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Old 11-28-2012, 11:16 PM   #1
Slurpyy08wrx
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Default 2013 wrx oil change advice.

I'm contemplating a dealer oil change?

Or shell rotella t6 oil change with oem blue filter with crush washer done by myself.

Scared if a ringland goes for some reason they would say "you used the wrong oil" but I know how much better the t6 is for viscosity, and break down. I have 3100 miles on my 13 wrx.
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Old 11-28-2012, 11:20 PM   #2
Navendra94
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Isn't your first oil change free? See if your dealer is running that offer. A lot of them do that .
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Old 11-28-2012, 11:25 PM   #3
Slurpyy08wrx
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Lol apperently not I was there today and asked the cost and 72$ for a synthetic penzoil oil change made me say k thx bye, and bought 3 oem filters just nervous if I do my oil changes myself like I did on my 08 the ringlands would go? I'm OCD with my car haha but rotella t6 is the better cheaper oil. Plus like everyone says the problem affects hardly anyone just we read about the failures because they are what's posted not "yay 80k on my 2011 wrx pistons are going strong" ha
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Old 11-28-2012, 11:28 PM   #4
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I'm leaning for the rotella though, seems safer, except no safety net to fall back on if motor failed, but I am going stage 1 soon.. It's hopeless, maybe I just shouldn't drive a car if I'm gonna worry so much, but can't resist to make my car my own lol.
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Old 11-28-2012, 11:44 PM   #5
kingme
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Slurpyy08wrx View Post
I'm leaning for the rotella though, seems safer, except no safety net to fall back on if motor failed, but I am going stage 1 soon.. It's hopeless, maybe I should just drive the car and not worry so much, but can't resist to make my car my own lol.
Fixed.

Relax. I remember being paranoid like you when I first got the car. If you drive it in a reasonable manner and keep up with maintenance it will be fine.

If you're going to do your own oil changes use the RT6. Stage 2 and almost 50,000 miles later and my UOAs look like this:


Which is to say, really good.
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Old 11-29-2012, 12:08 AM   #6
JSchell1309
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^awesome lab results kingme, thanks for sharing. My old mustang I would change the oil every 5k miles. That was only using regular too.

My first few changes in the Subie have been at 3k miles. I have now bumped it up to every 5k especially since this is my daily and it racks up miles. Interesting they say you could run it up to 7k. I know the manual says you can, just in the back of my mind it seems like it is pushing it.

The old 3k oil change is back in the big block muscle car dinosaur days. Same myth as cars start to fall apart at 100k miles. New vehicles, with better manufacturing procedures and tighter tolerances last much longer. These myths are just perpetuated so Valvoline and JiffyLubes stay in business.
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Old 11-29-2012, 12:20 AM   #7
Tenament
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IMO, I would never, ever let a dealer do any sort of work on your car (yes, even an oil change) unless you're next to one of the rare ones that don't catastrophically mess up people's cars.
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Old 11-29-2012, 12:33 AM   #8
rob1n1
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No reason why you shouldn't do the oil changes yourself (if you don't know what you're doing, get a local Subaru buddy to show you the first time). Just keep everything documented, and have receipts for the oil and genuine filters in case you need warranty work and have to demonstrate that you followed a correct oil maintenance schedule.

And if you're really OCD about it, send a sample off to Blackstone every oil change, that's the most scientific way of knowing if your engine is "doing fine" or not.

Edit: Also, if you're going to be doing your oil changes, you might want to invest in a Fumoto valve (search on Google or NASIOC for more details).
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Old 11-29-2012, 02:00 AM   #9
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Use a quality 5w30 to stay in warranty and do the changes yourself. If something does go awry it's just one less thing they can point at. There are alternatives to the sacred T6.
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Old 11-29-2012, 02:14 AM   #10
SJ9ninety
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I used RT6 at 1k and am about to again for the 3k. However did you say you bought the blue filters? Mine came with the black one and my dealer offers the black ones as well as the blue ones...don't know the difference.
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Old 11-29-2012, 06:00 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SenorDucK View Post
Use a quality 5w30 to stay in warranty and do the changes yourself. If something does go awry it's just one less thing they can point at. There are alternatives to the sacred T6.
FYI, 5W-40 is listed as an acceptable alternative so T6 is perfectly fine.

