Which oil for my old Subaru?

[Cummins_LUVer]

Hi there guys, I'm needing an oil recommendation for my 1990 Subaru Loyale with a 1.8l EA82 engine with 261,000 miles on it.

the manual says to use 5w30 from -30° to 30° and 10w30 or 10w-40 from -10° to 100°. I'm kind of confused with how long the intervals are. the manual says 5,000 on one page then 7,500 on another. I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be longer than 5k though right?

I'm located in Denver, Colorado and regularly see 0 to -10 (sometimes -30) during winter and 70-90° during summer.

this car is my daily driver going 15 miles (one-way) to work, basically all highway. and driving around in the city on the weekends.

I'm a pretty easy driver. but these Subbies do need 4k+ rpm shifts to make it to highway speeds.

it uses some oil, like 1/4-1/2qt. never more than 1 qt per oil change.

 

[Cummins_LUVer]

gah! it won't let me edit! here's some more info I found


the manual says "in very hot areas or heavy-duty applications 30, 40, 10w-50, 20w-40 or 20w-50 May be used." the API classification is SE, SF.

 

[147_Grain]

Welcome to the Forum!

A simple 5w30 in the winter and 10W-40 High Mileage in the summer should be fine in an older Subaru boxer engine.

 

[QuietPortage]

Maxlife 5w30 and 5,000 mile changes. You can step up to 10w-40 if you're seeing consumption.

 

[Eddie]

I probably would use a HM 5w30.

 

[cheech279]

Any name brand HM 5w30 that's on sale. Remember to replace that Subaru crush washer and don't use any bargain brand oil filters.

 

[Petersubaru]

I also have a Loyale with near the same amount of miles on it..highway driving at speed limit uses about 1 quart for every 2200 miles, I have been using the Motorcraft 5w20 for many yrs now… getting about 37psi of oil pressure @ 3000 rpm when warmed up…so no need to have it any thicker…5000-7500 mi OCI ..also have driven the car in texas 100F with no problems...

 

[Hollow]

I'd go with Quaker State Defy in 5w30 or 10w30.

Or plain Pennzoil/Quaker State in the same weights.

%000 is an easy OCI.

 

[Cummins_LUVer]

sorry guys, apparently I can't read today.

my manual also says

"caution SAE 5w30 is not recommended for sustained high-speed driving".

Should I be heeding that warning if I go on a road trip or is it to save there butts?

Originally Posted By: NormanBuntz
Any name brand HM 5w30 that's on sale. Remember to replace that Subaru crush washer and don't use any bargain brand oil filters.


I went by ace and picked up a re-useable washer that was the same size because I got tired of buying new ones all the time!

I only use purolator pureone or Subaru oil filters.


Originally Posted By: Petersubaru
I also have a Loyale with near the same amount of miles on it..highway driving at speed limit uses about 1 quart for every 2200 miles, I have been using the Motorcraft 5w20 for many yrs now… getting about 37psi of oil pressure @ 3000 rpm when warmed up…so no need to have it any thicker…5000-7500 mi OCI ..also have driven the car in texas 100F with no problems...


OCI is oil change intervals correct?

 

[Lex94]

Oil is far better today than 24 years ago so the "caution SAE 5w30 is not recommended for sustained high-speed driving" is obsolete.

I had Mobil 1 0w20 in my Subaru EJ25 and on a rapid acceleration U-turn, the engine rattled pretty bad for a split second during the 1 -> 2 auto trans shift - which I never heard before...That ended my experiment with 20 grade oil in this engine. I don't think there is enough oil strength overhead in the 20 grade.

I would recommend Pennzoil Conventional 10w30 since it made my EJ25 so smooth and silent. I will be testing Mobil Super 5000 10w30 next.

 

[fdcg27]

What grade oil did this engine see through its life?
If it's still alive and kicking after 261K and twenty four years, whatever was used apparently worked well and should be your first choice.

 

[Cummins_LUVer]

Originally Posted By: fdcg27
What grade oil did this engine see through its life?
If it's still alive and kicking after 261K and twenty four years, whatever was used apparently worked well and should be your first choice.


I honestly don't know. All I know is that the son used Fram filters (uugghh) and put some blue additive in the oil once he got the car . . . A routine I don't intend to keep.

but I have a feeling his dad kept better care of the car than he did.

 

[Cummins_LUVer]

Originally Posted By: Lex94
Oil is far better today than 24 years ago so the "caution SAE 5w30 is not recommended for sustained high-speed driving" is obsolete.

I had Mobil 1 0w20 in my Subaru EJ25 and on a rapid acceleration U-turn, the engine rattled pretty bad for a split second during the 1 -> 2 auto trans shift - which I never heard before...That ended my experiment with 20 grade oil in this engine. I don't think there is enough oil strength overhead in the 20 grade.

I would recommend Pennzoil Conventional 10w30 since it made my EJ25 so smooth and silent. I will be testing Mobil Super 5000 10w30 next.


I figured it would be ruled out somehow, thank you!

 

[QuietPortage]

The 5w30 warning is no longer a consideration, as oils have improved significantly. Maxlife 5w30 is the way to go.