So.. Best oil for me?

[acceptablename]

I know there's no best. But there is even a thread that says you can recommend an oil to someone. And going by the template of said thread...

It's a 2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i with the CVT option. Hatchback if that matters, which I know it doesn't.

Manual says 0w-20 only and if you put anything else in you need to replace it as soon as you can get 0w-20. I want synthetic oil, but I don't care about much else otherwise. It also says "API classification SM or SN with the words 'energy conserving' or 'resource conserving' OR ILSAC GF-4 or GF-5"

I live in Minnesota. So moderate winters of course and deadly summers once in a while.

I like to go as fast as you can with a 2 liter, non-turbo, CVT car. Which albeit isn't fast, but for what it was designed for I believe it is.

I most often drive short trips of a few miles or less (most weekdays), and every weekend or so I'll drive 20-30 miles, and once or twice a year I'll drive more than 50 miles.

Car doesn't have any problems besides me ... I press buttons a lot and make various lights come on all the time. But that's all me. It's brand new and drives great.

Also I'm at 1200 miles and haven't changed the oil yet, but plan to every 3000 miles. Should I change it sooner the first time?

 

[HTSS_TR]

Toyota full synthetic 0W20 with VI more than 200 is probably the best fit for your car, it can be used up to 5-6k miles OCI with your short drives. Other than Toyota oil, Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy 0W20 is a good oil.

 

[A_Harman]

Wouldn't hurt to change early, but not necessary.

Believe them when they say 0w20.

Pretty much any 0w20 is going to be synthetic.

 

[CATERHAM]

Yes the Toyota 0W-20 would be top recommendation at a fair price.
Here are 15 other 0W-20 choices; scroll 2/3rds down the page:
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2557086&page=1

 

[buster]

I think any SN 0w20 will be fine. Toyota 0w20 and Mobil 1 0w20 would probably be my top 2 choices. Mobil 1 0w20 especially for the MN winters.

 

[acceptablename]

I can't find toyota anywhere on the internet. Is it only in stores? If so, which stores?

 

[buster]

Yeah stores. I'd just use Mobil 1 0w20 if you can't find it.

 

[tig1]

I don't know a thing about Toyota oil(made by M1)but Mobil 1 0w20 is an outstanding oil for all conditions. Last summer was a scorcher here with 22 days over a 100F and scads of days over 95F and this oil held up very well in both Duratechs for my habitual 10K OCIs.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: acceptablename
I can't find toyota anywhere on the internet. Is it only in stores? If so, which stores?

Toyota dealers, if you buy a case or more then you may be able to get less than $6/qt.

 

[wheelman]

Mobil 1 every 7500 miles or valvoline synpower every 7500. If you do a lot of short trips I'd only go 5000. Just my opinion.

 

[CATERHAM]

Originally Posted By: tig1
I don't know a thing about Toyota oil(made by M1)but Mobil 1 0w20 is an outstanding oil for all conditions.

Have you been living under a rock?
It's not made by M1 but rather by XOM.
Here's he latest VOA of the SN GF-5 version:
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2409059#Post2409059

 

[tig1]

Originally Posted By: CATERHAM
Originally Posted By: tig1
I don't know a thing about Toyota oil(made by M1)but Mobil 1 0w20 is an outstanding oil for all conditions.

Have you been living under a rock?
It's not made by M1 but rather by XOM.
Here's he latest VOA of the SN GF-5 version:
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2409059#Post2409059


I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend. I simply used the common description of XMs synthetic oil, M1, as a general umbrella of all of XMs synthetic oils they make. Won't happen again.

 

[wheelman]

Mobil 1 every 7500 miles or valvoline synpower every 7500. If you do a lot of short trips I'd only go 5000. Just my opinion.

 

[acceptablename]

Just for reference what kind of stores is toyota 0w-20 in? Just any auto parts store?

 

[A_Harman]

Only at Toyota dealers.

 

[Hollow]

With the current rebate on Quaker State Ultimate Durability being more or less free after rebate I would stock up on that in 0w20 if you can find it. Run it to 7500 with a Subaru filter while under warranty.

I have Quaker State Ultimate Durability 5w30 in my OB right now. Interestingly Quaker State Ultimate Durability has not shown any consumption, unlike the Pennzoil Platinum when I switched to synthetic oil. Over 4500 miles (changed it out early due to having engine repair done) I used slightly over a quart of Pennzoil Platinum 5w30, which was more than double my normal consumption. With 2500 miles on the Quaker State Ultimate Durability no consumption so far.

 

[Jarlaxle]

Honestly...Id use whatever 0w-20 I could get the cheapest, probably Super Tech, & change per the manual.

 

[Ken2]

How long do you plan on owning this car? 300,000 miles or more? Any less than that, and you don't need to worry about oil. Use any name brand oil of the type specified in the owner's manual. There is probably no reason to dump the oil after 3000 miles except to further enrich the oil companies. Maybe in winter with nothing but short drives where the engine has no chance to get fully warmed. The rest of the year, follow the owner's manual recommendations. If in doubt, get the oil tested after 3k. Blackstone Lab charges $25, and that will be saved many times over in oil changes you didn't need to get.

 

[bluesubie]

With the n/a Subaru's, take your pick and run any synthetic 0W-20 to 7,500 miles. I don't think I've seen any used oil analysis on any new Impreza's yet, but there have been a few on the n/a Forester with the FB engine.

According to Idemitsu, the factory fill oil has a bit more moly than the dealer Subaru oil. According to used oil analysis posted here, the factory fill also has a bit more ZDDP than the dealer fill. I would keep it in at least for 3,000 miles, but you would be fine leaving it in until 7,500 miles.

-Dennis

 

[acceptablename]

I think I'll split the difference and go for 5000. I'm only going to keep it for maybe 40,000mi at most and if it's running perfectly at that point it'll sell good. I don't want to go the max for oil changes just because it seems less... good... to me. lol