2012 Subaru WRX- Oil/filter Recommendations

[CSwrex]

Looking for some oil and filter recommendations.

Car is a bone stock (until out of warranty) 2012 Subaru WRX with 4800 miles. The manual states full synthetic 5W-30 with a rating of API SM or SN and/or ILSAC GF-4 or GF-5. The recommended change interval is every 7500 miles, however I plan to change the oil every 4500.

I live in the Kansas City area, so temperatures vary. I usually drive pretty easy but I do get on it once in a while. Most of trips are all highway. I have almost an 80 mile round trip daily work commute.

I have already changed the oil once using Amsoil Signature 5W-30 with a K&N oil filter. I have heard nothing but good things about Amsoil oil however I'm wondering if there might be something better out there.

So I'm looking for maximum protection and maximum performance. I'm not against blending to get a better oil. Any help/advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[fxrider]

Motul 5W30 Full Syn will be a Great choice for your car , Mobil-1 aint bad either http://www.oilchangekits.com/makes/subaru.html?model=240

 

[dave1251]

Originally Posted By: CSwrex
Looking for some oil and filter recommendations.

Car is a bone stock (until out of warranty) 2012 Subaru WRX with 4800 miles. The manual states full synthetic 5W-30 with a rating of API SM or SN and/or ILSAC GF-4 or GF-5. The recommended change interval is every 7500 miles, however I plan to change the oil every 4500.

I live in the Kansas City area, so temperatures vary. I usually drive pretty easy but I do get on it once in a while. Most of trips are all highway. I have almost an 80 mile round trip daily work commute.

I have already changed the oil once using Amsoil Signature 5W-30 with a K&N oil filter. I have heard nothing but good things about Amsoil oil however I'm wondering if there might be something better out there.

So I'm looking for maximum protection and maximum performance. I'm not against blending to get a better oil. Any help/advice is greatly appreciated.


If you are happy with Amsoil, I recommend you stay with it. There are no "better" oils for your application and OCI.

 

[Bandito440]

I don't think you're going to see any great benefits spending extra money on super-premium oils and dumping them at 4,500. You could get Amsoil Signature or Red Line, but extended OCIs is where you'll see the value in that purchase.

If you're changing at 4,500 you'll be in good shape with Pennzoil Platinum or
Mobil 1 synthetic. My friends that race their STIs are mostly using Rotella T6, but that's 5w-40 and you should wait until your warranty is up before going off-spec.

 

[KHP]

I'm currently running Pennzoil Ultra 5w30. This oil seem to work really well with my 2011 WRX. I've yet to see any hint of oil consumption at 3750 miles (I'm going for 7500 miles).

As for the filter I use the OEM Blue Subaru Filter. I know it's made by Honeywell/Fram, but it's the only filter that has the correct bypass spring tension needed for turbo Subaru engine. My UOA's show that the filter is doing it's job just fine.

My last fill was M1 EP 5w30 and the engine burned a quart when I clocked 7500 miles on it.

In M1's defense it did get an excellent UOA result at 7500 miles.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

If not Motul x-max or bwm specific LL01 then a dexos 1 and add some zdp. OTW an ilsac GF5 oil has very marginal wear protection. Does the k&n(Champion labs) have the correct subaru bypass spec (23psig+/-?) if not subaru will void your ENGINE WARRANTY if the turbo is oil starved due to constant bypassing then clogging banjo fitting screens on the turbo feed. OTW the universal japanses wix filter (wix p/n 57356) is a good one with a base end bypass. Just keep the very marginal honeywell/fram blue subaru OEM in your car to thow on if the engine blows up

 

[CSwrex]

Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
If not Motul x-max or bwm specific LL01 then a dexos 1 and add some zdp. OTW an ilsac GF5 oil has very marginal wear protection. Does the k&n(Champion labs) have the correct subaru bypass spec (23psig+/-?) if not subaru will void your ENGINE WARRANTY if the turbo is oil starved due to constant bypassing then clogging banjo fitting screens on the turbo feed. OTW the universal japanses wix filter (wix p/n 57356) is a good one with a base end bypass. Just keep the very marginal honeywell/fram blue subaru OEM in your car to thow on if the engine blows up

What is BMW specific LL01 or Dexos 1? K&N lists the filter on their site for my application so I would hope it be within spec for the car.

 

[bourne]

From everything I have read here and seen as per info on the UOAs available , almost any name brand syn on sale will do the job just fine for an 4500 mile OCI.

If you are worried about dilution and consumption , you can use a Hi Mileage full syn like Maxlife which has seal conditioners which will benefit your engine in the long run. Also its on the thicker side, 71 cst @40C and 11.5 CST @100C ( if my memory serves me correct lol ) , should give you nice wear protection against the heat build up in a Turbo engine.

Also check if Subaru will ok GC 0w30 , should work really well in your application and is usually always on sale at one of the parts stores

 

[artificialist]

Originally Posted By: bourne
From everything I have read here and seen as per info on the UOAs available , almost any name brand syn on sale will do the job just fine for an 4500 mile OCI.

If you are worried about dilution and consumption , you can use a Hi Mileage full syn like Maxlife which has seal conditioners which will benefit your engine in the long run. Also its on the thicker side, 71 cst @40C and 11.5 CST @100C ( if my memory serves me correct lol ) , should give you nice wear protection against the heat build up in a Turbo engine.

