What type of oil should i use?

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09WRXOBP

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Los Angeles, CA
Hi I just recently bought a 2009 Subaru WRX prem, and its getting close to 3k miles, i currently run about 300 hp to the crank and roughly 250 to the wheels with the cobb stage 1 tuner. I use it as my daily driver mostly highway for about 45 miles of the day and about 20 miles in traffic :(, I usually try to shift gears before my turbo starts spoiling which is around 2-2.5k rpm but there are those times that i like to drive spiritedly.
I would pay about 30-50 on my oil, and i plan to change it according to the manufacturer (sp?) which is every 3750 miles. I will be using oem filter as well so i just need recommendations on the oil.
I have read on the NASIOC.COM forums and they recommend rotella 10-50 or something like that but my owners manual says to use 5w-30... so im not sure if thats a good idea, german castrol is another one of their reccomendation..
synthetic sounds soooo coool but i dont mind using dino oil neither, something that wont lose viscosity and can handle the heat that my beast dishes out :P
Thanks

Subaru WRX OBP
Cobb Stage 1
 
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to BITOG!

Always use the thinnest oil that'll do the job! If you drive it nice and easy most of the time, there should be no need to go to a heavy oil.

Also, if you want to avoid warranty headaches (not sure how the Cobb tune affects that), you should stick to an oil that meets OEM specs as well. What does your owner's manual say about what specs the oil should meet, besides viscosity?
 
Thanks for the reply, i dont have my owners manual :X its in the car and im at work lOl, but yes the cobb tune wont affect the warrenty because supposedly it can remove itself like it wasnt even there if anything happens, and im not pushing it too much just sti power but 300 lbs lighter
wink.gif
, i paid for the extended warrenty 5 yeears 100k miles so i want to make the most of it :P

But is there a specific manufacturer that is best fitted for this type of application? I hit the track about once a month...
 
Originally Posted By: 09WRXOBP
But is there a specific manufacturer that is best fitted for this type of application? I hit the track about once a month...

The best way is to figure out your needs first, and then see who makes what you need.
 
well thats about all im going to do with the car, because any stages above stage 1 requires a turbo back exhaust...and well it makes it more difficult to take to the dealer :X.... occasional track runs but mainly my DD
 
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Man, so many Subaru owners.
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You might want to check the cobb or nasioc forums, but I'm pretty sure that a dealer can scan your ECM to tell if it has been re-flashed.

Anyway, a lot of people have had good luck with GC (Syntec 0W-30) and Rotella T 5W-40. There is also a Legacy GT owner on here running Rotella 10W-30 conventional while under warranty. The GC is SL rated though so I don't know how that would affect a warranty claim either.

Your owner's manual actually states that 5W-30 is preferred for fuel economy and 10W-30 and 10W-40 are allowed in temps of -4F and higher temps and in severe conditions.

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-Dennis
 
its my first subaru and i absolutely LOVE IT :D, thanks for the info Dennis, what oil do you use?
and whats with the different numbers? is it the larger the number the thicker it is? sorry i know its a noob question...
 
Found the owner's manual here: http://www.wrxinfo.com/owners_manuals/

Looks like you have a lot of latitude! They say you can use an xw-30, xw-40, or xw-50, and anything with API SL or SM certification. They "recommend" GF-4 but I would disregard that; a lot of GF-4 oils are a little light on anti-wear additives and such.

I have a more detailed response coming but I wanted to get this out there first for everyone's info.
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I've tried GC, Amsoil SSO 0W-30, Amsoil DEO 5W-40 and now I'm running Red Line 5W-30.

The first number tells you how well the oil will flow in the cold (although not how thick the oil is) and the second number is the viscosity (or thickness) at 100C. Actually, the second number represents a range and not the actual viscosity. Check this viscosity chart.

-Dennis
 
Originally Posted By: bluesubie
The first number tells you how well the oil will flow in the cold (although not how thick the oil is) and the second number is the viscosity (or thickness) at 100C. Actually, the second number represents a range and not the actual viscosity. Check this viscosity chart.

^^ Beat me to it.

Regarding viscosity (the second number):

Thicker is better for protection in some parts. It can also help maintain oil pressure: all oil thins out when it heats up, and thinner oil means less oil pressure since the oil is just sloshing around in the pump instead of going where it needs to go. An oil that retains its viscosity better at high temps will help prevent that from happening.

On the flip side, thin oil cools better, keeps hot spots from forming, lets the turbo spool faster, and generates less drag on your engine.

It's all a balancing act.
 
If you want one oil to do dual street/track duty in California, and you want it to meet warranty specs, I'd go with either German Castrol 0w-30 or Mobil 1 0w-40. Both of those oils have a long and proven track record in some very tough turbo apps, and they both meet the appropriate API specs.
 
Originally Posted By: 09WRXOBP
Dang picking out oil is like a mission and a half lol

That's why GC is popular. It's on the upper range of a 30 grade (close to a 40) and is very shear stable. Although it can be hard to find depending on your local Autozone.

Your typical SM/GF-4 oil will shear quickly (some in less then 3k miles) and some have shown high wear in Subaru turbos.

-Dennis
 
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Sometimes the mission is tiring and ordering on-line is much easier.
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A lot of Subaru tuner sites carry Red Line or Motul if you want to go that route.

Otherwise, RTS, M1 0W-40, M1 TDT 5W-40 are good for the easy to find oils. I prefer a robust 30 grade for the reasons that dOOdfOOd indicated.
Quote:
... thin oil cools better, keeps hot spots from forming, lets the turbo spool faster, and generates less drag on your engine.


-Dennis
 
i will use the 40 in winter which is only 2 months in so cal o_O and 30 for the remaining of the year
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what do you think?? sounds pretty good huh. Im probably going to use the Rotella syn
 
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