Mobil 1 is bad for Subaru engines !?!

[shiumai]

Originally Posted by Bonburner

This is coming from a MS in chemotherapeutic drug design and synthesis with a BS in chemistry and currently working on his PharmD. Yes different fields, but similar enough basic utilization of chemistry knowledge to understand the stark differences between the products.

Off topic here, but what do you plan on doing after you get the PharmD? Work as a pharmacist, researcher or something like an MSL for a pharma company?

My wife has her PhD in biochemistry and specialized in cancer research, but moved away from academia into industry for the past 20 years. she knows nothing about motor oil, though, lol.

[Bonburner]

Originally Posted by Spuds

Only comparable numbers I was able to find from Mobil indicate Mobil 1 is actually better. Lower density, higher viscosity, higher flashpoint, nothing else I saw that was directly comparable unless I'm missing something. I don't have time to look closer, but figured I'd leave my interpretation of the data.

Depends on how you drive your car.


I personally anticipate a lot of short distance driving, so I want an oil with a tighter viscocity range (which TGMO and Idemistu Zepro seems to be the best in 0W20).


I don't think flash point is much of a concern unless you're doing some heavy track endurance stuff. Which you should have an oil cooler by then anyways.


And then what Bluesubie said. (edit: I did not personally check the additives, so I'm just going with what he said - heh).

Originally Posted by shiumai

Off topic here, but what do you plan on doing after you get the PharmD? Work as a pharmacist, researcher or something like an MSL for a pharma company?

My wife has her PhD in biochemistry and specialized in cancer research, but moved away from academia into industry for the past 20 years. she knows nothing about motor oil, though, lol.

I'm leaning towards managed care / pharmacoeconomics research / outcomes research / pharmaceutical industry .. possibly MSL.

[Yigal.K]

I used mobil1 0W20, the engine didn't even last to the annual service interval. No it wasn't missing oil, no it didn't overheat, no I haven't been driving it that hard (even an ecobox should have survived). At 101k KM and just 12k KM since the last service, the engine gave out (rod knock). I was told by the Subaru mechanic they don't use 0W20, but 5W30 and that the engine probably died due to the oil.
So while I'll never know for sure what was the cause, unless you live in a colder environment I would stay away from 0W20, mobil1 or not.

[Vital]

Originally Posted by Yigal.K

I used mobil1 0W20, the engine didn't even last to the annual service interval. No it wasn't missing oil, no it didn't overheat, no I haven't been driving it that hard (even an ecobox should have survived). At 101k KM and just 12k KM since the last service, the engine gave out (rod knock). I was told by the Subaru mechanic they don't use 0W20, but 5W30 and that the engine probably died due to the oil.
So while I'll never know for sure what was the cause, unless you live in a colder environment I would stay away from 0W20, mobil1 or not.

Not really sure if your mechanic knows what hes talking about. The manual specifically states to use 0w-20 oil. Not sure what happened to your engine, but in summer people generally run 5w-30 and in winter they run 0w-20. If you track your car and live in hot climate or just drive your car hard then sure you can use 5w-30, but there are no issues in using either oils...

[nikitopo]

Originally Posted by Yigal.K

I used mobil1 0W20, the engine didn't even last to the annual service interval. No it wasn't missing oil, no it didn't overheat, no I haven't been driving it that hard (even an ecobox should have survived). At 101k KM and just 12k KM since the last service, the engine gave out (rod knock). I was told by the Subaru mechanic they don't use 0W20, but 5W30 and that the engine probably died due to the oil.
So while I'll never know for sure what was the cause, unless you live in a colder environment I would stay away from 0W20, mobil1 or not.

How often did you change the oil? You said that the last service was just 12k km before?

[Leonardo]

Originally Posted by nikitopo

How often did you change the oil? You said that the last service was just 12k km before?

This is the factory suggested interval for oil changes. 7500 miles or 12000 Kilometers. I change mine every 7500 miles at the dealership. (mostly because I bought the Lifetime synthetic oil package)

[nikitopo]

Originally Posted by Leonardo

This is the factory suggested interval for oil changes. 7500 miles or 12000 Kilometers. I change mine every 7500 miles at the dealership. (mostly because I bought the Lifetime synthetic oil package)

Yes I know. I was just wondering because his car has a high mileage and seemed that he was changing the oil in bigger intervals.

[Stang70Fastback]

Meh. My car has 60,000 miles, and I do 10,000 mile oil change intervals. Sometimes I go an entire season of autocross on one oil change. There are a lot of things that dictate how often you should change your oil.

[mrg666]

Originally Posted by Vital

Not really sure if your mechanic knows what hes talking about. The manual specifically states to use 0w-20 oil. Not sure what happened to your engine, but in summer people generally run 5w-30 and in winter they run 0w-20. If you track your car and live in hot climate or just drive your car hard then sure you can use 5w-30, but there are no issues in using either oils...

I would change the mechanic, Mobil 1 is totally fine.

[MCTeeJ]

I did the 3 complimentary oil changes and I always was a little short on oil by the time the next interval came up.

Started changing the oil myself with Mobil1 0w20 at around a 5-6k interval, and threw a magnetic drain plug in the car the first time I went to change it. Did probably 2-3 changes on the M1 and every time I saw metal shavings on the plug; nothing to be alarmed about just normal wear and tear. Oil was always a half qt. low when I went to change it.

Have since switched to Motul 5w30 and done 3 changes with that oil. Oil is full when I go to change it, and there are far fewer shavings on the plug.

I'm no oil expert, not even close, just providing data.

[Yigal.K]

Originally Posted by nikitopo

How often did you change the oil? You said that the last service was just 12k km before?

Since my annual mileage is usually lower than the maintenance interval I usually have it done once a year. btw, the EU manual says every 15k Km / 12mo. Either way I didn't even get around to that. Bought the car with 88k KM. Had it serviced within a month of buying it (replaced all filters and oils, trans and diff included, minus fuel filter) and the engine started knocking at 101k KM, less than a year since its last service.