It is not tricky or difficult to discern at all. Oil is oil, food is food, transportation is transportation. Saying the one and only reason somebody doesn’t buy X is because they’re a snob is not a fair or sound statement.
Reasons NOT to use Kirkland 0w-20 or 5W-30 Synthetic...?
- Thread starter silversport
- Start date
Your 2025 OUtback XT is specified for SN or ILSAC GF-5, 0W-20. Kirkland oil meets these specifications. Considering your chosen OCI, use it with confidence.
Everything else people are suggesting is simply their opinion. They don't know where you live; how you use your Outback; how you drive; driving conditions, etc. Also no one can offer any proof that M1, Pennzoil, Amsoil, etc will protect your vehicle better than Kirkland esp. if you use reasonable OCI, which you are. Use oil that meets the specifications and a quality oil filter. I believe Subaru OCI is 6k miles.
Don't overthink this. You have a good plan. Stick with it.
Everything else people are suggesting is simply their opinion. They don't know where you live; how you use your Outback; how you drive; driving conditions, etc. Also no one can offer any proof that M1, Pennzoil, Amsoil, etc will protect your vehicle better than Kirkland esp. if you use reasonable OCI, which you are. Use oil that meets the specifications and a quality oil filter. I believe Subaru OCI is 6k miles.
Don't overthink this. You have a good plan. Stick with it.
I read there is a sale coming up soon at Costco...makes it even a better idea...for those mileages....
thanks guys...I appreciate ALL the answers given...the Kirkland oil DOES meet or exceed the specs required by Subaru...I thought lowering the OCI might compensate for any real or perceived differences in quality or additive packages...but I want to protect the eking as best I can and especially with having a turbocharger...
There is a sale starting next Wednesday that should bring the 5 quart cost a Costco to $15 a jug and the 3-4K OCI was recommended by my trusted mechanic/garage...one of the owners is a Subaru guy and he recommended 3K oil changes with the recommended 0W-20 full synthetic but I think he wants to keep closer to what the manual recommends for liability reasons...
appreciate all the answers it really does help
Bill
There is a sale starting next Wednesday that should bring the 5 quart cost a Costco to $15 a jug and the 3-4K OCI was recommended by my trusted mechanic/garage...one of the owners is a Subaru guy and he recommended 3K oil changes with the recommended 0W-20 full synthetic but I think he wants to keep closer to what the manual recommends for liability reasons...
appreciate all the answers it really does help
Bill
borrowed from subaru outback forums - Silver_Onyx: Gen 6 (2020-2025 Outback Wagon)
I just looked in my Garage and realized there was a Box I had with Garbage Bags, and it said Kirkland on it. I want to buy Motor Oil from a company, and I will not names, that only deals with Motor Oil.
I have been running it in my 23 Equinox RS AWD 1.5L turbo since new. yearly 6k oil changes and lots of short hops since we both are retired. Hard to beat an under $20 oil change with a solid D1 G3 oil and an AC filter. Thats not a luxury car but it wasnt cheap either and I am for sure in it for the long game. I was the one that put our oil sampling program in place at work and we did hundreds of sample so I am not new to the game.
@silversport I also suggest getting a recommendation from @mt23. I believe he maintains around 40 Subarus(even more than me) and has very similar experiences as myself. We consult each other often. There’s a small group of us on BITOG that have extensive experience with Subaru’s.
It works, if it has dexos1 certs. There’s much worse than Warren Highline oils out there. I prefer Euro C3/C6 or Mercedes/BMW/VW approved low-SAPS oils in turbo Subarus.
So it was good 5 years ago as an API SP oil. Pretty meaningless today.
I tried Kirkland 5w-30 oil and engines started burning it so I stopped using it.
That sort of funny... Kirkland doesn't manufacture motor oil or garbage bags, it's the just private label that the manufacturers slap on the products that Costco contracted with them to supply.
Also, there is a good chance that Exxon-Mobil supplied the polyethylene to the bag manufacturer anyway. Remember that Mobil created and owned Hefty bags?
We already know that Kirkland does not manufacture motor oil or even garbage bags. I did not know that Mobil created hefty bags.
I think that long term engine cleanliness is most important. An oil known for cleanliness or an oil changing pattern or oil that promotes cleanliness as long as possible is beneficial if owning the vehicle long term. If Kirkland 5w30 at shorter intervals kept deposits from piston rings I wouldn't hesitate to use it.
At the same time it is difficult not to recommend Valvoline Restore and Protect, Mobil 1 ESP, FS or any other oil known for cleanliness. There is always somewhere that can be cleaner. I've seen clean intake manifolds in engines with VRP. Without before and after pictures it isnt something I can prove.
The reason NOT to use it is that there is no reason TOO use it.
Kirkland Brand Warren oil will be just fine in your injected car or Turbo or it wouldn't have the API LOGO!
I have 3 Honda Odysseys (2006-2007) EX-L's with the VCM enabled, and with the poorly designed PCV, which makes the cylinder heads get extremely hot and cooks the oil. Some SME mechanics on BITOG have commented that this engine is harder on the oil than any engine they've ever experienced.
I've been using Super Tech HMFS 5W-30 for over 3 years with 5,000 mle oil changes with no issues whatsoever. Super Tech and Kirkland brands are the same oil. Both are made by Warren Distribution. I wouldn't hesitate using Super Tech / Kirkland synthetic oil in any use case (Even with a Ford Ecoboost twin turbo with it's miles of long timing chains). I hope this helps you in your decision making.
wemay
Site Donor 2023
Kirkland will be perfectly fine. Use it with confidence.
What oil would you run, and what evidence do you have that it's superior, higher standards, than Kirkland?