Real deal or placebo effect??

[SuperEd73]

Hello BITOG faithful,

So here's my question. I recently changed the oil in my Subie WRX from RTS 5W-40 to Synpower 5w30. Since the oil change "I think" the car feels peppier especially when the car is warming up. Recent overnight lows here have been in the teens or low 20s F. I know when I asked the question about which oil to use with recent oil change, many of you said the 5w30 flows better at low temps than the RTS. Can the 5W-40 create that much parasitic drag where I could feel the difference in my butt dyno? Or is it all in my head

Just wondering.

Ed B.

 

[chevrofreak]

There's a pretty significant viscosity difference between the two, so it's very possible that you're feeling a real difference.

 

[Pablo]

It's real. You changed viscosities and you, plus your engine know it for sure.

 

[bluesubie]

Are you planning on any uoa's with Synpower? I wouldn't run it too long in a WRX without one.

-Dennis

 

[SuperEd73]

Dennis,

I'm not planning going to go very long on this OCI. I know the turbo engines tend to shear a 5w30 down pretty quickly. I'll probably go maybe 3,500 miles and by that time it will be warm enough to back up to a 5W-40 such as RTS or possibly M1 TDT or at least something that can handle the oil abusive nature of the EJ20 engine better in the warm weather.

Ed B.

 

[demarpaint]

Quite possible, I noted a change going from a 5W30 to a 5W20, especially when the engine is cold and being driven during warm up.

 

[Canawler]

COMPLETELY unscientific evidence but last Sat. when the low was 0*F (how do you get the little "degree" circle on a normal keyboard??) I set a bottle of every oil I had outside overnight for a little pour test. I was surprised to find no difference in my RTS 5w-40 compared to the Synpower 5w30. The 40w might be thicker at operating temps but both are 5w so should be reasonable close at low temps.

The really odd find was some SJ Walmart Tech 2000 (pre-Supertech) 10w-40 dino that poured just as well as the 0w30 oils and slightly better than several of the synthetic 5w30s.

 

[Pablo]

alt 2-4-8°

 

[Canawler]

Originally Posted By: Pablo
alt 2-4-8°


Thanks ° but why does that only work with the number keypad on the side and not the numbers along the top?

 

[StevieC]

On a laptop you can do it usually by pressing: ALT+FN+2-4-8

 

[Drew99GT]

RTS is a pretty thick 5w-40. I believe it also has a HT/HS viscosity over 4 Cst.

I totally believe going from RTS to Synpower 5w30 would make an engine feel less sluggish in cold weather.

 

[ZZman]

You didn't get anywhere near their pour points. If you notice the cold pour tests they do they get them down to like -40 degrees.

 

[Nickdfresh]

I've noticed the same thing in my very humble Sunfire 2.2L daily driver. It seemed to be a little peppier with PP 5w30 than the previous fill of MaxLife 10w30, but only for maybe the first 10 to 20 minutes of driving or so..

I doubt you'd notice a difference in Summer...