When to switch to synthetic oil?

KEVS1000 · 10-21-2005, 03:06 PM

Hey All,

In my other post (Break-in procedures), Sebtarta said to switch to synthetic oil at 7500? WHY? Why is 7500 the right time to switch? Does anyone else have an opinion? When did you switch?

Loving my new 06. This board rocks! Thanks
Ken

***gixxer6*** · 10-21-2005, 06:30 PM

Most people say not to switch to synthetic too early because the engine won't get broke in properly. I swithed over at 6200

STi05' · 10-21-2005, 07:18 PM

Dealer told me to not even THINK about it till 20,000 miles

mike_ · 10-21-2005, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STi05'

Dealer told me to not even THINK about it till 20,000 miles

The dealer is stupid, most are. Mine told me not to redline the car until 17k miles. 17k? Pretty arbitrary# and plenty absurd too.

The engine is broken in plenty enough for synth between 7-10k.

91TB78 · 10-21-2005, 07:35 PM

There is a lot of info on this board about break-in and when to change to synthetic. The bottom line is this. If you really baby your car then I would wait until 5K+ miles to change to synthetic. I broke it in via motoman's method of driving it hard and I changed to Amsoil at 3K. I have yet to experience any burning or consumption and my car is about 12K miles. Another thing to think about is what brand and weight of synthetic you use. Remember, not all oils are made the same, so do your research on what works best with our engines.

STLSTI · 10-21-2005, 10:45 PM

The manual says synthetic are Ok, and dont see any millage limitation.

91TB78 · 10-21-2005, 10:47 PM

Right, but the manual has basic info in it. The manual also states to change your oil at 7500 miles unless driven in their * conditions (dusty, mountains, etc, etc).

OvrPSId · 10-21-2005, 11:28 PM

I switched right before the 1000 mile mark. New oil, new filter, and a fumoto drain valve so that the next change will go a little easier/faster. This is the first car I've had in a while that was not factory filled with synthetic...

I check my oil every fill up so if it consumes a little I'll add a little. No great loss in my opinion compared to the reduced wear. After all, breaking in those rings against the cylinder walls really means wearing them in until they've worn themselves into each other. The drivers manual from my past ZR-1 states, well, see for yourself:

I saw no where in the STi owners manual where they would void an engine warranty for changing the oil too frequently or for switching to synthetic. I've pulled apart many engines that were burning oil that had nice mirror smooth walls before and seen nice well worn engines that ran synthetic pulled apart that still had some crosshatch marks left.

max05sti · 10-22-2005, 10:46 AM

Thats odd, because my dealer told me that they always use a synthetic blend, which is what they used on my car at 1700.

KDSTI · 10-22-2005, 03:18 PM

i switched to synthetic at 3k miles to valvoline 5w-30syn and my car burns a little less that 1 quart every 3k miles i may try 10w-30 syn to see if the oil consumption goes down but from what ive read/ been told by my dealer a turbo car will consume some oil and less than 1 quart is good.. id be worried if my car was burning 2-3 quarts of oil but thats not the case

Ol'SaltyBastard · 10-23-2005, 05:12 PM

I switched to synthetic at 1,000 miles and haven't looked back. Car burn ZERO, nada, zilch, none, no oil (at least not enough that can be measured on a dipstick.)

***Insane06STi*** · 10-24-2005, 08:47 PM

Yup, me too. 1st oil change syntec fully syntetic. Will get my 2nd oil change tomorrow at 3000 miles. Hi all.

Singletrack · 10-25-2005, 02:01 PM

Changed at 3k.

LightWerkz · 10-27-2005, 06:51 PM

i switched to syn at 3000, my first oil change.

BlueGold · 10-28-2005, 04:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ol'SaltyBastard

I switched to synthetic at 1,000 miles and haven't looked back. Car burn ZERO, nada, zilch, none, no oil (at least not enough that can be measured on a dipstick.)

Same here except my first oil change was at 3,000 miles or so. This "myth" of when to switch to synthetic is silly.

