Hey scotty,
I have a 2014 Subaru Outback. Owners manual says to use 0W-20 synthetic oil.
I read that 0W-20 adds more wear and tear on engine. Should I switch to 5W-30 synthetic to prolong engine life?
also I change oil religiously at 4K miles.
thanks!
Use the oil that Subaru recommends, 0W-20
And SN+ if ya want the best available.
It does’t have to be OEM, as long as it meets the weight rating for your car. If it is 0W20. Use 0W20.
Some manufacturers actually update the standard for a car. For example, for my Prius, it calls for 5W30 in the manual. But Toyota updated it that we could also use 0W20 with that generation.
You don't have to buy the oil from the dealer if that's what you mean by OEM oil. In fact, the oil packaged and sold in dealer bottles (like BMW Group Oil, Mopar oil, etc.) is not actually produced by them. They use oil produced by oil companies like Pennzoil, Mobil 1, Valvoline, etc. For example, BMW packaged oil is actually Pennzoil oil. Just make sure the oil you buy is recommended and meets the standards of Subaru (such as the API rating of the oil).
As for the oil weight, 5w-30 won't hurt anything. My BMW calls for 0w-20 now, but I still use 5w-30 without issues (I like some extra weight, especially since I have a tune on my car and I live in sunny California). Almost all car manufacturers have switched to the 0w-20 weight strictly for fuel economy purposes. Going up 10 points of oil weight will not cause any damage at all, and it will provide great lubrication if you live in a really hot climate.
no. use the lightweight what manufacturer recommend and change every 5k miles
