Is it safe to top off with different oil? - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

bizintine · 10-22-2015, 08:39 PM

I'm at 3k miles into my last oil change. Im using Mobil1 0w 20 Advanced Fuel Economy. I noticed today that the level on the dip stick is getting low, can I safely top it off with Mobil1 0w 20 Extended Performance oil? Is there even a significant difference in the two? I just want to save a few bucks cause I already have some laying around..

DannyQ86 · 10-22-2015, 08:49 PM

Yes you can, more importantly I'd be looking into your oil consumption issues.

Mr.ac · 10-22-2015, 08:51 PM

Yes you can. As long as it's the same weight, or even close to it, your car will be fine. Hell, you can even mix brands.
Having any kind of oil is better than having no oil.

vividracing · 10-22-2015, 08:51 PM

Oil consumption isn't always an indicator of a serious problem. How much consumption and how quickly it's being consumed is more telling of a potential problem.

You should be fine topping it off with a different type or brand, but make sure it's the same weight.

bizintine · 10-22-2015, 09:20 PM

Sweet thanks for your input guys. I should mention that I am running e85 with an OFT tune. Might have something to do with the oil consumption but not sure. Either way, it is minimal so I'm not worried.

humfrz · 10-23-2015, 01:15 AM

hmmmm........I'll say, that it won't hurt the engine to "top it off" with any brand or weight of motor oil .....

humfrz

RustySocket · 10-23-2015, 02:29 AM

In simplistic terms changing brands of oil that have the same viscosity ratings and specifications is the equivalent of buying your fuel at different gas stations and filling up when your at a half tank.

With that said, I don't do it with my cars engines just simply to save a couple of bucks or to use up that half quart left over from a previous change. If I were in a desperate situation and had no alternative I would in a heartbeat because any oil is better than no oil.

What I do is compile all my miscellaneous leftover oils into one container and when I do the once a year change on the lawn mower and generator I use that generic mix for those engines instead.

fumanchu1 · 10-23-2015, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RustySocket

In simplistic terms changing brands of oil that have the same viscosity ratings and specifications is the equivalent of buying your fuel at different gas stations and filling up when your at a half tank.

With that said, I don't do it with my cars engines just simply to save a couple of bucks or to use up that half quart left over from a previous change. If I were in a desperate situation and had no alternative I would in a heartbeat because any oil is better than no oil.

What I do is compile all my miscellaneous leftover oils into one container and when I do the once a year change on the lawn mower and generator I use that generic mix for those engines instead.

My sentra disagrees, it seems to enjoy it's lack of oil(for some reason)

bluesubie · 10-23-2015, 04:50 PM

Both oils pass ASTM D6922:

Significance and Use

5.1 It is important that engine oils from different manufacturers be homogeneous and miscible with each other, because operators of automotive engines often do not have prior knowledge of the manufacturer of the oil that is currently used in their application, and engine failure can occur if oils are combined that do not stay homogeneous and function properly.
http://www.astm.org/Standards/D6922.htm

Discussion:
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums...ted_ASTM_D6922

10-22-2015, 08:39 PM	#1
bizintine Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Drives: 2013 whiteout frs Location: La Mirada, CA Posts: 69 Thanks: 39 Thanked 18 Times in 15 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Is it safe to top off with different oil? I'm at 3k miles into my last oil change. Im using Mobil1 0w 20 Advanced Fuel Economy. I noticed today that the level on the dip stick is getting low, can I safely top it off with Mobil1 0w 20 Extended Performance oil? Is there even a significant difference in the two? I just want to save a few bucks cause I already have some laying around..

10-22-2015, 08:51 PM	#3
Mr.ac [insert cool phrase here] Join Date: Aug 2015 Drives: BRZ Premium Location: Central Coast CA Posts: 2,368 Thanks: 709 Thanked 1,559 Times in 930 Posts Mentioned: 30 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Yes you can. As long as it's the same weight, or even close to it, your car will be fine. Hell, you can even mix brands. Having any kind of oil is better than having no oil. __________________ New daily driver - Subaru BRZ Premium Weekend fun/track car - '91 MR2 Turbo Gen3 Old daily driver - '88 MR2 Supercharged

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10-22-2015, 08:49 PM	#2
DannyQ86 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Drives: 2013 frs Location: SoCal Posts: 113 Thanks: 87 Thanked 39 Times in 31 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	Yes you can, more importantly I'd be looking into your oil consumption issues.

10-22-2015, 08:51 PM	#4
vividracing Join Date: May 2012 Drives: 2013 Scion FR-S Location: Gilbert, Arizona Posts: 2,593 Thanks: 491 Thanked 1,065 Times in 617 Posts Mentioned: 49 Post(s) Tagged: 3 Thread(s)	Oil consumption isn't always an indicator of a serious problem. How much consumption and how quickly it's being consumed is more telling of a potential problem. You should be fine topping it off with a different type or brand, but make sure it's the same weight.

10-22-2015, 09:20 PM	#5
bizintine Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Drives: 2013 whiteout frs Location: La Mirada, CA Posts: 69 Thanks: 39 Thanked 18 Times in 15 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Sweet thanks for your input guys. I should mention that I am running e85 with an OFT tune. Might have something to do with the oil consumption but not sure. Either way, it is minimal so I'm not worried.

10-23-2015, 01:15 AM	#6
humfrz Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Drives: 2013 FR-S, white, MT Location: Puyallup, WA Posts: 30,408 Thanks: 29,792 Thanked 32,807 Times in 16,828 Posts Mentioned: 715 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	hmmmm........I'll say, that it won't hurt the engine to "top it off" with any brand or weight of motor oil ..... humfrz

10-23-2015, 02:29 AM	#7
RustySocket Slow Learner Join Date: Jul 2015 Drives: 15 Halo FRS Location: Puget Sound Posts: 206 Thanks: 147 Thanked 110 Times in 55 Posts Mentioned: 5 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	In simplistic terms changing brands of oil that have the same viscosity ratings and specifications is the equivalent of buying your fuel at different gas stations and filling up when your at a half tank. With that said, I don't do it with my cars engines just simply to save a couple of bucks or to use up that half quart left over from a previous change. If I were in a desperate situation and had no alternative I would in a heartbeat because any oil is better than no oil. What I do is compile all my miscellaneous leftover oils into one container and when I do the once a year change on the lawn mower and generator I use that generic mix for those engines instead.

10-23-2015, 04:50 PM	#9
bluesubie Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Drives: 2004 Subaru Forester 2.5XT Location: Central NJ Posts: 681 Thanks: 28 Thanked 273 Times in 200 Posts Mentioned: 9 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Both oils pass ASTM D6922: Significance and Use 5.1 It is important that engine oils from different manufacturers be homogeneous and miscible with each other, because operators of automotive engines often do not have prior knowledge of the manufacturer of the oil that is currently used in their application, and engine failure can occur if oils are combined that do not stay homogeneous and function properly. http://www.astm.org/Standards/D6922.htm Discussion: http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums...ted_ASTM_D6922

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