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Old 10-03-2012, 11:45 PM   #1
polaks
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Default Best Oil

Tried searching and everybodies answers are diferent... I drive a 1996 subaru sti, it has 71,000kms... I live in Manitoba, Winter is coming quickly... It gets real cold down here, it can hit -40 to -50... I just recentely changed the oil to Mobile 1 5w30 Synthetic. Is this one of the better, safer oils to go with? Should it be okay or is there something that might do the trick a little better? I read alot that these subarus love some thicker oils though....

Also not many people have talked about filters... I know 2002 wrx usdm filters fit these jdm sti's but which brand does everyone perfer?? I got stuck with a good old fram synthetic filer..

Thanks alot for any help!
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Old 10-04-2012, 03:13 AM   #2
AgentJ17
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Most of us use rotella t6 in our cars. The first guy I heard praise it is from Saskatchewan. So if it worked for him, it should work for you.

Subaru OEM, then wix or purolator for filters.
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Old 10-04-2012, 04:04 AM   #3
vic-gc8
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Seconding the roltella t6,
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Old 10-04-2012, 10:59 AM   #4
polaks
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Next oil change ill get some good old roltella t6 than !!

and ur saying oem subaru filter is better than wix?

also isnt t6 5w40? Wouldnt that be really really thick for winter? I will have to look into that in a bit.. (found my anwser, says it should be fine through winter) so I am good to go than

Last edited by polaks; 10-04-2012 at 11:21 AM.
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Old 10-04-2012, 01:26 PM   #5
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I would avoid Mobil 1 5w30 like the plague. It runs exceptionally thin and breaks down faster than most other oils I've tried.
There are plenty of threads on it, but just a quick synopsis is that Mobil 1 5w30 specifically should be avoided. The other weights are ok for it, but I myself have tried it on multiple engines and more of it gets eaten than other oils i've used.
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Old 10-04-2012, 02:00 PM   #6
AgentJ17
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Yes, I hear subaru filters are about the best. Wix and purolator also make a good filter. I've also heard to avoid fram filters almost as much as you should mobil 1 5w30.

Only thing bad I hear about rotella is that because it's a diesel oil, the zinc content will destroy catalytic converters.
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Old 10-04-2012, 02:10 PM   #7
TommyAtomic
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AgentJ17 View Post
Only thing bad I hear about rotella is that because it's a diesel oil, the zinc content will destroy catalytic converters.
This is only an issue if you are burning oil.
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Old 10-04-2012, 04:45 PM   #8
subi400
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Polaks, I would also take a look at the Mobile 1 0w40 for use in the winter there. The T6 is similar, but the m1 0w40 will have just a little better cold flow capability when it gets as cold as you described.
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Old 10-04-2012, 07:01 PM   #9
vic-gc8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TommyAtomic View Post
This is only an issue if you are burning oil.
Or running a catalytic converter.
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Old 10-05-2012, 12:08 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AgentJ17 View Post
Only thing bad I hear about rotella is that because it's a diesel oil, the zinc content will destroy catalytic converters.



oh jesus christ you HEAR???

HEAR...from WHERE......EXACTLY??!!!?!?!

post the link....SHOW US WHERE

THIS IS A MYTH

if anybody actually took the time to find and READ what was published on this testing

it was ONLY an issue with cars using enough oil that they are essentially blowed up.....and have cats

at which point it wont matter


this is one of the wives tales of the internet
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Old 10-05-2012, 02:56 AM   #11
AgentJ17
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That's why I said "hear" and not confirmed fact...

Either something I heard on jdmvip or bobistheoilguy. Didn't make it up myself.
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Old 10-25-2012, 01:19 PM   #12
alanm474
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The Best Oil is Motul 300V 15W50
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Old 10-27-2012, 02:27 PM   #13
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I use Rotella T6 on all of my cars and motorcycles. No problems. For oil filters, I use K&N.
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Old 10-27-2012, 02:58 PM   #14
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I run 15w40 Rotella or Delvac diesel grade fuel in all four Subarus in the driveway.

