Hi guys, I've searched a lot in the forum about this subject but at the end I found different opinions, so I'd like to clarify this point.
The question is: which is the best engine oil grade for our EVO X? I know that recommended oil is 5W-30, but our cars are like ovens and looking at the temperature the oil reaches when driving hard, maybe that "30" is a little too low.

I know that for "old" engine 4G63 many people suggest to use a good 15W-50 or something similar, but what do you think about 4B11? It's an engine of more recent design, hence tolerances are probably different so maybe a 15W-50 is a too "heavy" oil? Especially now that weather is colder, do you think it's better to switch to a 5W-40?

I'm talking about a stock engine, only with cat-back exhaust and a soft ECU tuning, but usually driven hard (of course after a very good warm-up).
About oil brand, I use Motul 300V that is one of the best oil you can find here in Europe (I don't know if this brand is well-known also in )

Thank you for your suggestions.
Stefano

 

Honestly there is a ton of misleading info on here about oil. Newer cars and especially evo x's are all aluminum even non performance cars nowadays have aluminum heads that the oil passages are sooooo small you have to have a thinner weight oil for it to lubricate properly. I would suggest to you a simple 10w30 unless you are on a built motor running alot of boost. Normally if we build a motor for alot of boost you want a thicket oil like a 15-50 or 20-50 as you stated because of blow by on the rings, but i would never run that thick of oil on a stock motor car.

 

Leave 15w-50 for built motors with modified bearing clearances. I used Motul 15w-50 on my built subaru engine with cosworth race bearings.
In evo x I use Motul 5w-40. I think it is a good all around (street, track, winter) oil.

 

i was thinking of using a 0w 40 for the winter

 

Yeah, I definitely wouldn't go up to a 10W-, etc., especially through winter.

Sticking to the 5W- is so important for cold-start lubrication, especially for the turbo.

I've heard of a lot of guys running 0W- in turbo cars for winter to ease the cold starts and make sure that turbo's getting oil at startup.

 

Use the Manufacturer suggested oil. Cant go wrong with Mobil One Synthetic

Off topic: How do you know if the dealer didn't put the correct oil? I'm just being paranoid but what would be the FIRST signs of incorrect oil being put into an Evo? (im just making some examples but maybe under WOT, the car would hesitate? and etc)

 

Each case will be different because we have members of this site that range from 100% stock to fully-built, track-dedicated race cars with well over 700whp.

If your car is stock, stick with an oil that meets all specified requirements listed in the owner's manual. Then choose whichever oil brand floats your boat.

If your car is not stock, talk to your tuner or the person who helped build your car. They should be knowledgeable enough to recommend the proper oil for your application. If they aren't knowledgeable enough, you should consider a different tuner.

 

Like some have already stated, also many threads where we have explainned this.

I understand your concern about turbocharged cars are like ovens they cook the oil, and thats the reason you nedd to get a good quality synthetic, a full syn will have a high flash point and hold higher temps better than the lower quality oil, some oils can break down quick when hitting the bearings on a turbo those, bearings usually are smoking hot.

The stock engine specially the 4B11 is a tight toleranced engine, so with that being said you dont want a thick oil you will starve the engine and the turbo and have premature failures, we have hundreds of customers running 350-500WHP on the stock engine an still running
5W30
Get a high quality SYN that wont break down easy and that holds abuse and you wont regret it.

For any conditions i would do a 0W30, or 5W30, on the X. based on your stock car status. no ned for thick oils it will hurt you more than helping you.

 

Stefano,

Need more information - weather is the most important right now.. what temperature is it in your part of the world?

This will help with a suggestion.

Mike Huml
Slowboy -

 

not sure about the OP but I was thinking about running 0w 40. It stays around 30s during the winter and a bunch of snow Germany. Is 0w40 a good idea. Sorry if this is threadjacking

 

Right now here it's 5°C (41°F). Usually the lowest temperature we have in winter in this area is -6°C (=20°F), average is around 4-5°C (40°F) during day in winter.
In summer instead we reach 30-35°C (86-95°F) during hottest days.


Thanks to all of you for your suggestions, it's good that at the end it seems we have all the same idea: a 15W50 can give more disadvantages than benefits on a stock 4B11 engine. From Saturday it will not stay in my car anymore...

 

I have noticed from switching from 5-30 to 0-30 amsoil, my mileage went up (probably due to thinner oil) and start up seems to be smoother. And my engine seems to rev "better". During spring time, I will change the oil with some amsoil dominator 10-30 and I will keep track of the mileage to see if there is a different.

 

Yes, drop the 15W50 idea unless you go racing. For street, I have been running 5W40 all year round and no issues so far for tracking and cold Vancouver winter

 

I run M1 0w-40 here in the winter and summer. No issues with cold starts or during driving. Pretty happy with this oil.

 

AMSoil 0w30 here.