T6 is sacred because it is consistently showing very good UOA results. It holds viscosity well and holds up for a long period of time. I have 25K on my STI now and I am seeing minimal consumption of oil in the car. I typically lose 1/4 to 1/2 of a quart every 7500 which is excellent. My advice, if you know something that works well, why go with something else? Especially given the price of T6. I've used German Castrol and even Amsoil in the past. I paid premium for Amsoil but did not really see the benefits over T6. It's an easy decision at that point.
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Old 11-29-2012, 07:45 AM   #12
Slurpyy08wrx
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Yes the oem blue filters, I don't drive the car hard just like to accelerate on on ramps, and what not, I drive 84 miles a day round trip all highway. But I guess I gotta stop worrying about the unknown, cross that bridge if I ever get to it.

My wife says "your worried about a brand new cars engine going kaboom?" Haha I say ya cause I've read about ringlands failure on the forums lolol.
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Old 11-29-2012, 07:53 AM   #13
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I tried to switch to Rotella but when I took the oil to my dealership to have them do my oil change they went on to tell me that my warranty would be out the door if they put it in. I talked to 2 different people there that told me they have to put in subaru oil. Idk why this is, but I don't see why they would lie to me.
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Old 11-29-2012, 08:57 AM   #14
Slurpyy08wrx
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To get that 71$ for a oil change is why they lied lol, you can change it yourself, but need proof of receipts and what not, I'm gonna go with rotella screw the dealership and oil changes ha.
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Old 11-29-2012, 08:57 AM   #15
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You should be changing your oil every at least every 3750 miles...using a Subaru oil filter.

I change my own oil every 3000 miles using a Subaru oil filter, and on a daily driver, at that interval you can even use the dreaded 5w30 Mobil 1 with no worries...as long as you keep all your purchase receipts.

You are NOT required to use only Subaru oil, just the recommended viscosity oil.
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Old 11-29-2012, 10:54 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WRXLTD
You should be changing your oil every at least every 3750 miles...using a Subaru oil filter.

I change my own oil every 3000 miles using a Subaru oil filter, and on a daily driver, at that interval you can even use the dreaded 5w30 Mobil 1 with no worries...as long as you keep all your purchase receipts.

You are NOT required to use only Subaru oil, just the recommended viscosity oil.
The factory recommended interval is 7500 miles. The older models they used to recommend 3750. I am going to change every 5-6k.

I will use the T6 after my warranty period is up, for now I am running motul Eco energy 5w30. I just don't want a hassle if they say something about not using the correct oil weight listed in my manual if I have a serious problem.
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Old 11-29-2012, 10:59 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dsn112 View Post

The factory recommended interval is 7500 miles.
Not on the turbo models...not anymore.
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Old 11-29-2012, 10:59 AM   #18
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Not to jump on the T6 bandwagon, but I tried it out for myself after the previous owner used dino oil up to 94k. This is when I switched to synthetic. So far so good, minimal oil consumption, but I do check it a lot just to be sure. *knock on wood*

As long as the manual states 5w40 is ok, just save the receipts. I've researched the crap out of oil and T6 seems to be very good.
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Old 11-29-2012, 12:02 PM   #19
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...I'm interested in the whole 3750/7500 debate, because the service booklet I just got from Subaru of New England says "2013 wrx service intervals" (outlining what needs to be done at what mileage in sort of coupon form), and it uses the 7500 mileage spacing...

Am I the only one who got this neat little thing?
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Old 11-29-2012, 12:06 PM   #20
HinshawWRX
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What does the owners manual of the car say?
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Old 11-29-2012, 12:08 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tenament View Post
IMO, I would never, ever let a dealer do any sort of work on your car (yes, even an oil change) unless you're next to one of the rare ones that don't catastrophically mess up people's cars.
So, I take it that if you experience a covered issue during your warranty period, you're going to just pay out of pocket and fix it yourself?
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Old 11-29-2012, 12:15 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ziggyrama View Post
FYI, 5W-40 is listed as an acceptable alternative so T6 is perfectly fine.
Absolutely not true for the 2012+ WRXs. It specifically notes in the manual that 5W-30 synthetic is the only acceptable oil. No other grades are listed like previous years. It states that you can use non-synthetic for topping off, but that's it.

If you've got a motor issue in a 2012+ WRX and you show them reciepts for 5W-40 which is not spec (especially Rotella T6 which is made for diesels), you risk warranty work denial.

If you're dead set on using 5W-40 in your 2012 WRX+, there are ways of doing it without SOA really knowing. I'll leave that up to you to figure out.
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Old 11-29-2012, 12:16 PM   #23
Rallbaru
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JJL91 View Post
I tried to switch to Rotella but when I took the oil to my dealership to have them do my oil change they went on to tell me that my warranty would be out the door if they put it in. I talked to 2 different people there that told me they have to put in subaru oil. Idk why this is, but I don't see why they would lie to me.
It is illegal for them to require you to use subaru oil or filter. You can use anything thing that meets or exceeds the factory requirements. If someone tells you this tell them to go read the Magnuson-Moss warranty act of 1975.

