Down 1/3 quart on new car

[TheRealBFKR]

Hi all,
I put on about 2.8k mile on my brand new ‘18 BRZ within the last month. Today, I noticed that my dipstick is reading about 1/3 of the way below the top hole. I am fairly certain it was right at the top hole when I checked at around 2k. Is this normal usage for a new car? Full disclosure: I do push the engine pretty hard on backroads. I have seen roughly 250F+ oil tell just from backroads driving.

I plan on doing my first autox day and HPDE weekend with it towards the end of the month. The plan is to change to 5w30 before then, even if I will realistically be under 4K miles at that point. I will then change back to 0w20 almost right after the HPDE weekend in October since winter is coming. Does that sound like a logical plan?

Thanks!

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by TheRealBFKR

Hi all,
I put on about 2.8k mile on my brand new ‘18 BRZ within the last month. Today, I noticed that my dipstick is reading about 1/3 of the way below the top hole. I am fairly certain it was right at the top hole when I checked at around 2k. Is this normal usage for a new car? Full disclosure: I do push the engine pretty hard on backroads. I have seen roughly 250F+ oil tell just from backroads driving.

I plan on doing my first autox day and HPDE weekend with it towards the end of the month. The plan is to change to 5w30 before then, even if I will realistically be under 4K miles at that point. I will then change back to 0w20 almost right after the HPDE weekend in October since winter is coming. Does that sound like a logical plan?

Thanks!

Hello TheRealBFKR and welcome to our forum -

I wouldn't worry about your car consuming 1/3 quart of oil in 2,800 miles, especially since it's new. Back in the day, we used to expect a new engine to use a little oil, till the oil rings got good and seated.

Mine uses about a half a quart between oil changes (7,000 miles).

I wouldn't think it would be necessary to change to the heavier oil for a limited autox and HPDE exposure. But, if it makes you feel better, it won't hurt anything.

It's most important to keep the oil level near the top hole on the dipstick, especially if you are pushing it.

Have a fun track experience -


humfrz

[finch1750]

Originally Posted by TheRealBFKR

Hi all,
I put on about 2.8k mile on my brand new ‘18 BRZ within the last month. Today, I noticed that my dipstick is reading about 1/3 of the way below the top hole. I am fairly certain it was right at the top hole when I checked at around 2k. Is this normal usage for a new car? Full disclosure: I do push the engine pretty hard on backroads. I have seen roughly 250F+ oil tell just from backroads driving.

I plan on doing my first autox day and HPDE weekend with it towards the end of the month. The plan is to change to 5w30 before then, even if I will realistically be under 4K miles at that point. I will then change back to 0w20 almost right after the HPDE weekend in October since winter is coming. Does that sound like a logical plan?

Thanks!

Buy an oil cooler.

[Spuds]

How are you measuring oil temp?

As mentioned before:
Oil consumption is normal.
You might want to consider an oil cooler of some variety.

[TheRealBFKR]

Originally Posted by Spuds

How are you measuring oil temp?

As mentioned before:
Oil consumption is normal.
You might want to consider an oil cooler of some variety.

I have the Limited so there is a handy digital gauge on the dash display.

OC is on the agenda, just probably not for my first track day ever.

[TheRealBFKR]

Originally Posted by humfrz

Hello TheRealBFKR and welcome to our forum -

I wouldn't worry about your car consuming 1/3 quart of oil in 2,800 miles, especially since it's new. Back in the day, we used to expect a new engine to use a little oil, till the oil rings got good and seated.

Mine uses about a half a quart between oil changes (7,000 miles).

I wouldn't think it would be necessary to change to the heavier oil for a limited autox and HPDE exposure. But, if it makes you feel better, it won't hurt anything.

It's most important to keep the oil level near the top hole on the dipstick, especially if you are pushing it.

Have a fun track experience -


humfrz

Thanks, humfrz. I have actually been lurking on the forums for a quite a few years now. The BRZ has been a dream car of mine for quite some time. Glad to finally be a part of the 86 gang.

[finch1750]

Originally Posted by TheRealBFKR

I have the Limited so there is a handy digital gauge on the dash display.

OC is on the agenda, just probably not for my first track day ever.

Any reason why not for the first day ever? Your car sees high RPM all the same and you're seeing high temps outside of the track as is.

[Sapphireho]

Originally Posted by finch1750

Any reason why not for the first day ever? Your car sees high RPM all the same and you're seeing high temps outside of the track as is.

+1. If I was seeing 250 on the street consistantly I would cool it for track, hell, for the street.

[TheRealBFKR]

Originally Posted by Sapphireho

+1. If I was seeing 250 on the street consistantly I would cool it for track, hell, for the street.

I am moving soon to the Pacific Northwest, where the summers rarely get above the 80s.

I want to make sure I have an oil cooler that doesn't overcool the oil.
Right now, it seems like either the OEM Forester OC or the JR Dual Radiator/OC could be the answer.

The latter is of course, a lot pricier and could really only happen after I move at the end of the year.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by TheRealBFKR

I am moving soon to the Pacific Northwest, where the summers rarely get above the 80s.

I want to make sure I have an oil cooler that doesn't overcool the oil.
Right now, it seems like either the OEM Forester OC or the JR Dual Radiator/OC could be the answer.

The latter is of course, a lot pricier and could really only happen after I move at the end of the year.

Personally, I don't feel an oil cooler is necessary for a non tracked car in the western part of the PNW.

Now, my good buddy, @Ultramaroon, down in Vancouver, WA, installed an oil cooler. Maybe he would like to comment -


humfrz

[Ultramaroon]

My engine is bone stock.

I monitor temps and pressures.

I run the biggest fucking oil cooler ever paired with this engine.

I have a diverter valve so I can control flow anywhere between full bypass to full cooler.

I only run 0w20.

Anywhere above 200 F the oil will not reach spec pressure.

If the engine is run steadily above 4500-5000, the oil gets hot quickly regardless of water temp. I don't know if all engines do this but this one is the first to which I've paid close attention. Based on my observations from tinkering with my system in all kinds of conditions, I can confirm the recommendations published by Setrab here.


I run a little under half my oil through the cooler with a 180F thermostat in all cases except sustained operation between 5000-redline. Then, my 72-row, series-1 just manages to keep the oil below 190F.
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tl:dr

Unless it's a dedicated track car, pick a cooler designed to dissipate around 30KBTU/hr. You won't be sorry.