2015 WRX Used Oil Analysis Thread

[Celery GT-5]

Originally Posted by ITLXLR8

Yup, gotta keep it running smooth. As opposed to it sounding like there's nuts and bolts in the engine with the factory oil

Evoo would get you through your lease just fine.

The paranoia around here is unreal.

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[ITLXLR8]

Originally Posted by YungBoba

When I first got my car, I hit up 3 different well-known Subaru-focused performance shops in the SoCal area regarding oil and they all recommended the same oil to me: Motul Xcess 5W-40. This being my first Subaru and first turbocharged car, I figured that these guys know better than I do, so I went with it. I've seen other people citing shear as a reason to use a heavier weight oil, especially in a hot climate like SoCal where ambient temperatures are high all year round.

There is a thread in the FA forum regarding how supposedly Xcess isn't that great for these motors and the Xclean is better. Some have said it's great for the EJ motors but not as good for the FA. I'm not enough of an oil nerd to really get into the nitty gritty of it. My UOA looks good and I have used this oil since the very first oil change in my car at 1K miles so until I have a good reason to switch it up, I'll continue to use it moving forward.

Oh i see. But like someone said, it's the DI that's the difference. I'm sure all these oils are fine, but DI engines are another animal.

Will probably just stick with x-clean since it's a 5w30 and that's what i'm using in the z06 anyway.

I will try it before winter hits and then one more oil change (around summer time), before i give this car back to the dealer.

But i'm curious on running the UOA on the magnatec though. I don't think i saw a UOA on it yet, at least for these cars.

[YungBoba]

I'm undecided if I want to go to Xclean or stick with Xcess. I will probably give it one more UOA to see if anything weird pops up.

Semi-related question regarding oil temperatures. I know modern synthetic oils are pretty robust and can easily handle temps of 250F+. That said, would a year-over-year increase in average oil temperatures be an indication of any mechanical issues, and is it something a UOA would even catch?

When I first got my car I rarely saw temperatures over 210 when just driving normally around town or at steady freeway speeds. Now it seems to hover more closely to 214-216 under same conditions and driving habits and same oil used since I first got the car. Obviously this is still well within the recommended operating temperature, but I'm more curious about the seemingly year over year average increase rather than the nominal temperature value itself. There are probably a million variables that can contribute to this i.e. formulation of oil itself, but just wondering if this can be a sign of something more serious.

[ITLXLR8]

Originally Posted by YungBoba

I'm undecided if I want to go to Xclean or stick with Xcess. I will probably give it one more UOA to see if anything weird pops up.

Semi-related question regarding oil temperatures. I know modern synthetic oils are pretty robust and can easily handle temps of 250F+. That said, would a year-over-year increase in average oil temperatures be an indication of any mechanical issues, and is it something a UOA would even catch?

When I first got my car I rarely saw temperatures over 210 when just driving normally around town or at steady freeway speeds. Now it seems to hover more closely to 214-216 under same conditions and driving habits and same oil used since I first got the car. Obviously this is still well within the recommended operating temperature, but I'm more curious about the seemingly year over year average increase rather than the nominal temperature value itself. There are probably a million variables that can contribute to this i.e. formulation of oil itself, but just wondering if this can be a sign of something more serious.

Idk, i would just change to x-clean since it's a 5w30. x-cess is 5w40 right?

I don't like storing different brands of oils so i try to find something good, then just buy a bulk so i can use it on all my cars. That's why i went with motul x-clean. Plus it's dexos approved too so good for my z06. I'll be getting a UOA for that before winter.

Magnatec is coming out in about a month, or just before winter, even though i would have only put like 2200 miles on the oil lol, i'll change it anyway and get a UOA on that. Then x-clean is then going in there for the winter.

Btw, yes there can be differences in temperate given the oil. At least from what i experienced.

[SubaruFiesta]

I've done about 3 oil changes with PUP. and Everytime I fill up with gas, I check the oil. It comes out golden everytime. I'm surprised with the copper issues that people are mentioning. Does anyone have a recent UOA of PUP 5W-30?

[SubaruFiesta]

Originally Posted by YungBoba

I'm undecided if I want to go to Xclean or stick with Xcess. I will probably give it one more UOA to see if anything weird pops up.

Semi-related question regarding oil temperatures. I know modern synthetic oils are pretty robust and can easily handle temps of 250F+. That said, would a year-over-year increase in average oil temperatures be an indication of any mechanical issues, and is it something a UOA would even catch?

When I first got my car I rarely saw temperatures over 210 when just driving normally around town or at steady freeway speeds. Now it seems to hover more closely to 214-216 under same conditions and driving habits and same oil used since I first got the car. Obviously this is still well within the recommended operating temperature, but I'm more curious about the seemingly year over year average increase rather than the nominal temperature value itself. There are probably a million variables that can contribute to this i.e. formulation of oil itself, but just wondering if this can be a sign of something more serious.

From my very limited knowledge, I would say that the age of the oil is a major factor when considering temp. The oil loses its viscosity and shears over time. The oil thins and becomes less effective at lubricating and keeping your engine cool because friction produces heat. That's just my guess. I'm pretty sure someone with more knowledge could answer your question better. Hope that helps.

[victor_pv]

I decided to sample my oil for the first time at the 60k oil change. Oil was rotella t6 5w40 that was in for 6k miles. No oil consumption between changes so far. Filter was an STP S2808XL.

