Originally Posted By: SubLGT
Originally Posted By: bluesubie
Originally Posted By: SubLGT
Originally Posted By: Phishin
..........I'd choose ............ GC before PP or Havoline. ........
Why would you want a thick oil like GC for winter use?
I would because my turbo isn't going to get an oil with an HTHS of lower than 3.5. RC oils are below my comfort zone and no uoa or pds info is going to change that.
If this is for the Legacy GT, I wouldn't run it unless you drive it very easy. Then again what's the point of having an LGT if that's the case. It might be fine with 3k mile intervals though.
My winter fill will be Motul X-cess 5W-40. If I feel it's too thick, I'll thin it out a bit after I burn through a quart.
So what's the application?
-Dennis
Several years ago Terry Dyson told me anything thicker than a 5W30 in a Subaru 2.5L 250HP motor is absolutely not necessary in a street driven car. Back then he was recommending PP. OTOH, at the Subaru forums, the mantra is "thicker is better". So I split the difference.
Last winter (and all year) I ran a M1 blend of 0W20 and 0W40. This year I am over my short lived infatuation with DIY blends, and will probably use the 5L jug of Motul X-Lite 0W30 I have had sitting in my basement for 2 years.
But I still think that for most engines that spec a 5W30, the PP has the most favorable viscometrics for a 1-10 degF winter morning start. I'll be using it in my snow blower.
Terry probably hasn't seen the numerous turbo and bearing failure threads on nasioc, legacygt, iwsti, and other Subaru forums on EC and RC oils.
I do think that early oil changes would be the key though and would not go beyond 3,750 miles on a thin oil. Been there, done that and a turbo failure 250 miles into a 1,200 mile trip is no fun and not cheap.
What year do you have again (ie, are you affected by the AVCS/turbo banjo bolt screen issue?)?
Good luck!
-Dennis