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Old 05-28-2003, 10:57 AM   #1
STIadmirer
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Default Recommended Oil for the STi

Can someone please tell me what oil comes in the STi from the factory and what oil is being recommended by Subaru (I assume it's the same oil).

Thanks in advance!
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Old 05-28-2003, 11:26 AM   #2
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From the owener's Manual 5W-30 ILSAC GF-3 or API SL rated

Direct Quote on Synthetic Oil:
"You can use synthetic engine oil that meets the same requirements given for conventional engine oil. When Using Synthetic oil, you must use oil of the same classification, viscosity and grade shown in the owner's manual, and must follow the oil and filter changingin intervals shown in the maintenance schedule."

So it sounds like it come with regular 5w-30 API SL and it is probably castrol.

Keith
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Old 05-28-2003, 11:47 AM   #3
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Thanks Keith, I am little surprised that Subaru does not require syntheitc oil for the STi.
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Old 05-28-2003, 11:58 AM   #4
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Old 05-28-2003, 11:58 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally posted by STIadmirer
Thanks Keith, I am little surprised that Subaru does not require syntheitc oil for the STi.
Me to! When I go in this afternoon I plan on talking to the service manager and making sure they will be ready for me to come in and have the oil changed next friday, which is hopefully when I'll have the 1000 mile breakin complete. I'll ask them about if they will be using regular or synthetic. Everywhere els in the book where the different models or engines require something different they break them out seperately. There was nothing special in the book for oil in the STi.

Keith
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Old 05-28-2003, 12:36 PM   #6
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I'll be running some Mobil 1 after break in.
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Old 05-28-2003, 12:57 PM   #7
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Mobil 1 or Redline would be my choice as well.

Still you would think, the cars would come from the factory with synthetic. I am sure that Subaru could have received some good sponsor money if it went with Mobil 1.

I believe the Evo only uses Mobil 1 and exclusively recommends it.

In any case, no way would I stick with non-synthetic oil on a performance car that is gonna run hot.
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Old 05-28-2003, 03:09 PM   #8
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The ILSAC GF-3 and API SL spec is right on, they do note you can run SJ if you have can't find SL/GF-3.

For people looking at synthetic, I suggest two things:
1) wait until the first recommended oil change in the owner's manual rather than changing oil at 1000
2) if you can, wait until 9000/10000 ish before going synthetic, unless you are dealing with very high ambient temps this summer (e.g. NV/CA/AZ/NM/FL etc)
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Old 05-28-2003, 03:16 PM   #9
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Glenn,

In general, wouldn't the synthetic be better for this type of car?
If so, why the wait until about 10,000 miles?

Thanks kindly.
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Old 05-28-2003, 03:19 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally posted by STIadmirer
Glenn,

In general, wouldn't the synthetic be better for this type of car?
If so, why the wait until about 10,000 miles?

Thanks kindly.
On the S2K forum, there's the same general concensus that one should wait till after 10K. It is thought that the Synthetics are so "slippery" that it can hinder the engines ability to "wear in" properly.

I never changed to synthetics on my S2K. I run Castro GTX on her. But since the temp of the oil on a turbo motor will probably be higher, I plan on Mobil one after 3-5K miles.
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Old 05-28-2003, 05:09 PM   #11
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Amsoil all the way. I am thinking of installing a bypass filter along with an inline filter. Not sure if I am going to do that yet, though.
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Old 05-29-2003, 08:40 PM   #12
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Default Mobil 1 Synthetic

I use Mobil 1 as well --- I use it on my current Soob RS. No issues.

If anyone has any "myths" that they are concerned about, here's the Mobil 1 site--factory fill for quite a few cars, so there's no issue on using it in our Soob, RS, WRX, or STi or otherwise.

http://www.mobil1.com/index.jsp

Enjoy!
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Old 05-29-2003, 09:52 PM   #13
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Quote:
On the S2K forum, there's the same general concensus that one should wait till after 10K. It is thought that the Synthetics are so "slippery" that it can hinder the engines ability to "wear in" properly.
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Old 05-29-2003, 11:51 PM   #14
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^^^ funny thats from a honda group...
When i was a builder for a honda dealer the same thing was told to me after i bought a 91vfr750 and was gonna drop in hondas best synthetic instead of the dyno oil I usually prepped bikes with...

And tecnically, its more for ring sealing as far as break in is concernd...

You really cant go wrong with Mobil1 redline or amsoil from all ive read and experianced...
I also assume subaru doesnt care weather redline or amsoil can go 10 to 15000 miles between changes, they want it changed every 3000 (right?)
so id probobly use Mobil1 just for the price difference... as i do atm...
Trent
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Old 05-30-2003, 06:28 AM   #15
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If you plan on going on track with your STi, forget factory spec oil, its too thin, low viscosity. Use at least a 15/50 oil such as Mobil1 motorsport, which i still think is too thin for a turbo engine when hammered (not the 0/40 street spec stuff, that burns, turns to pee), Motul competition 300V 15/50 or Castrol RS 10/60.

If you are exclusively road use, the factory spec should be OK unless you intend on thrashing the living daylights out of it. All IMHO based on my experience with my STi5.
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Old 05-30-2003, 06:32 AM   #16
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Thanks Johnfelstead

If I go with Mobil 1, should I replace the factory fill right away or wait until 3-10k miles before going to a synthetic like some have suggested on this thread?

Thanks.
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Old 05-30-2003, 09:55 AM   #17
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Lightbulb

There's no need to wait.

From an Edmunds.com chat with Rick Rhoades (SoA Technical Svc Instructor).

"<bratman>: It's time for my WRX's first oil change. How early can I switch to synthetics?