10-21-2005, 03:06 PM	#1
KEVS1000 Junior STI Driver Car: 06 STI WRB Fav Mod: Fumoto Valve Location: SATX Posts: 101 IWSTI Addict since: Oct 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	When to switch to synthetic oil? Hey All, In my other post (Break-in procedures), Sebtarta said to switch to synthetic oil at 7500? WHY? Why is 7500 the right time to switch? Does anyone else have an opinion? When did you switch? Loving my new 06. This board rocks! Thanks Ken This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

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10-21-2005, 06:30 PM	#2
*gixxer6* sponge worthy Location: Mountains of NC Posts: 1,580 IWSTI Addict since: Oct 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	Most people say not to switch to synthetic too early because the engine won't get broke in properly. I swithed over at 6200

10-21-2005, 07:18 PM	#3
STi05' The Next Petter Solberg Car: 05' STi CGM/Silver Fav Mod: Recaro Sports Location: Mercer Island, Wa Posts: 973 IWSTI Addict since: Oct 2004 Trader Rating: (1)	Dealer told me to not even THINK about it till 20,000 miles

10-21-2005, 07:35 PM	#5
91TB78 S204 Racer Car: 06 IX MR Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 3,666 IWSTI Addict since: Mar 2002 Trader Rating: (12)	There is a lot of info on this board about break-in and when to change to synthetic. The bottom line is this. If you really baby your car then I would wait until 5K+ miles to change to synthetic. I broke it in via motoman's method of driving it hard and I changed to Amsoil at 3K. I have yet to experience any burning or consumption and my car is about 12K miles. Another thing to think about is what brand and weight of synthetic you use. Remember, not all oils are made the same, so do your research on what works best with our engines.

10-21-2005, 10:45 PM	#6
STLSTI Professional STI Driver Car: 07 335 Fav Mod: NOISE Location: Parkland FL Posts: 430 IWSTI Addict since: Aug 2004 Trader Rating: (4)	The manual says synthetic are Ok, and dont see any millage limitation.

10-21-2005, 10:47 PM	#7
91TB78 S204 Racer Car: 06 IX MR Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 3,666 IWSTI Addict since: Mar 2002 Trader Rating: (12)	Right, but the manual has basic info in it. The manual also states to change your oil at 7500 miles unless driven in their * conditions (dusty, mountains, etc, etc).

10-21-2005, 11:28 PM	#8
OvrPSId Professional STI Driver Car: 06 Subaru STi Location: WA Posts: 409 IWSTI Addict since: Oct 2005 Trader Rating: (4)	I switched right before the 1000 mile mark. New oil, new filter, and a fumoto drain valve so that the next change will go a little easier/faster. This is the first car I've had in a while that was not factory filled with synthetic... I check my oil every fill up so if it consumes a little I'll add a little. No great loss in my opinion compared to the reduced wear. After all, breaking in those rings against the cylinder walls really means wearing them in until they've worn themselves into each other. The drivers manual from my past ZR-1 states, well, see for yourself: I saw no where in the STi owners manual where they would void an engine warranty for changing the oil too frequently or for switching to synthetic. I've pulled apart many engines that were burning oil that had nice mirror smooth walls before and seen nice well worn engines that ran synthetic pulled apart that still had some crosshatch marks left.

10-22-2005, 10:46 AM	#9
max05sti Professional STI Driver Posts: 442 IWSTI Addict since: Feb 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	Thats odd, because my dealer told me that they always use a synthetic blend, which is what they used on my car at 1700.

10-22-2005, 03:18 PM	#10
KDSTI Senior STI Driver Car: 05 wrb STi Fav Mod: strawberry air freshner Location: Lowell, mass Posts: 355 IWSTI Addict since: Feb 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	i switched to synthetic at 3k miles to valvoline 5w-30syn and my car burns a little less that 1 quart every 3k miles i may try 10w-30 syn to see if the oil consumption goes down but from what ive read/ been told by my dealer a turbo car will consume some oil and less than 1 quart is good.. id be worried if my car was burning 2-3 quarts of oil but thats not the case

10-23-2005, 05:12 PM	#11
Ol'SaltyBastard Spec C Club Car: 1983 Mercedes Benz 3 Location: N. Kentucky/Cinci Posts: 1,464 IWSTI Addict since: Feb 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	I switched to synthetic at 1,000 miles and haven't looked back. Car burn ZERO, nada, zilch, none, no oil (at least not enough that can be measured on a dipstick.)

10-24-2005, 08:47 PM	#12
*Insane06STi* Nanned ® Location: Where the left lane is th Posts: 17,335 IWSTI Addict since: Oct 2005 Trader Rating: (9)	Yup, me too. 1st oil change syntec fully syntetic. Will get my 2nd oil change tomorrow at 3000 miles. Hi all.

10-25-2005, 02:01 PM	#13
Singletrack Spec C Club Car: 04 Impreza WRX STi Fav Mod: La Quarta Stella Location: Blitzburgh, PA Posts: 1,440 IWSTI Addict since: Sep 2003 Trader Rating: (2)	Changed at 3k.

10-27-2005, 06:51 PM	#14
LightWerkz STI Master Car: E46 M3 Fav Mod: ZCP Wheels Location: Clifton Posts: 7,473 IWSTI Addict since: Aug 2005 Trader Rating: (78)	i switched to syn at 3000, my first oil change.