What oil are you using?

05redx

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Joined
Jul 13, 2008
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115
Location
Melbourne, Australia
Hi All,
Now that the warranty on my MY05 X has expired , I've started doing the servicing myself. I've used Castrol Edge Sport 5W-30 for my last 2 oil changes. What oil are others using?

Cheers

Grant
 
Pennzoil Platinum. (as recommended to me by outback ben)
 
I'm using Castrol Edge Sport 5W-30 as well. Since going to that oil, I no longer get the tappet clatter in Winter like I used to get with what the Subaru shop was using (Mobil 1 I think). A different grade of the Mobil oil might have had the same result, although from memory I think it was a 5W-something too.
Cheers
Tony
 
My L series uses the Valvoline Synth 10W/40. As soon as the lifter tic tic tic comes back, time for a change(around 4-5000km...) and the oil really keeps the engine clean.

The Mini uses K Mart brand 20W50 - I use this for running motors too as it is good stuff and is actually made by Castrol(kind of in between GTX 1 and 2).

A good thing to do with your Soobs too is what I use on the mini - stick 4 x rare earth magnets(neomydium I think - pardon the spelling) on the outer of the oil filter - spaced evenly around the base - pics up all the really fine stuff in the oil that otherwise ends up in your bearings/sump/everywhere where it isnt supposed to be. I cut the filter open and I am pissed and amazed with the amount of filings circulating thru the mini engine...The Subaru isnt too bad considering the minis box lives in the sump!!

Bottom line on oil is you have to check it at least weekly(mine gets done every morning)and as soon as it turns, change it.

Hooroo
 
I used Mobil1 10/30 but it was just getting too dear so was going to change to the 5/30 Mobil but could never find it so went to Edge 5/30.
Subaru synthetic oil is made by Castrol so could well be rebadged Edge.
 
I use plain old dino motor oil. But I change it way too often. Every 4 months regardless of mileage. That works out to an average of 2500 miles between oil changes. I usually use Havoline or Chevron. 5w-30 in the winter, 10W-30 during the warmer months.
 
I used to use Magnatec in my Forester. The important thing is that you run the right viscosity, and change it often- I do it every 5000km. Both are even more critical on turbo engines. Now that it is summer, you can get away with 10 or 15 weight cold, but you'd want at least a 40 weight hot- again, more so with turbos. Any towing or using the turbo hard for prolonged use, and you should have 50 weight in your turbo car (hot). In my WRX, I use Elf and it does the trick for me, but there are other good oils out there as well.
 
i use to use magnatec but as soon as i changed the low rev timing clang disappeared and hasnt come back.
I use Shell ultra 5 or 10 - 50 i think. I live in Bris so even 10 is over kill :)
 
I would say you are much better to go to a 5-30. 50 seems too high at the top. Just not needed for our cars and it is not a grade that is recommended for 2.5 Foresters as far as i am aware.
 
I use magnatec 10/30 usually, but if thats not available, I'll use their 10/40 instead.

Regards
Mr Turbo
 
silver said:
I would say you are much better to go to a 5-30. 50 seems too high at the top. Just not needed for our cars and it is not a grade that is recommended for 2.5 Foresters as far as i am aware.
Click to expand...

Just checked its 15- 50

why do you say too high? isnt it just more viscous so providing more protection under hotter conditions??
 
I used magnatec but was shown by a subaru mechanic that the stuff they use (44 gallon drums) is different spec to the 5 litres containers retailed. Dealers get full syntehtic v's retail semi synthetic and different viscosity rating also - that was about 2 years ago so I'm not sure if that's still the case? I changed to shell helix ultra 5W40 and it ran a fair bit smoother. Recently had the 100K service done by URD. I'm not sure what oil they use or what they did to tune it but it has never run as smooth since day 1.
 
Eastie said:
I used magnatec but was shown by a subaru mechanic that the stuff they use (44 gallon drums) is different spec to the 5 litres containers retailed. Dealers get full syntehtic v's retail semi synthetic and different viscosity rating also - that was about 2 years ago so I'm not sure if that's still the case?
Click to expand...

isn't that just a case of reading whats on the tin, and what a particular retailer stocks, pretty sure they'd be in trouble if the labeling is false.


use shell ultra 5W-40 also, its expensive stuff compared to the others,
get a smooth running engine though. Still if magnatec full synthetic is $10 cheaper, its probably a better buy, try it next time.......
 
That's not what I was getting at. The different specs are clearly marked on both containers, but you won't find the commercial "magantec professional" spec on retail shelves, and you either have to know about it or have to search past their marketting and into their technical data to find it on their website. If you think you are doing the right thing and using the same oil as subaru, you simply aren't.

To view the castrol technical data sheets use this link and type magnatec in the product search:
https://www.tds.castrol.com.au/default.aspx
 
Last edited:
What is going on??????? I keep trying to reply but it tells me it's too bloody busy. I'm using this as a test as i am sick of typing the reply and losing it!!! :exclaim::exclaim::exclaim::shake::shake:
It worked so what is happening to my longer reply??? Is there a time limit or something????
 
silver said:
What is going on??????? I keep trying to reply but it tells me it's too bloody busy. I'm using this as a test as i am sick of typing the reply and losing it!!! :exclaim::exclaim::exclaim::shake::shake:
It worked so what is happening to my longer reply??? Is there a time limit or something????
Click to expand...

Not sure what is happening???:shrug: There is a limit for how long a post can be, but there shouldn't be a time limit. I'll often copy a long post before I hit 'preview' or 'post' just so I have it in case something does happen, I've also heard of others typing longer posts up in Word or some other similar program so they can just copy and paste it to post and have a back up. The one Toyota forum I'm on is really bad about losing posts so I've gotten used to preparing for it.

Sorry your having troubles.
 
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