<rick_subaru>: Do it NOW... but stick with it after you make the switch"

-Dennis
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Old 05-30-2003, 10:13 AM   #18
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Ok, so here is my update. The car comes with Castrol 5w-30 from the factory. Firts oil change is at 3000 miles, but I'm doing it after the first 1000 anyway. Subaru offers an extended engine warrenty just for using, and proving you use, castrol in the engine. If you do it at the dealerhsip there is nothing to do, but if you go else where there are some kind of cupons you have to fill out. This includes GTX, Syntec Blend, and Syntec. You can actually go to the dealer to have the oil changed and if you ask they will put in the Syntec. Of coarse hey will charge you more, and they recommended that I tell them that when I schedule the oil change so that they make sure they have it. Also, for those that might want to know, the oil filter is the same on the STi as the regular WRX.

Keith
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Old 05-30-2003, 10:28 AM   #19
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if the car comes with 5W-30 Castrol, go to your local BMW dealer & buy the BMW-branded 5W-30 Castrol full synthetic. it's the same as whatever Castrol sells otherwise, but with the a dealer which doesn't mark up parts too much it's quite cheap - in the $3/qt range.

note that you likely have to be a BMW CCA (car club of america) member to get the $3/qt discounted price, but I've never had a dealer ask to see my membership card, so you might be able to get away without joining.

I agree about running thicker 15-50 Mobil 1 if you intend to do track work & whatnot. sometimes you can find Mobil 1 cheap at Walmart/Target/etc. I bought every quart they got @ $3/qt for 3 months before they finally got the price corrected at my local Target.



Ben
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Old 05-30-2003, 11:18 AM   #20
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For what it's worth I totally disagree with running thicker oil in the motor than is specified. Thicker oil is harder to get into the bearings and in more extreme conditions, and lower RPM/oil pressure situations can cause damage. From what professional engine builders have taught me, don't go thicker unless you build the motor that way. There needs to be a balance of getting the oil in and keeping it in. No offense to anyone, but I'm going to trust the team of design engineers at FHI and STi to pick the right oil for the engine since I don't plan on doing any extended track racing.

Keith
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Old 05-30-2003, 12:38 PM   #21
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From the Mobil 1 website....

Myth: You should break in your engine with conventional oil, then switch to Mobil 1.

Reality: You can start using Mobil 1 with SuperSyn™ in new vehicles at any time, even in brand-new vehicles. In fact, Mobil 1 with SuperSyn™ is original equipment (it is installed at the factory) in:

Chevrolet Corvette
All Porsche vehicles
Mercedes-Benz AMG vehicles
Dodge Viper
Ford Mustang Cobra R
All Aston Martin cars

One of the myths that persists about Mobil 1 is that new engines require a break-in period with conventional oil. Current engine manufacturing technology does not require this break-in period. As indicated by the decisions of the engineers who design these high-performance cars, Mobil 1 with SuperSyn™ can be used in an engine from the day you drive the car off the showroom floor.
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Old 05-30-2003, 02:19 PM   #22
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I'd love to hear the modern day engineer's explanation for break-in. I've seen many different break-in procedures and I don't see why a more aggressive break-in procedure could not be done by the factory, port, or dealer under controlled circumstances.

There's a number of links to that guy that claims break-in happens in the first 20 miles. It doesn't cost much to drive the car for 20 minutes and I'm sure a lot of owners would really like to tear into the car right away. With my driving habits it usually takes me a month to put 1000 miles on a car.

One would hope there is a real technical explanation for that and it'd be nice to see it.
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Old 05-30-2003, 10:22 PM   #23
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Quote:
The car comes with Castrol 5w-30 from the factory.
Who told you this? If it was your dealer, I suggest you forget you heard it.

Quote:
Firts oil change is at 3000 miles, but I'm doing it after the first 1000 anyway.
Why? The filter is more than adequate to handle any particles in the oil for that amount of time and if Subaru did indeed put different oil in then you just short circuited the process.

Most of the Subie techies that I trust suggest leaving the oil in for 3000-3750 then changing it.

I've run 3 or 4 Imprezas that way with no problems.

As far as changing to synthetic at mile 1 goes, I doubt there is the scope of huge harm but also doubt there is scope for great benefit.

If you are not in a hot (or very cold) climate then the benefit of synthetic is marginal.

Rings in an engine seat very quickly (at the runup at factory) however the issue is the bore wear pattern produced. My experience (aka old wive's tale) has been that the wear pattern formed by using dino oils promotes low oil consumption.

I do know of people that have put synthetic in at low mileages and have experienced high oil consumption after that. Certainly not every person has this issue and by no means is this empirical, just anecdotal FUD.

On one of my WRXs I actually went GTX->Syntec Blend->Syntec over a period of time.

Certainly Castrol is good oil. I exclusively use Castrol lubricants in my rally car.

Glenn
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Old 06-08-2003, 03:55 PM   #24
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I'm changing my STi oil & filter today and was a bit alarmed to see that the STi filter is different from my WRX filter!

It's a bit smaller in diameter and has a different part number ending in 080 instead of 060.

I called the dealer and he said their catalog specifies the normal 060 filter for the STi.

The 080 filter is a valid part number, but they show none in the country! Maybe it's a filter they use for initial assembly only.

Russ
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Old 06-08-2003, 05:50 PM   #25
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Quote:
Originally posted by johnfelstead
If you plan on going on track with your STi, forget factory spec oil, its too thin, low viscosity. Use at least a 15/50 oil such as Mobil1 motorsport, which i still think is too thin for a turbo engine when hammered (not the 0/40 street spec stuff, that burns, turns to pee), Motul competition 300V 15/50 or Castrol RS 10/60.

If you are exclusively road use, the factory spec should be OK unless you intend on thrashing the living daylights out of it.
Absolutely.
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