It doesn't get to -40 to -50 here, but cold cranking wasn't an issue last year near zero degree temps. Sure, the cars cranked slower than normal, but even my 84 BRAT had no problems starting up. Oil pressure was built up a little slower as well, but the pressure was there so that doesn't really pose an issue.

But if it does get that cold it is very possible running a higher grade oil can lead to cranking issues.

As stated above, diesel grade oils with the zinc components will not destroy your cats unless it is excessively getting into your combustion chamber, and making its way into the exhaust.

2 of the Subarus in the driveway are OBDII and I've been using 15w40 oils for a while now and have yet to get a cat inefficiency/P0420 code or any other cat related codes yet. The cats are just fine.
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Old 10-27-2012, 03:16 PM   #15
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Wives tails? I wouldn't wife a woman with a tail.. but rotella all the way. It's great for turbo motors and also does well in small engines such as dirtbikes and whatnot
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Old 10-29-2012, 12:25 PM   #16
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I also run the Rotella 15w40 problem free all summer. But at the ski hills plugging it in isn't an option, so as much as I wanted to keep it simple and just go with Rotella 5w40 I instead chose Redline 0w40, noticed a huge difference starting it up these last few cold days.
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Old 11-09-2012, 08:46 PM   #17
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Thin on start thick on running temps t6 for the win I run it in my na subby gfs honda and my gokart lol
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Old 11-16-2012, 03:31 AM   #18
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wow didnt know this many people use rotella t syn.

i use GTX 5 30 with mobile 1 (m1-108) filter. altho i am kinda on a new-ish build with about 9k mi.

soon to be switching to AMS.
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Old 11-16-2012, 08:18 AM   #19
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Because of temp. in the caribbean i use Redline racing oil 10-40
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Old 11-16-2012, 08:43 AM   #20
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I used a soil for a while but that stuff is pricey. Now it s the T6 still holds up well.
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Old 11-16-2012, 10:57 AM   #21
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I've always used Rotella T6, its great, cheap and can be found at walmart. However, with my new build I have use a thicker weight so I'm switching over to Schaeffer's 5w50 Synthetic. In my opinion the best oil is one that has high zinc and protection additives that won't break down so easily.
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Old 11-19-2012, 08:21 PM   #22
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I recently moved to Reno, NV and winters here get down to the 30's, summer highs in the 90s I believe. I am ok to just run Rotella 5w30 year round? Or is it optimal to use a certain viscosity in the summer and a certain viscosity in the winter? This is for a bone stock 2011 STI.
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Old 11-19-2012, 10:37 PM   #23
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Quote:
Originally Posted by impreza03WRX View Post
I recently moved to Reno, NV and winters here get down to the 30's, summer highs in the 90s I believe. I am ok to just run Rotella 5w30 year round? Or is it optimal to use a certain viscosity in the summer and a certain viscosity in the winter? This is for a bone stock 2011 STI.
Run the rotella T6 5w40 and don't sweat it, everything for both winter and summer will be fine
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Old 11-19-2012, 10:44 PM   #24
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Originally Posted by vic-gc8 View Post
Or running a catalytic converter.
I have to chime in here....I have been running the rotella T6 5w40 in my 96 2.2 impreza outback for the last 20k miles and it has 201,500 or so miles right now. Yeah, the engine burns some oil because of bad piston slap in cylinder 4 and when I engine break more. I got the p0420 code twice, but I suspect that was due to the crappy blend of ethanol and gas here. So, I have been running the 92 none ethanol here and the code hasn't come back. Original cats too....

So, I know for a fact that this oil doesn't really cause a cat problem unless the engine is drinking oil like someone drinking a slurpee on a hot day.
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Old 11-19-2012, 11:26 PM   #25
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gawd....

so much misinformation and wives tales and just plain don't know anything about motor oils and what they are and do and what those funny lil numbers mean

this is just crazy....ALL the information is out there in easy to understand language if you just LOOK for it
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