The only thing off to me is the lead, 8 ppm, I checked a whole bunch of analysis from this thread and didn't see one with more than 1-2 ppm. Lab was ALS Tribology. Should I be concerned about the lead?

[bluesubie]

Originally Posted by victor_pv

I decided to sample my oil for the first time at the 60k oil change. Oil was rotella t6 5w40 that was in for 6k miles. No oil consumption between changes so far. Filter was an STP S2808XL.

The only thing off to me is the lead, 8 ppm, I checked a whole bunch of analysis from this thread and didn't see one with more than 1-2 ppm. Lab was ALS Tribology. Should I be concerned about the lead?

Ever since Subaru moved away from lead bearings around 2008, lead in uoa’s hasn’t been showing up that much. Have a look in the original post for the other uoa links.

Any mods or any fuel additives used?

[YungBoba]

Originally Posted by YungBoba

Thanks! This is exactly that type of info I was looking for. I will give OAI A shot in the future.

Blackstone sent me an updated report once I told them how many miles I had on the oil and recommended that I increase my OCI to about 5,500 miles or so (up from 3,400).

Second UOA on my car, still using Motul Xcess 5W-40. I ran a 5500 OCI as Blackstone recommended and test came back good still.

My mechanic ran out of Motul when I went in for the change so he used Castrol. Unfortunately I forgot which blend specifically, all I know is that it's 10W-40, conventional (or semi-synth maybe, but not full synth), and that he uses it in one of his own personal track cars and he feels its quite robust.

[bluesubie]

Looks a lot different than the Edge HM 10W-40 from a few years ago.

https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forum...40#Post4115664

Calcium is lower and magnesium is higher which is typical of SN+/GF5 oils due to LSPI concerns. Edge HM is the only 10W-40 Castrol that’s SN+. Surprised that boron would drop so much in this new formula though.

Other 10W-40’s are GTX and GTX HM and both are SN. I’d actually send it to Castrol and ask if they would tell you which oil it looks like.

[YungBoba]

Sorry, I realized I worded my post weirdly. That UOA I just posted is still on Motul Xcess. I meant that the oil currently in my car is some type of Castrol, as my shop ran out of Motul when I took it in. I'll get a UOA on the Castrol when I change it next.

[bluesubie]

Originally Posted by YungBoba

Sorry, I realized I worded my post weirdly. That UOA I just posted is still on Motul Xcess. I meant that the oil currently in my car is some type of Castrol, as my shop ran out of Motul when I took it in. I'll get a UOA on the Castrol when I change it next.

Well I could’ve also just looked at the name of the oil on the UOA! BTW, a very good UOA!

[jasonwrx86]

Originally Posted by SubaruFiesta

I've done about 3 oil changes with PUP. and Everytime I fill up with gas, I check the oil. It comes out golden everytime. I'm surprised with the copper issues that people are mentioning. Does anyone have a recent UOA of PUP 5W-30?

I am surprised your FA20DIT is not making soot. Mine oil usually comes out black at 5000 intervals with Subaru oil.
No oil consumption.

[aigochamaloh]

Originally Posted by YungBoba

Sorry, I realized I worded my post weirdly. That UOA I just posted is still on Motul Xcess. I meant that the oil currently in my car is some type of Castrol, as my shop ran out of Motul when I took it in. I'll get a UOA on the Castrol when I change it next.

Wow the viscosity stayed in line. I may have to try this oil next. I change yearly since I don't drive that much but viscosity is always lower than it should be on the Mobil Euro I'm using.

[dusty_sombero]

My car has been on PUP 5W30 since it’s first oil change at 1,500 miles. This is my third oil analysis at 52k miles on a 4,800 mile interval.

[Brohymn]

Originally Posted by dusty_sombero

My car has been on PUP 5W30 since it’s first oil change at 1,500 miles. This is my third oil analysis at 52k miles on a 4,800 mile interval.

Making me rethink what I was going to put in my engine. First oil change at 1500 on Monday. Thanks for posting!

[SubaruFiesta]

Originally Posted by dusty_sombero

My car has been on PUP 5W30 since it’s first oil change at 1,500 miles. This is my third oil analysis at 52k miles on a 4,800 mile interval.

http://dereferer.org/?https://imgur.com/a/U46IyDI

May God bless you for posting this! Eases my mind a little bit knowing that I've used PUP ever since I got my 17 WRX.

[dz2013]

I was running Motul 8100 X-Clean EFE 5W30 up until ~25k miles when I switched to Kirkland Full Synthetic 5W30 to see if there was any significant difference. The only thing I'm noticing is the drop in Moly levels by about half in the Kirkland oil compared to the Motul. Everything else seems to check out very well.

Since my oil change interval is so short, I think I'll just continue on with the Kirkland, and at ~$11 for 5 quarts I'm very happy with the results. Motul is usually around $40 for 5 quarts!

https://imgur.com/a/ufL7Yzw

[SubaruFiesta]

Originally Posted by jasonwrx86

I am surprised your FA20DIT is not making soot. Mine oil usually comes out black at 5000 intervals with Subaru oil.
No oil consumption.

I actually do have soot at my exhaust tips.

In 6th gear under boost, it sounds like there's squirrels fighting each other near the turbo recently. There's some dry leaves in my engine bay because I parked under a tree for a couple days, so I'm thinking that might it? The leaves might be flying around all over the place making that noise? I overfilled on coolant a little bit, so I'll remove some today and see if that fixes it.