Letter from SOA regarding use of synthetic oils

BahaRishi Steve · Post by **BahaRishi Steve** » Tue May 09, 2006 11:47 am

Found this letter of response from SOA to a member over at nasioc regarding use of full synthetic crankcase oils. Seems that there is quite a debate over there regarding potential bearing failures on WRX's using M1. I personally have never had an issue with M1 on any vehicle, but this is my first Subie.

Sorry if this is old news to some of you....I searched and didn't find anything, so here ya go.

Letter to Corkfish (nasioc.com)

Thank you for contacting us.

We hope that you are enjoying driving your Forester XT. As for the use
of synthetic oil in your vehicle, this is your decision. Our Technical
Services Department advised that if you do decide to use synthetic oil,
that you always use it because your engine will become accustomed to
it. The same goes if you decide to use 'regular' oil.

We recommend that you first change the oil in your Subaru at 3,000
miles or 3 months, whichever comes first. We STRONGLY recommend that you at
least wait until the break-in period of 1,000 miles is surpassed.

The break-in period of the engine requires that a given amount of
friction exists between components. The piston rings need to rub against the
cylinder wall to break-in or finely tune the machine mating between the
two metal parts. To properly seat all mechanical components, a certain
amount of friction is required between the metal parts. Since synthetic
oil has a lower friction rating than regular oil, we recommend that
Subaru owners wait until after the 1,000 mile break-in period to switch to
synthetic engine oil.

Synthetic engine oils can be used in our engines if the user follows
the engine oil recommendations prescribed in the Owner's Manual. Subaru
has not tested the compatibility of all synthetic oils with engine
seals, but the petroleum industry does adhere to standards for the refining
process which meet Subaru requirements. Subaru does not guarantee the
performance of any brand of any engine oil.

Engine Oil Guidelines: - only use engine oil that meets or exceeds the
API classification designated in the Owner's Manual for the vehicle -
only use engine oil that meets the VISCOSITY requirements for the
ambient temperatures under which the vehicle will be operated as outlined in
the Owner's Manual - THE ENGINE OIL MUST BE CHANGED AT THE INTERVALS
SPECIFIED IN THE WARRANTY AND MAINTENANCE BOOKLET FOR THE VEHICLE. SOME
SYNTHETIC OIL REFINERS RECOMMEND EXTENDED OIL CHANGE INTERVALS. SUBARU
DOES NOT RECOMMEND ANY DEVIATION FROM THE SPECIFIED INTERVALS IN THE
OWNER'S MANUAL.

If we can be of any other assistance, please let us know.

Best wishes,

Kelly Shinault
Subaru of America, Inc.
Customer/Dealer Services Department "

Highlander · Post by **Highlander** » Wed May 17, 2006 4:58 pm

I was planning to switch to Mobil 1 after my 12,000 - anybody using it now?
I have a turbo - 05

Zardoz9 · Post by **Zardoz9** » Wed May 17, 2006 6:13 pm

Been in both of my '05 turbos, Baja and Outback since first oil change. Love the stuff.

Hawk296 · Post by **Hawk296** » Wed May 17, 2006 8:36 pm

Zardoz9 wrote:Been in both of my '05 turbos, Baja and Outback since first oil change. Love the stuff.

Same. M1 in my cars since the first change.

BahaRishi Steve · Post by **BahaRishi Steve** » Thu May 18, 2006 5:28 am

I've used M1 and Castrol Syntec in my vehicles previous to owning my new soob....never had an issue with leaking seals and such. I like these oils mainly because they're readily available. I'd try Redline, Amsoil or Royal Purple if you didn't have to order the stuff. I'm planning at doing the switch at 3K.

What oil filter are you all using? I want something with anti-drainback and bypass valves....might try the K&N.

Steve

Zardoz9 · Post by **Zardoz9** » Thu May 18, 2006 6:25 pm

Stock filter here, though I have also used K&N gold filters also.

TonyTyler · Post by **TonyTyler** » Fri May 26, 2006 9:40 am

Changed out the stock oil at 2500 with M1 ever since (now at 12,500). I still use the stock Subaru filter though - how do the K&Ns perform?

