Hi gang,
Looking for your input regarding the following vehicle. It was purchased new about a month ago, so I'm starting to think about my oil change game plan.
The basics:
So based on my early limited knowledge of PCMO's, this is what I am considering. I am looking for any input to confirm if my line of thinking is correct, or if people would do things differently.
Thanks in advance to the community for helping me keep my baby in tip top shape
Looking for your input regarding the following vehicle. It was purchased new about a month ago, so I'm starting to think about my oil change game plan.
The basics:
- 2018 Subaru Legacy 3.6R - 6 cyl
- Owner's manual recommends 5w30 conventional oil, at 6,000 mile/6 month intervals.
- API classification SN "resource conserving" or ILSAC GF-5 certified.
- I live in a very cold part of the continent. The winters get very frigid at times, we're pretty much guaranteed to hit -20 degree weather at least a few times in the season.
- The car does an 15 mile (one way) commute every work day. 10 miles of that is easy highway cruising. But I make sure to exercise my 6 cyl boxer with some hard accelerating once in a while... it would be unfair to the car otherwise
- Car is brand new, and I made sure to baby the engine on its first 1000 mile break-in. Engine is purring along very nicely so far.
So based on my early limited knowledge of PCMO's, this is what I am considering. I am looking for any input to confirm if my line of thinking is correct, or if people would do things differently.
- Based on my shorter than average commute, it's looking like I'll have to change the oil twice a year if I'm going to stick with conventional. But perhaps, after the warranty runs out I am wondering if there are any ill effects to changing it only when that 6,000 mile counter expires? What is the detriment to leaving the oil in the car for, say, 9 months instead of the recommended 6? Perhaps this duration will be longer if I opt for extended OCIs with a synthetic oil.
- I'm scratching my head over the "...however 5w30 synthetic may be used for optimum engine performance" blurb on the owner's manual. (image above.) I am wondering exactly what "optimum engine performance" entails?
- I hear that a synthetic 5w30 has better cold engine performance compared to a conventional 5w30, because the oil covers all of the moving parts in the engine quicker, immediately following starting of the engine. Is this true? If yes, how much of a difference does it make? As an example, if conventional 5w30 is going to allow the engine to last for the normal 200,000 miles or so even with the -20 winters then I'm not too concerned about spending more for synthetic just for the extra protection.
- If I do decide to go for a synthetic oil, what OCI do you guys think I can safely work with? (after the vehicle warranty expires, of course)
- Finally- is there any detriment in doing my first oil change before the 6 month/6000 mile mark? I heard that some new cars come with a special oil used for engine break-in (?)
Thanks in advance to the community for helping me keep my baby in tip top shape