Red Line or GC for STI

[Seattleswimboy]

Hello all,

I am about to change the oil on my 06 Subaru STI. I have 5 quirts of Red line 5W30 and 5 quirts of GC Green. I was planning on using the Red line, but I was at AutoZone the other day and saw a bunch of GC. Now I am perplexed on which oil to use! I live in Western Washington, and it usually does not get any colder then about 20 degrees or so and that is for a very brief time. During the summer, I Autocross 2-3 times a month. During the winter, there might be about 4 Autocross events that I might be going to.
The car has 4,800 miles on it. I changed the factory fill at 2,000 miles and the dealer put in a Castrol blend. I had wanted them to use dino oil, but thy only had the blend and I had a free oil change coupon.

I know that both GC and Red Line are very good oils, but which one should I use?

I am most interested in the oil providing my engine the best protection and long engine life.

Thank you

P.S. BITOG.com has done this to me

 

[daman]

Close you eyes and pick,

there both great oils,can't
go wrong.

 

[Rand]

I like the redline better for the auto-crossing but the gc better for everything else.. but thats just my opinion

 

[damanwitdaplan]

GC or M1 Daman? I'm not trying 2 put u on the spot. just wondering cuz of u'r signature comment.

 

[bluesubie]

2.5 quarts of GC and 2.5 quarts of RL.

Either one is fine. Just keep in mind that your engine is still breaking in so don't go too long on the OCI without a UOA (4k-ish IMHO). All of the wear-in metals cause the visocsity to go down fairly quickly in the 2.5 turbos up until + or - 10k on the engine.

There's a UOA on GC after 45 drag passes and it was still fine. You'll need to search for it because I don't have time.

-Dennis

 

[bluesubie]

Quote:

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There's a UOA on GC after 45 drag passes and it was still fine.

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An STi UOA, that is.

 

[sxg6]

Red Line.

 

[boxcartommie22]

i find it amazing that people would put castrol in the same league as redline!! redline is so far superior then anything castrol makes..imho

 

[sprintman]

I don't have an Sti just an Outback. Redline for everything in it but engine oil. I'd use RL and sleep well no matter how much you flog it FWIW.

 

[Seattleswimboy]

Thank you all for the replays!


Maybe the best way to find out which oil is best of my engine would be to try RedLine and then GC and have a UOA done on each then compare.

I was planning on running the oil for 4,500 miles. I am going to get a UOA done on the Castrol blend and see how the Engine is breaking in.


Boxcartommie22: I am interested in the reason behind your statement. Do you have UOA that show RedLine is much better then GC? Please explain. I am most interested!

Thank you

 

[Volvohead]

Quote:

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. . .
Maybe the best way to find out which oil is best of my engine would be to try RedLine and then GC and have a UOA done on each then compare. . .

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Probably not a good idea. RL takes a few changes for the UOAs numbers to settle down. One UOA may show some temporary irregularities. I'd go with the RL over the GC, but your engine won't suffer with either. These are both very superior oils.

 

[AndyH]

Been running GC in my '05 STi on planned 5k intervals (last OCI was 5,800 miles and this current OCI will likely be about 6,000 miles). Very pleased with this oil in the STi, but I would like to give Redline 5w30 a try sometime. Flip a coin, you won't go wrong with either oil.

 

[Vspec]

I run Redline 5w30 in my 04 STi, it loves it. When I first got it I auto-rxed it then switched over to redline oil. thats the only oil in my crankcase and will remain the only oil in my crankcase.

It burns zero.

 

[SSDude]

Either would be fine. You could take turns. One time use Redline. Next time, use GC.

 

[simple_gifts]

Maybe the best way to find out which oil is best of my engine would be to try RedLine and then GC and have a UOA done on each then compare.

I wouldn't use UOAs to compare oils. Both are great oils and if they don't perform it isn't the oil, it is the engine.

-Thomas.

 

[Thingfish]

I use green GC in mine. And will for another 80+ qts.

 

[boxcartommie22]

i would agree with sprint man

 

[Highroller]

I'd like to give RL a try sometimes. It's a really fine oil. Since GC is more available to me, i've been using GC.

 

[427Z06]

Quote:

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2.5 quarts of GC and 2.5 quarts of RL.

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This is the one thing you don't want to do.

 

[Palut]

Use the cheaper GC during the cooler winter months and the more expensive Redline when you want the extra protection for autocrossing.