engines are designed for 0W-20 synthetic, so there is no basis for recommending something two grades higher.

Personally, I wouldn't run anything more expensive than the cheapest 0W-20 synthetic if I were sticking with the 6k OCI specified by the manufacturer. Heck, since I check my oil frequently I'd probably at least go 7.5k without any UOA to back it up.

 

[anl0109]

Originally Posted By: gathermewool
Good luck finding a conventional 5W-40.


I don't know if that even exists. Probably as hard to find as 0w-20 conventional/blend.