I just happened to be having a chat with a well known engine tuner today [well known if your from the Plymouth area] about servicing the Impreza amongst other things.
We got on to the subject of these engines going bang ect and it was then that he hit me with it!
"Do not use a fully synth oil in the Impreza engine".
I nearly fell over
He then went on to say that even the suburu main dealer up the road do not recomend fully synth oil as these engines "dont like it"
I presume this bloke knows his stuff, builds alot of Vauxhall 2L 16valve lumps for compettion, rally, hill climbs ect and he does quality servicing on scoobs.
But having thought i had all the theorys rite his comments have completely thrown me
What do you guys reckon?
Im now wondering what all the dealerships in japan use/recomend?
Please fire away!

 

I'd heard that its not wise to use fully synth oil when running in an engine, but am a little lost as to why he says not use it after that.

 

You & me both Mark

 

There are good reasons not to use a full synth on a new, or nearly new engine because of a propensity to encourage bore glazing, but beyond that, there's no factual basis to suggest that these engines "don't like" full synthetic oils on a generalised basis.

Did you ask this tuner to justify his comment? As things stand, I'd suggest he's offered bum info and that he doesn't know his stuff as well as you're giving him credit for.

[Edited by greasemonkey - 9/20/2003 5:32:25 PM]

 

Quote/its not wise to use fully synth oil when running in an engine /Quote

Totally agree....as there is a need for a little metal to metal contact that normal mineral oil will give you....and synthetic won't.
But as to why not use synthetic after that.....total loss.
I've just been researching this subject and spoken to a lot of oil technicians. Apart from using the wrong viscosity....which sometimes can cause probs.....there is no disadvantage to using fully synthetics.
With the Evos....the warranty states that if you any other viscosity oil other than 10w-30 is used....then the warranty will be void. This is simply cos of the better flow rate when hot.

 

mmm, very valid comments GM and god knows where he got his info from. I now know that i should have asked him to substantiate these claims.
Most people in the world must run these engines with a fully synth oil after all.
The one thing that he did say was and i quote.
Fully synth oils are too thin for them.
This is abit of a strange statement as we all know that the only thing that makes an oil to thin is its viscosity rating, not weather its a synthetic oil or semi synthetic oil.
Strange..........

 

Exactly, that sentence alone seems to show up the flaw in his thinking. He seems to live in a world where the only full synths are 0w/30 or something. Maybe you should buy him some 15/50 Mobil 1 for his birthday!

 

Yes, well i think i shall now draw a line under this "new" theory and put it down to the fact that he was in part talking through his poop shute

 

So you say he's famous in the Plymouth area?

 

...How big an area is that?

 

Apparently yeah!
Thats the bloody trouble down here though, we're not exactly spoilt for choice. Mind you, when and if i need somthing doing on the R that i cant handle, i think il try and find somwhere else on second thoughts. 3.5 hours to cheltenham or 2.5 hours to Swindon

 

"how big an area is that"

Like my front room, fookall to it

 

ive just put 5v50 fully synthetic on my96 wrx is this wise?

 

Swindon is "only" 55 mins from Plymouth when I do it ...

cheers

bob

 

Bob,

I know your car is quick - but that is some feat - I guess you must use a helicopter as that is an average of 174.8mph...

...as according to Autoroute it is 160.3 miles down the M4/M5 with an estimate of 2hrs 51mins!!

Rannoch

 

Plymouth 164 miles ? AAh ok, I am getting Portsmouth slightly confused with Plymouth, would be 1 hr 55mins then !!!

lol

thanks for pointing it out

cheers

bob

 

Sounds like it's high time BR Developments started selling in-car nav kit Bob.

 

lol, I have one of those but it doesn't work v well at mach 2 !!!

 

Bob, i hope that run is'nt a normal mapping session run

 

Leviathan, one of my mates runs Mr Vartannens Pro drive car in the WRC and he has always recommended using the best synth oil possible for any race/ high performance engine.

BTW did u used to be a Hoover basher????

 

Bob, I gather British Airways are selling some slightly used Concordes next month. I'm sure Swindon-Plymouth would take a damn sight less than 55 minutes in one of those. Good inertial navigation too!

 

RichWalk, certainly did m8, in those far off days of my yoof

 

PMSL @ Bob! If it was 55 minuites id be up your workshop every weekend, id be skint, id be single, id have a seriously quick car

 

Who needs a woman when you have a car that quick?

 

...Much better, you can use the car every day of the month...

(Ducks, but thinks he's safe due to this being General Technical!)

 

yeah, only thing is, you cant pick a car up like a six-pack

Is it busy in muppets tonite

 

You can't pick a woman up like a six-pack either!

(Why can I hear Swiss Toni in my ear?)

Oh, don't know, haven't looked!