Cars and Other Driving Machines

[pony_trekker]

Originally posted by viet_mom
Thanks to everyone for all the helpful advice on cars. Subaru was not even on my radar screen before I logged on here. Today, I got a 2005 (new - never before owned/less than 100 miles on it) Subaru Legacy GT Wagon. I couldn't afford the Outback and the GT "Limited" Wagon would have gotten me leather seats and a moon roof for $3,500 more (which I couldn't justify since that could redo a bathroom.) The regular GT Wagon I got does have a few upgrades, such as the security system, cargo net, rear cargo tray and roof slats. I paid $23,500. It's the turbo version:

2.5 Litre, 4 cylinder, 250-hp 2.5-liter DOHC intercooled, turbocharged boxer engine, 250 lb-ft of torque at 3,600 rpm (<====cut and paste of course).

I wanted the turbo b/c the 2005 non-turbo wagon was 169 hp (which was bumped to 175 for the 2006 model) and didn't seem enough to make it responsive.

My car (dark blue) may look like a cross between a hearse and a Taurus wagon, but it's big, heavy and fast. Thanks for all the advice again!

I have the 2002 Outback wagon, no turbo, and it's dog slow. My only issue with these cars is that I don't like the feel of the brakes. I replaced mine with aftermarket.

[viet_mom]

Originally posted by bilmore
Turbo hint: Never go more than 4k between oil changes, and keep all of your receipts from them so you can prove later that you did them.

Interesting. I didn't know it was more important for turbo. Included with the deal is free oil changes every 3K miles for as long as I own the car, and they will even send email reminders. I didn't know that going in, so I'm glad I used the dealership near my parents and grandparents houses. More likely to get up there then. I shouldn't be so excited about a wagon, but I can't wait to go grocery shopping today and use my hatchback! That is so Not Hot. Oh well.

[dc_chef]

Originally posted by viet_mom
Interesting. I didn't know it was more important for turbo. Included with the deal is free oil changes every 3K miles for as long as I own the car, and they will even send email reminders. I didn't know that going in, so I'm glad I used the dealership near my parents and grandparents houses. More likely to get up there then. I shouldn't be so excited about a wagon, but I can't wait to go grocery shopping today and use my hatchback! That is so Not Hot. Oh well.

And now for the most important question -- did you get the manual?

Originally posted by bilmore
Turbo hint: Never go more than 4k between oil changes, and keep all of your receipts from them so you can prove later that you did them.

Single biggest thing you can do to make it last longer, and re-sell it for more.

Synthetic oil pays dividends in a turbo, too. Turbochargers spin faster and hotter than the engines they share oil with. Maybe they'll let you pay the difference to bump those free oil changes up to sythetic. Happy motoring...

[Alex_de_Large]

Originally posted by Ex_post_Festo
Synthetic oil pays dividends in a turbo, too. Turbochargers spin faster and hotter than the engines they share oil with. Maybe they'll let you pay the difference to bump those free oil changes up to sythetic. Happy motoring...

Agreed. I like Mobil 1 full synthetic in my turbo car. I change it every 5k, even though the factory-specificed service interval is 10k.

[bilmore]

Originally posted by Alex_de_Large
Agreed. I like Mobil 1 full synthetic in my turbo car. I change it every 5k, even though the factory-specificed service interval is 10k.

Mobil 1 and Amsoil are about the only lubes that ever touch the inside of my engines. Good stuff. I've torn engines down after using Amsoil for 100k and seen very little wear, compared to the Pennsoil-lubed ones which are poster-boys for scoring and metal flakes. Huge difference. Single best thing you can do for an engine.

[Did you just call me Coltrane?]

Originally posted by bilmore
Mobil 1 and Amsoil are about the only lubes that ever touch the inside of my engines. Good stuff. I've torn engines down after using Amsoil for 100k and seen very little wear, compared to the Pennsoil-lubed ones which are poster-boys for scoring and metal flakes. Huge difference. Single best thing you can do for an engine.

Any engine? Or just turbo engines?

[bilmore]

Originally posted by Did you just call me Coltrane?
Any engine? Or just turbo engines?

All engines. Turbos for absolute sure, as the turbines sometimes hit 150k rpm, and (even more important) sometimes are a fluid-bearing setup, (which means there's no real bearing there, just a high-pressure pump forcing an oil film between the shaft and the sleeve), but I would (and do) use synthetic in all combustion engines. Virtually no heat breakdown to it, as opposed to the natural oils. (But it still gets dirty and gritty, so you still need to change it.)

[Alex_de_Large]

Originally posted by bilmore
All engines. Turbos for absolute sure, as the turbines sometimes hit 150k rpm, and (even more important) sometimes are a fluid-bearing setup, (which means there's no real bearing there, just a high-pressure pump forcing an oil film between the shaft and the sleeve), but I would (and do) use synthetic in all combustion engines. Virtually no heat breakdown to it, as opposed to the natural oils. (But it still gets dirty and gritty, so you still need to change it.)

2. I use the aforementioned Mobil 1 as it is easier to find than Amsoil, but I have heard excellent things about Amsoil as well.

[bilmore]

Originally posted by dc_chef
And now for the most important question -- did you get the manual?

They wouldn't actually put a turbo on an automatic, would they?

That'd be like having racing stripes on your walker.

[pony_trekker]

Originally posted by Ex_post_Festo
Synthetic oil pays dividends in a turbo, too. Turbochargers spin faster and hotter than the engines they share oil with. Maybe they'll let you pay the difference to bump those free oil changes up to sythetic. Happy motoring...

Not in the subaru -- specific problems have been linked with using synth in the turbos. Search Edmunds and use dino juice instead.

[pony_trekker]

Originally posted by dc_chef
And now for the most important question -- did you get the manual?

Yes but I haven't read it yet.

[viet_mom]

Originally posted by bilmore
They wouldn't actually put a turbo on an automatic, would they?

That'd be like having racing stripes on your walker.

Oh dear. I'm afraid it's true.



(In fact, I was wondering why Chef was concerned that I picked up the car manual to read--didn't know he was talking about that thing I call "a car with the stickshift". Damn!)

[bilmore]

Originally posted by pony_trekker
Not in the subaru -- specific problems have been linked with using synth in the turbos. Search Edmunds and use dino juice instead.

Is this that whole "Subarus take a long time to break in" issue? The "it won't break in properly with synthetic" thing?

Old-time mechanics still swear that synthetics don't allow for enough wear to break in the bearing surfaces right. It's all (to put it politely) uninformed. I think the WRX STi comes with synth from the factory. Engines don't need the break-in periods they used to. They're machined far more precisely now, and don't need to grind themselves into proper tolerance (which is exactly what the old "break-in period" was.) Turbos definitely don't need to run with non-synthetic any longer than it takes to get the car home and change it, if it's not already in.

[mommylawyer]

Originally posted by viet_mom
I shouldn't be so excited about a wagon, but I can't wait to go grocery shopping today and use my hatchback! That is so Not Hot. Oh well.

Viet_mom--

Don't feel bad - lol--I got a new (to me) wagon ('04 MB E320sport) and I love it...it was my giving into mommy land without giving up sporty...the husband knew better than to suggest a mini-van in anything other than jest...anyhoo, enjoy your wagon! i love mine!

ml ...ducking out before the MB hecklers get started