That's the smart way and why is it so many people think they know more abt subaru engine than SUBARU ENGINEERS that design, build and test the engine!!
Oil-Regular or Synthetic
I'm torn on whether to switch from using regular oil to synthetic. The one advantage I see is less trips in for an oil changes - 3750 miles (severe condition) to 7500 miles. Thoughts, please.
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2012 Outback 3.6, will use Amsoil in it at the 7500mie oil change.
A good friend of mine is an Amsoil dealer and sells me the oil at cost. I also run Amsoil in everything. Some the Amsoil filters are rated for up to 25k miles along with the oil. I can't do that, and change oil and filter twice a year. Don't really drive a lot, maybe 7500 miles to 10,000 between oil changes. Doubt I come anywhere close to 10k miles.
One thing that really sticks in my mind was when I switched to Amsoil in my 04 Yamaha Road Star. I used regular oil at the 3k oil change and switched to Amsoil at 6k. Both oils were 20W50.This bike was carburated, and I would check the idol speed occasionally and keep at the recomended 900 rpm. I made sure I checked it just before the switch to Amsoil. It was right on at 900 rpm. I changed the oil and drove about 10 miles and rechecked the idol speed. It was at 1200 rpm. Blipped the throttle a bit drove it around the block etc. and checked again. Yup 1200 rpm. Dialed it down to 900 and that was all the proof I needed that it was a better friction reducer than regular oil.
A good friend of mine is an Amsoil dealer and sells me the oil at cost. I also run Amsoil in everything. Some the Amsoil filters are rated for up to 25k miles along with the oil. I can't do that, and change oil and filter twice a year. Don't really drive a lot, maybe 7500 miles to 10,000 between oil changes. Doubt I come anywhere close to 10k miles.
One thing that really sticks in my mind was when I switched to Amsoil in my 04 Yamaha Road Star. I used regular oil at the 3k oil change and switched to Amsoil at 6k. Both oils were 20W50.This bike was carburated, and I would check the idol speed occasionally and keep at the recomended 900 rpm. I made sure I checked it just before the switch to Amsoil. It was right on at 900 rpm. I changed the oil and drove about 10 miles and rechecked the idol speed. It was at 1200 rpm. Blipped the throttle a bit drove it around the block etc. and checked again. Yup 1200 rpm. Dialed it down to 900 and that was all the proof I needed that it was a better friction reducer than regular oil.
I had a friend a number of years ago who had a Ford Bronco II. He did zero maintenance on the thing. It always started and always took him to where he was going.
One day, I asked him how often he changes his oil. He told me the oil is the original oil that came in the thing, he doesn't believe in spending any money on a vehicle at all, then, eventually, when that vehicle comes down with some expensive problem, he just sells it and buys another new vehicle.
He had about 64,000 miles on the ORIGINAL OIL (which would NOT have been synthetic), and on the oil filter! The engine ran fine and didn't burn any oil as far as I could tell. I had driven his vehicle a number of times, including when we needed to pick up his vehicle from about 1,0000 miles away.
I did get on his case, however, when the right-front tire steel cords where hitting the front fender while he was cruising at 80 MPH! We eventually stopped at an old gas station and he let me talk him into replacing that tire with a used one from a junk-tire pile out back. At least the cords weren't hanging out of the tire he bought (for about $34)! All I could visualize was a blowout and the thing rolling a number of times, not to mention being tangled up in every other vehicle on the road around us!
One day, I asked him how often he changes his oil. He told me the oil is the original oil that came in the thing, he doesn't believe in spending any money on a vehicle at all, then, eventually, when that vehicle comes down with some expensive problem, he just sells it and buys another new vehicle.
He had about 64,000 miles on the ORIGINAL OIL (which would NOT have been synthetic), and on the oil filter! The engine ran fine and didn't burn any oil as far as I could tell. I had driven his vehicle a number of times, including when we needed to pick up his vehicle from about 1,0000 miles away.
I did get on his case, however, when the right-front tire steel cords where hitting the front fender while he was cruising at 80 MPH! We eventually stopped at an old gas station and he let me talk him into replacing that tire with a used one from a junk-tire pile out back. At least the cords weren't hanging out of the tire he bought (for about $34)! All I could visualize was a blowout and the thing rolling a number of times, not to mention being tangled up in every other vehicle on the road around us!
How can one even comment on that thought process?I had a friend a number of years ago who had a Ford Bronco II. He did zero maintenance on the thing. It always started and always took him to where he was going.
