I've already decided on a schedule, and that is changing oil in November, February and May. I've decided this under the recommendation of Chris Longhurst on his site www.carbibles.com.
I think changing three times a years is also appropriate for how much money I'm willing to put into this car. Now as for specifically what kind of oil I want to use, I'm really not sure at all. Potential low temperature is -10°F (-23°C) but that's just technical; realistically the coldest that it may be that will actually be driven in more than once would probably be around the teens (13-19) in Fahrenheit (-11 to -7°C). The car is N/A and I only drive it hard every once in a while.Chris Longhurst wrote:Taking all these into consideration, my philosophy would be to totally ignore the distance and change the oil three times a year - about November, February and May. Move these dates a bit according to the severity of the winter. An average family car will do around 14,000 miles per year and about 2/3 of that will fall in the May - November period. At the end of that period, the car will have just about touched on the recommended oil change distance - but all done at reasonable temperatures and including long distance runs during vacations and good weather. During the Nov - Feb. period it may accumulate only 2 or 3 thousand miles, all low temperature starts and mostly short runs. The Feb. to May period is likely to be about the same.
About 10 or 15 years ago, an article in the ANWB journal (ANWB is the Dutch equivalent of the AA - or the AAA in the American case) reached more or less the same conclusion that distance was not very important. In their case they applied this to their road service fleet, which typically once started in the morning never got cold. In effect, they hardly ever changed the oil! I seem to remember 30,000 miles between oil changes being quoted. I also seem to remember that they had some kind of water or acid indicator attached to the end of the dipstick and went by that rather than distance.
What ever oil you guys might recommend for this potentially cold period I will use it for both the Nov. to Feb. and Feb. to May, but I also would like a recommendation for a summer oil as well (for May to Nov.). I live in southern New Hampshire, USA, it doesn't get terribly hot here, rarely more than mid 90's F (34-36°C) at its worst, and lows would be around 40°F (4°C).
I'm looking for a modest oil, but surely not dirt cheap. I do very much want to take good car of my car, but I simply don't have too much money to throw around. I don't know what a little or a lot to spend on oil is, I would think $30 is more than average for 5 quarts (4.8 needed) but still within what I'm willing to pay.
Moving on the the other item that is applied during an oil change--the oil filter. Quite simply, I was going to go with Bosch (about $5) unless you wish to recommend something better (up to about $10 perhaps?); I'm hardly in the know. Also, I have every intention the reapply the magnets that are on my current oil filter to my next one of course. If you haven't heard of doing this, it's done to help trap metal particles in the filter. In fact, on the Engine Oil Bible page of www.carbibles.com there is a section on taking computer hard drives apart to extract the extremely strong neodymium magnets that they contain, and I myself was the one who submitted the information and picture for that section to the site's owner.
Okay, for easy understanding of my wordy writing style, let's lay out the key points:
- -Based on a recommendation from a gear-head's site along with sound evidence, the changing of oil in the periods between November, February and May is chosen.
-My N/A Legacy has over 253,000 miles (407,000+ km), I drive it rough every once in a while but overall want to take care of it.
-I need recommendations on an oil grade and brand for the two colder periods mentioned above.
-I need recommendations on an oil grade and brand for the warmer period mentioned above.
-I don't have a lot of money to spend but I surely will not go for the cheapest oil. My car is important enough to me for me to spend more than the average person, but I can't really go for the real high end. Maybe as much as $30?
-I intend to use a Bosch ($5) oil filter unless otherwise recommended (up to $10 perhaps).
. I figure I'll use it because 50 some odd years of combined subaru experience can't be wrong. A note on synthetic, i wouldn't use it, on cars as old as yours the thinner properties of synthetic oil may cause oil leaks or worsen any that you might have now, we see this all the time with people that figure if its that expencive it has to be good, then wonder why their car leaks, chainge back to reguler and voala! no more leaks.
Were in the process of replaceing an engine in a Impreza right now because somebody at a oilchange place never tightned the drain plug, it fell out and, well, I bet you can guess the rest.