WRX Oil Choices

[mt23]

I'd go with VRP 5w30 and keep the avcs system clean for the long haul.

 

[Blagoje]

Rotella T6 is also popular in the Subaru community. It is available in 5w30 and 5w40.

Bad recommendation, at least for RT6 5w40. If you put that in one of these newer engines (2010+) you can expect your dash to light up like a Christmas tree and have very noticeable issues in the event that you try to drive it.

I would agree with you that IN THE PAST (before MY2010) this has been a popular oil choice in the WRX crowd for vehicles that had been modified so to be able to use said oil product.

https://www.subaruoutback.org/posts/5957485/

 

[Rand]

Bad recommendation, at least for RT6 5w40. If you put that in one of these newer engines (2010+) you can expect your dash to light up like a Christmas tree and have very noticeable issues in the event that you try to drive it.

I would agree with you that IN THE PAST (before MY2010) this has been a popular oil choice in the WRX crowd for vehicles that had been modified so to be able to use said oil product.

https://www.subaruoutback.org/posts/5957485/

I'm calling BS on that. While I don't think its as appropriate to the FA turbo engines as it was to the EJ series.. I wouldn't expect to see any dashes lighting up or have very noticeable issues. Maybe over an EXTENDED period more valve deposits etc.

Yea from what I understand these engines are a bit different and unless "built" the Xw40 thing isn't needed. Looks like the consensus may be M1 5w30 or PUP 5w30.

Just a minor note: most people are suggesting m1 ESP 0w30 or ESP 5w30 specifically not m1 5w30. (although that would be ok... if thinner)

 

[Blagoje]

I'm calling BS on that. While I don't think its as appropriate to the FA turbo engines as it was to the EJ series.. I wouldn't expect to see any dashes lighting up or have very noticeable issues. Maybe over an EXTENDED period more valve deposits etc.

At least do some cursory research before calling BS because I am only sharing what has been widely reported, for over 10 years no less, by people who have actually tried doing it in the FA series Subaru engines. There's a big thread about this over at NASIOC (originating in 2015) for example.

My thought is, why does anyone NEED to use this specific product in an engine it was not intended for in the first place? Anyone who thinks that this motor oil has a cult following within the Subaru enthusiast crowd is 100% correct so much so that many people can't imagine not being able to use it in any Subaru application as a default presupposition not taking into consideration that it is a diesel oil intended to be used in diesel engines and in order to use it in certain gasoline engines it requires modifications to said vehicles that some may have not taken into consideration.
There is a reason why I put a link to that thread over at SubaruOutback.org in my previous post because it has been the case that I have seen countless times online in which people have to have all the basic details unpacked for them as to why it should not even be considered to be used in the first place, again as an erroneous presupposition.

I prefer to avoid giving bad recommendations based on insufficient understandings and instead seek to prevent the spread of misinformation and disinformation.