Cheers!

BajaT05 · Post by **BajaT05** » Sun May 28, 2006 9:30 pm

You guys are wasting money if you change the oil at 3K using M1, unless you guys race the car or tow heavily. I change mine roughly between 5K and 7.5K (Subaru manual say to do it at 7.5K) with M1 and a K&N filter... The whole 3K/3months is good idea, but if you barely do hard driving then its not needed even with conventional oils. M1 is great I have had it in th VW for year and I change it at about 10K to 12K with no issues... I change the oil in the Acura Legend every 5K to 7K with regular castrol...

The VW with 120K.... So clean with M1.....

Alex

Hawk296 · Post by **Hawk296** » Sun May 28, 2006 9:54 pm

I normally use OEM filters (black ones). I have also used WIX on my impreza. I really do not think K&N are any better from what ive read, unless they chnanged the design. they do cost more though.

BajaT05 · Post by **BajaT05** » Sun May 28, 2006 10:14 pm

I get K&N because they can take the beating... 12K in the VW with no issues and they wont blow up..... I have had Frams and others blow up at some high oil pressure. The VW engine is mildly built... Its a 2.0 N/A with Cams, worked head, Pullies, close ratio tranny, Catback, and other goodes. It has about 165 HP / 145 Ft-Lbs... With a 7900 RPM red limiter.. Its usually reved to about 7500 RPM....

Alex

Hawk296 · Post by **Hawk296** » Mon May 29, 2006 10:29 am

BajaT05 wrote:I get K&N because they can take the beating... 12K in the VW with no issues and they wont blow up..... I have had Frams and others blow up at some high oil pressure. The VW engine is mildly built... Its a 2.0 N/A with Cams, worked head, Pullies, close ratio tranny, Catback, and other goodes. It has about 165 HP / 145 Ft-Lbs... With a 7900 RPM red limiter.. Its usually reved to about 7500 RPM....

Alex

Yeah I will not run a FRAM in my car ever. Haha, a built 2.0, thats cool. My buddy's golf could sure use alittle more power...

BajaT05 · Post by **BajaT05** » Mon May 29, 2006 11:59 am

Its not an 8V 2.0, its a 16V 2.0, it came with 134 HP /133 Ft-Lbs stock. So Its mildly built to about 165 HP.....

Alex

BahaRishi Steve · Post by **BahaRishi Steve** » Mon May 29, 2006 7:43 pm

I usually went 5K on M1, or 7500 with M1 EP on my Titan. Did oil analysis on it with 5K with no real issues...even with a Volant CAI. I saw a few UOA's after 7500K using the M1 EP with no issues....some had even taken it to 15K and UOA showed adequate additive in the sample even at that mileage. I hear Subaru is a little more particular about interval change, even with synthetic...they would probably have an issue with 15K intervals, even with the EP stuff.

I'm thinking of going with the K&N oil filter mainly because it has both anti-drainback and bypass valves and is supposedly a good performer. Not sure what stock filter has....anyone know?

Hawk296 · Post by **Hawk296** » Mon May 29, 2006 9:13 pm

The stock one most certainly has a bypass valve. I saw the thing when I was installing a new filter on Sat.

bajabeauty · Post by **bajabeauty** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 4:21 pm

anyone have a picture of the baja turbo oil filter....I swear I have the wrong filter in my car but I get the "your a woman look...what do you know vibe"? I've been using the Penzoil Platnium 30 5 weight synthetic.....reccomended for turbo charged vehicles.....no problems yet....so I guess doing this requires it be changed every 3,000 verses what Subaru has been saying....3,700?...Texas doesn't have premium gas (91) octane so I also use the Supreme (93) octane....My dealer told me if I got desperate w/ gas prices I could mix half 89 octane/ half 93 octane....anyone actually do that?

scoobytruck.com

Letter from SOA regarding use of synthetic oils

Letter from SOA regarding use of synthetic oils

M1 user also

Oil....Octane....Filters...