Also check if Subaru will ok GC 0w30 , should work really well in your application and is usually always on sale at one of the parts stores

His manual calls for API SM or SN oil, GC is only SL approved.

 

[bluesubie]

You can try searching nasioc for the very few uoa's on Resource Conserving oils, but there's not really much data on them. So many people are jumping ship to Rotella T6 in WRX's it's not even funny.

As for Amsoil, there's a very good uoa on their Heavy Duty Diesel 5W-30 on a WRX in the uoa forum (another "non-spec" oil).

And very few oil filters meet Subaru's bypass spec. About the only aftermarket one is the new Wix 57712 filter. OTOH, there are probably thousands that only run aftermarket filters.

-Dennis

 

[bourne]

Originally Posted By: artificialist

His manual calls for API SM or SN oil, GC is only SL approved.


My bad , thanks for correcting

 

[oggb]

Mobil 1 0w-40, Rotella T6, etc. It'll probably live a long happy life on a 5w-30, but a 40-weight oil is just some extra protection.

My WRX has seen hard driving with Mobil 1 5w-30, and hard driving with Rotella T6. It's still here, for what it's worth.

PureOne filters have served me well and were cheaper than the Subaru-branded filters.

 

[bluesubie]

Originally Posted By: artificialist
Originally Posted By: bourne
From everything I have read here and seen as per info on the UOAs available , almost any name brand syn on sale will do the job just fine for an 4500 mile OCI.

If you are worried about dilution and consumption , you can use a Hi Mileage full syn like Maxlife which has seal conditioners which will benefit your engine in the long run. Also its on the thicker side, 71 cst @40C and 11.5 CST @100C ( if my memory serves me correct lol ) , should give you nice wear protection against the heat build up in a Turbo engine.

Also check if Subaru will ok GC 0w30 , should work really well in your application and is usually always on sale at one of the parts stores

His manual calls for API SM or SN oil, GC is only SL approved.

Manual schmanual.

I think the manual says something along the lines of 5W-30 synthetic is required for optimum engine performance. Then it goes on to say 5W-40 conventional can be used for replenishment only. I'm still looking for some of that!

-Dennis

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: CSwrex
Car is a bone stock (until out of warranty) 2012 Subaru WRX with 4800 miles. The manual states full synthetic 5W-30 with a rating of API SM or SN and/or ILSAC GF-4 or GF-5. The recommended change interval is every 7500 miles, however I plan to change the oil every 4500.


If you're doing that short of an OCI, any decent conventional will do. If you insist on synthetic, QSUD, PP, PU, M1, and any others I missed would do fine. I'm not too familiar with Subaru OEM filters, but OEM tends to be my preference, assuming their not garbage or ridiculously expensive (or both) in the first place.

 

[rrounds]

How wide and tall is the stock WRX oil filter? If you have the room for a larger oil filter these might work.
The Baldwin B161-S(I use this filter on my motorcycle) is 3 1/32" X 4 1/16" tall with a bypass of 20psid.
If you have a lot of room maybe a B202(I use this size filter on my S2000) would fit 3 11/16 X 5 3/8" with a bypass of 20psid.

ROD

 

[SubyRoo]

I use the Pure One 14460 on mine. It has the correct bypass pressure. PL14460

 

[Gene K]

Originally Posted By: Garak
Originally Posted By: CSwrex
Car is a bone stock (until out of warranty) 2012 Subaru WRX with 4800 miles. The manual states full synthetic 5W-30 with a rating of API SM or SN and/or ILSAC GF-4 or GF-5. The recommended change interval is every 7500 miles, however I plan to change the oil every 4500.


If you're doing that short of an OCI, any decent conventional will do. If you insist on synthetic, QSUD, PP, PU, M1, and any others I missed would do fine. I'm not too familiar with Subaru OEM filters, but OEM tends to be my preference, assuming their not garbage or ridiculously expensive (or both) in the first place.


Personally since the warranty requires synthetic thats what I would use. For 4500 miles I would use Quaker State Ultimate Durability ($20.57 per 5 qt at WalMart). For 7500 miles I would use Pennzoil Ultra.

 

[Zako2]

If I lived some place with freezing temperatures in winter, I'd be tempted to run 0W-30 oil year around. Some people say that OCI can not be extended with 0W-30 as far as with 5W-30, other things being equal, but for 5000 to 7,500 OCI most 0W30 oils should be fine, and highway miles are easier on the engine than city miles. I'd probably just grab a jug of Mobil 1 0W30 at Walmart, use it for one OCI and then send a sample for analysis after 5,000 miles. If it looks good, keep the oil until 7,500 miles, and then repeat.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: Gene K
Personally since the warranty requires synthetic thats what I would use. For 4500 miles I would use Quaker State Ultimate Durability ($20.57 per 5 qt at WalMart). For 7500 miles I would use Pennzoil Ultra.


Good catch. My fault - I had totally forgotten that some of the Subarus are now requiring synthetic oils. If Subaru were to move on from SN/GF-5 and specify an ACEA specification or "borrow" dexos1, we wouldn't have this problem.

 

[CSwrex]

I will be swapping out the K&N oil filter for a new WIX oil filter tonight.

What about blends? I want engine protection while maximizing performance. I was thinking about doing a 50/50 blend of Amsoil HDD 5W-30 and Amsoil Signature 5W-30.