Looking for advice on coolant/oil and where to buy

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Looking for advice on coolant/oil and where to buy

Postby raweggs » Sun Jul 15, 2018 8:07 pm

Hi guys,
I've just bought a 2005 Impreza RS wagon (EJ25), and after a bit of reading, it seems it's advisable to use genuine coolant for these to avoid the h/g issue, in my case, it would be green as is before 2008/9...? Or is this essentially the same as Castrol's ready mixed Radicool?
The timing belt was done around 16,000kms ago.

In regards to oil, Subaru claim Castrol Edge 5w-30. I'm a Honda man at heart, and I usually buy Mobil 1 oils, as I found good with my Vtec engines. I do live in Melbourne, so it barely gets below 0 in the inner suburbs, but I would like to be able to go up the mountains in it, as I've read they're great in the snow. The car has 260k, so maybe a slightly thicker 10w-30?

I'm originally from England, so not too familiar with where to get genuine parts, apart from a dealer, but I don't want to pay dealer prices, but is that the case? Do Bursons/Repco/SCA get genuine parts cheaper, including coolants?


Thanks
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Re: Looking for advice on coolant/oil and where to buy

Postby bigBADbenny » Mon Jul 16, 2018 10:48 am

Local dealer has the genuine coolant.
Common service parts as you mentioned.
Some model specific parts may be cheaper bought online, os.
Here’s your complete guide:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=34980
Just use your VIN, google the part numbers; and download your FSM for install and diagnostic info.
You can log & LV using tactrix or btssm. Full info in my signature links.
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Re: Looking for advice on coolant/oil and where to buy

Postby Duck! » Wed Jul 18, 2018 12:36 am

My understanding with the coolant - and someone please correct me if I am wrong - is that specific coolant is required due to the engine being aluminium cylinder blocks & heads; the wrong type can cause excessive corrosion. It shouldn't need to be Subaru-specific, but compatible with aluminium bits.

A friend who used to work in a Repco shop suggested that older engines do like a slightly thicker oil than the handbook-spec; at his suggestion I used a Penrite 15W-40 in my old Outback, which had just under 250-thou on it when I got it, up until it died 200-thou later (before someone jumps, no I didn't use the same batch of oil for the 200-thou!), so I'll use something similar with my current Outback.
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Re: Looking for advice on coolant/oil and where to buy

Postby bigBADbenny » Wed Jul 18, 2018 12:53 am

Iirc any glycol based coolant will do but the dealership may inform you that pre my08 use the green genuine coolant, blue for the later cars.
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Re: Looking for advice on coolant/oil and where to buy

Postby raweggs » Sat Jul 21, 2018 9:21 am

Ok cool, thanks for that, makes sense now.

The Castrol Radicool green coolant seems to fit the bill as is fot alloy blocks and heads, and $20 cheaper than Subaru's genuine coolant.

Luckily, my RS has had a full service last month which I found the receipt for, so I can rest easy for 6months.
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Re: Looking for advice on coolant/oil and where to buy

Postby bigBADbenny » Sat Jul 21, 2018 2:05 pm

If you’re a perfectionist, RevZone has Motul lubes.
Otherwise Penrite is popular, I use syn 10 iirc...
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