Which engine oil for Subaru Crosstrek?

[N3OO]

Hello all,

I have a question and didn't know where to post it so here goes.
My son just purchased a darn near mint Subaru Crosstrek with 130k miles on it with the boxer engine: I know, throw your dice take your chances. I don't know anything more about it.
I see it calls for 0w20, which oil would you feel safer with? Mobil 1, Pennzoil Platinum or another?

Thanks for any insight,

Bob

 

[Adkcedarman]

No, it should all be engaged with no slippage, except the TC, which is just churning fluid. It is loading the CVT belt with zero movement, but that should be fine too? Lots of subarus climb some hills in AZ in 110F+ and then sit in D for a couple minutes at a light?
You wouldn't want to forget to release the parking brake though, as inputting high torque from the TC when the pulleys and belt are still quite cold is exactly what should be avoided.
Maybe not much transmission fluid is exchanged between the TC and rest of the transmission unless there is movement? In that case then maybe its not a good idea? Subaru decided that making the TC slip while driving is a good warmup strategy though.

I guess realistically, with good oil/trans fluid OCI's, almost any warm up strategy or no warm up at all is fine to get your car to 250+k miles, unless you see lower than -30C often?

Interesting, i never thought of it this way, thanks for explaining! I’m thinking of the operation on other transmission i suppose, maybe on the Subaru CVT it wont cause any unnecessary damage/wear, it just feels wrong to me to have a vehicle in gear but not moving unless its in regular traffic. Idk.

Ironically the Subaru prioritizes heating up the CVT, but this is dramatically slower if the cabin has the heat turned on. So you can either have a warmed up CVT in a few minutes but an ice cold non defrosted cabin, or a warm ish defrosted cabin and a ice cold CVT, lol.

 

[tired]

I have a couple kits for OilAnalyzers that I recently bought

Good plan.

That Valvoline barely held the 20 grade by the skin of its teeth at 4500 miles. Not trying to beat a dead horse, but I'd forego your 20 grade oil plans in the winter. But to each his own.

 

[Adkcedarman]

Good plan.

That Valvoline barely held the 20 grade by the skin of its teeth at 4500 miles. Not trying to beat a dead horse, but I'd forego your 20 grade oil plans in the winter. But to each his own.

Exactly why im interested in ESP 0W30 or if i am content with how 5W30 VRP performs in the winter, just run it permanently! I was not impressed that a highly rated oil like Valvoline Extend Protection could thin out so easily. TBN was lower than id like as well. The 5W30 Valvoline Advanced performed a bit better, but not as well as expected either.

 

[IndyIan]

Interesting, i never thought of it this way, thanks for explaining! I’m thinking of the operation on other transmission i suppose, maybe on the Subaru CVT it wont cause any unnecessary damage/wear, it just feels wrong to me to have a vehicle in gear but not moving unless its in regular traffic. Idk.

Ironically the Subaru prioritizes heating up the CVT, but this is dramatically slower if the cabin has the heat turned on. So you can either have a warmed up CVT in a few minutes but an ice cold non defrosted cabin, or a warm ish defrosted cabin and a ice cold CVT, lol.

I find our Outback actually unlocks the TC and raises the rpms if we ask for maximum heat in the first few miles, of a "get in and go" start on a cold day, so it tries to do both! My 2016 Impreza seems to keep the rpms higher for the first mile or two on almost every cold start, unless its like +20C. It does a few things that reduce efficiency compared to our Outback, and feels much less peppy than the comparable power to weight figures would imply.

 

[derBaumeister]

@N3OO Last November I picked up a 2013 Subaru Impreza, same engine as your Crosstrek. 155k, but the engine had been replaced at about 90k under warranty. I got some records with it but it had obviously been neglected. I've been running Valvoline Restore & Protect 5W30 in it, but it's only gone about 2,000 miles this year. I did change the R&P about 500 miles ago.
Change the PCV valve and hose(due to location the hose gets brittle), clean the AFM and throttle body. Changing the spark plugs is a bit more involved but still a DIY job with the right assortment of rachets/extensions.

I've been running Chevron premium in it for the detergent package and techron. The last tank I decided to try Redline SI-1, I may try Chevron High Mileage Fuel system additive before the next oil change this winter. Engine responsiveness has improved, the slight front cover oil leak slowed to a 'seep' after the PCV valve change. It occasionally has a slight stumble on freeway acceleration, which is why I'm running the Redline and maybe the Techron concentrate before digging in deeper.
I am enjoying how relatively easy this car is to work on. I've replaced front control arms, ball joints and wheel bearings, among other fixes. An Android Auto unit with console installed fairly easily to provide a modern interface with CarPlay.
I'm leaving the differential mount bearings to a local shop.
Subaru paint is horrendous. I think this neglected thing was parked where well water irrigation sprinklers regularly hit it, I had to polish water etching out of all the glass. For the paint I did a slight cut and then a high polish. It shined up well enough and looks great from 20'.

 

[DouglasB]

Has anybody tried the Shell Rotella T6 5w-40 diesel oil? I've heard good reports on that elsewhere.

 

[Lawnman23]

Has anybody tried the Shell Rotella T6 5w-40 diesel oil? I've heard good reports on that elsewhere.

It’s been discussed a time or two. Most recently:

5

Thread 'So Rotella T6 isn’t an ester synthetic anymore?'

Mar 17, 2026

I’ve always wanted to try the Rotella T6 in some of my 5w30 gas engines.

I remember hearing that it’s an excellent group 4 ester synthetic.

Alas, all the data I can find says it’s just another group iII hydrocracked mineral oil now??? Wow..bummer!

Rotella T6 experts please let me know.
Thanks

• 505kind
• Replies: 143
• Forum: Heavy Duty Engine Oil (HDEO) - Diesel Vehicles

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[mt23]

Has anybody tried the Shell Rotella T6 5w-40 diesel oil? I've heard good reports on that elsewhere.

I did for over 100,000 miles on my EJ series Subaru with a 3-4k interval and was not impressed. EJ has easier rings to clean than FB series.

 

[GSCJR]

If it's below -15C or so, I find our Subaru's drive for the first couple minutes with the torque converter unlocked and higher than normal rpms, to build some heat through pumping oil and trans fluid around faster.

+1

I recognized this behaviour when I first put the Legacy on the road. Being unfamiliar with the Subaru brand and its idiosyncrasies, I too noticed that the RPM was elevated and then a sudden drop after a slight warm up, even at warmer temperatures just below freezing.

 

[Adkcedarman]

+1

I recognized this behaviour when I first put the Legacy on the road. Being unfamiliar with the Subaru brand and its idiosyncrasies, I too noticed that the RPM was elevated and then a sudden drop after a slight warm up, even at warmer temperatures just below freezing.

+1 also
My crosstrek does this too - but I believe it still takes a lot longer to reach operating temp for the CVT / emissions system if the cabin heat is on versus leaving cabin heat off.