One day, I asked him how often he changes his oil. He told me the oil is the original oil that came in the thing, he doesn't believe in spending any money on a vehicle at all, then, eventually, when that vehicle comes down with some expensive problem, he just sells it and buys another new vehicle.
He had about 64,000 miles on the ORIGINAL OIL (which would NOT have been synthetic), and on the oil filter! The engine ran fine and didn't burn any oil as far as I could tell. I had driven his vehicle a number of times, including when we needed to pick up his vehicle from about 1,0000 miles away.
On topic - Mobil 1 synthetic. So far using the factory recommended mileage to change more to insure there is no issue on warranty items.
I know, I couldn't believe it when he told me! I couldn't believe that just plain-old original oil could run that long, but it did! I was taken aback by the whole thing, although he did have a point - where I was anal at changing all my vehicles' oil, this is what happens when one spends ZERO dollars at maintenance.How can one even comment on that thought process?
On topic - Mobil 1 synthetic. So far using the factory recommended mileage to change more to insure there is no issue on warranty items.
Maybe he is just lucky. If it were me, the day after the warranty would be up, the engine would BLOW!LOL :gasp:
I bought my first Honda (A Civic) in '83, when one of my co-workers didn't make it to work one day. When he came in the next day, he told me his '76 civic had quit on the way in. He didn't do much maintenance, but he kept good records. It had quit because the points had closed. When he checked his book, HE HAD NOT TOUCHED ANYTHING UNDER THE HOOD FOR OVER 40k MILES! The car had about 110k on it, but he had not done a bit of maintenance since it had 68k on it.
I figured that any car that could survive that kind of neglect, and only need minor maintenance to run again, would last forever, for me.
I figured that any car that could survive that kind of neglect, and only need minor maintenance to run again, would last forever, for me.
older thread but was reading these articles in subaru magazine...
Subaru Drive Performance Magazine : dp92_bits: Motorsports photo contest; 2012 Impreza; Subaru Rally support Program; Enthusiast Meets; Conventional vs. Synthetic Motor Oil; Subaru Vehicle Oil Specifications and Intervals
Subaru Drive : spr11 What Makes a Subaru: Synthetic Motor Oil
It's still personal choice when it comes to what you want to use, but some info to try to clear things up!
Subaru Drive Performance Magazine : dp92_bits: Motorsports photo contest; 2012 Impreza; Subaru Rally support Program; Enthusiast Meets; Conventional vs. Synthetic Motor Oil; Subaru Vehicle Oil Specifications and Intervals
Subaru Drive : spr11 What Makes a Subaru: Synthetic Motor Oil
It's still personal choice when it comes to what you want to use, but some info to try to clear things up!
LOL it sounds like your co-worker was my dad. My dad is like that; never does any maintenance on any vehicle, other this his current Honda Accord. And he only does it now because he hates that Maintenance Reminder light. For example, the vehicle he had before his current '09 Accord was a '99 Ford Expedition. That vehicle had an oil change done at 20K miles, then at 50K miles (Tranny flush here too) then at 100k miles. Those only happened because I did them for him. Out side of that, no maintenance and it was running fine at 160K miles, when he traded it in.I bought my first Honda (A Civic) in '83, when one of my co-workers didn't make it to work one day. When he came in the next day, he told me his '76 civic had quit on the way in. He didn't do much maintenance, but he kept good records. It had quit because the points had closed. When he checked his book, HE HAD NOT TOUCHED ANYTHING UNDER THE HOOD FOR OVER 40k MILES! The car had about 110k on it, but he had not done a bit of maintenance since it had 68k on it.
I figured that any car that could survive that kind of neglect, and only need minor maintenance to run again, would last forever, for me.
My dad had a Matador, remember those AMC vehicles? He never changed oil just added it when it was low. 78K miles never an oil change.
Not me
I changed my Outback at 1700 miles with 5W30 synthetic and will run that 7500 miles and have Blackstone do an analysis. That will tell me how it is doing and will follow Subaru's required change intervals until out of warranty.
My M3 BMW when I sold it had 284K miles and didn't use or burn oil and had synthetic changes it entire life. Oil was changed when the oil service light came on.
To me the Subaru manual is the bible until out of warranty then will see what oil analysis shows.
Not me
I changed my Outback at 1700 miles with 5W30 synthetic and will run that 7500 miles and have Blackstone do an analysis. That will tell me how it is doing and will follow Subaru's required change intervals until out of warranty.
My M3 BMW when I sold it had 284K miles and didn't use or burn oil and had synthetic changes it entire life. Oil was changed when the oil service light came on.
To me the Subaru manual is the bible until out of warranty then will see what oil analysis shows.
41 - 49 of 49 Posts
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