Quote:
Originally Posted by WRXLTD View Post
Not on the turbo models...not anymore.
Incorrect, older turbo cars where changing oil at the lower interval. But now that almost everything is synthetic they have switched to the 7500 miles oil change.

References:
2013 Subaru Impreza WRX/STI Owners manual
Dealerships mouth

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tankertruck View Post
...I'm interested in the whole 3750/7500 debate, because the service booklet I just got from Subaru of New England says "2013 wrx service intervals" (outlining what needs to be done at what mileage in sort of coupon form), and it uses the 7500 mileage spacing...

Am I the only one who got this neat little thing?
You are correct. I have the same information.
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Old 11-29-2012, 12:53 PM   #24
Slurpyy08wrx
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Buy oil for my wife jeep and show them the recepits for that? Haha
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Old 11-29-2012, 12:55 PM   #25
JSchell1309
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rallbaru View Post
Incorrect, older turbo cars where changing oil at the lower interval. But now that almost everything is synthetic they have switched to the 7500 miles oil change.
7,500 is the maximum. It is highly recommended to change more frequently.

Quote:
Originally Posted by cars101.com
"Proper lubrication of the turbocharger requires high-quality engine oil (new for 2011 synthetic is required).
Some do not provide enough lubrication performance or durability when used in turbocharged engines. Using poor-quality oil or oil not designed for turbo engines may cause damage to the turbocharger and other engine components. Consequently, it is critical to follow Subaru vehicle owner's and service manuals for recommended oil grade and viscosity.
A second key component of the lubrication system is the oil filter. The Subaru Genuine Oil Filter, available at your Subaru dealer, is the only filter that Subaru has tested to meet requirements for filtration and flow. Aftermarket oil filters may have different filtration performance and relief-valve opening pressure, which could affect filter and engine performance. Subaru Genuine Oil Filters help ensure optimum engine and turbocharger performance.
Due to heat generated by the turbocharger and carbon deposits contained in exhaust gas, the oil in a turbocharged engine will deteriorate faster than the oil in a naturally aspirated engine. Therefore, special care should be taken to use proper grade oil and to monitor oil deterioration.
Under normal driving conditions, the recommended oil and oil filter change interval for turbo vehicles is every 3,750 miles or four months, whichever comes first.
However, for vehicles driven in conditions beyond normal, such as racing conditions, the oil and oil filter may require more frequent changing.
Racing-Type Driving
Racing-type engine stress doesn't only occur on the track. Racing-type driving occurs when the drivetrain, suspension, and other vehicle components are used at near peak capacity. Any driving where the engine speed is kept high - either by using lower gears at higher speeds or using engine braking - is considered racing-type driving.
Important: A "track day" or autocross event requires an oil and oil filter change immediately before and immediately after the event. Make sure to check other engine fluid levels as well.
Engine Oil Level
Check the oil dipstick periodically to make sure the oil level is within proper range in order to keep the turbocharger properly lubricated and cooled. More frequent level checks are necessary especially when utilizing engine braking, because this increases the engine's demand for lubrication.
Important: Allowing the engine oil level to drop by more than one quart may cause oil starvation, oil pump cavitation, and bearing damage. Over time, this cumulative damage will cause turbocharger and engine failure.
Oil Changes
Carbon deposits produced by a turbocharged engine can accumulate at the bottom of the oil pan. When changing the oil, always drain the oil through the oil drain plug hole on the oil pan.
A vacuum draining device could leave carbon deposits at the bottom of the oil pan and potentially contaminate the new oil.
Fuel Requirements
Turbocharged Subaru engines are designed to operate on premium unleaded (91-octane AKI or higher) gasoline. This is essential for maximizing performance and is required to prevent possible engine damage.
Driving Tips
1. Do not rev the engine or accelerate past half throttle immediately after start-up. Oil requires time to heat up for full flow, and high-rpm driving with a cold engine can damage the turbocharger.
2. After highway driving or high-load driving, Subaru recommends allowing the engine to cool by idling for at least 30 seconds before shutting off.
Modifications
Engine modifications such as, but not limited to, adding a boost pressure controller, using a non-genuine aftermarket air intake or exhaust system, changing the air bypass valve, "chipping," etc., may negatively affect the warranty. Your Subaru dealer offers a line of Subaru Performance Tuning parts, which are designed and tested to Subaru standards and do not void the warranty.'
Source:
Owner's manual
http://www.cars101.com/subaru/maintenance2.html#turbo
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