Switch to synthetic oil, when?

[Val Demar]

My 09 is slowly approaching its first optional oil change mark at 3k and I'm thinking to put synthetic in. Is this a good time for the switch? I remember reading that mineral oil is better for break-in.

One complication is that I bought a maintenance plan from the dealer for 2 years, not sure how it is going to work out, perhaps they can just charge me for the difference, or probably I can just cancel the contract and change oil elsewhere or myself.

[agam]

the genuine word on swapping to synthetic is to wait about 10k miles... these engines don't fully "break in" for about 10k. being OCD, i'd probably go 3000miles for the first oil change (like subarus recommendation on the 6 cylinder) then go every 3750. After you cross 10k miles, then swap to synthetic and lengthen the OCIs.

[wackojacko]

Switched mine on the third oil change at 9,664 Miles. I keep doing mine at the recomended interval of mileage but I drive low mileage so it takes usually over 5 months. That's why I switched to synthetic as well because of the low, bad mileage, 2 miles to work each way.

[sweetpete]

For almost 15 years now, I've been using Mobil 1 in all my vehicles, change oil every 5k, and put it in initially at the first oil change (anywhere between 1 and 3k miles). Have never had an engine problem. Mobil states it's never too early or late to switch to Mobil 1.

P.S. No, I don't work for Mobil :)

[Peaty]

I always wait till 10K myself, you will get all sorts of answers to this question. I can say that waiting will not effect anything as I've done oil analysis on three of my Subaru motors that I have done this with. So at least I have data to back up my method.

[v-verb]

I switched at 10k miles. Surprisingly, no effect on fuel economy. I expected a little better mileage but if anything it is worse.

Disappointed

[cowboy]

Spoke with my dealer about my first 3K mile oil change on my Beca, he told me it was OK to start using synthetic, especiallly since Subaru has all of a sudden stated it is OK to use synthetic in their cars......I am a Lubro Moly user and will start with their 5w30 Long Time High Tech which is a blend and see how it performs.......have had great results with LM 5w40 full syn in my wife's Mercedes vs Mobile 1 that the dealer uses....the MB runs much smoother and tachs up quicker since I swapped over to Lubro Moly......my service writer told me that the older mechanics use Lubro Moly in their personal cars instead of Mobil 1.....it's all a marketing ploy that Mercedes gets paid millions of dollars each year from Exxon to use their oil.....I don't think Mobil 1 is a bad product, just seem to have better performance with Lubro Moly

[agam]

I switched at 10k miles. Surprisingly, no effect on fuel economy. I expected a little better mileage but if anything it is worse.

Disappointed

are you using a gf-5/sn oil? if not you probably won't see an increase in gas mileage

[soobi-tlc]

anybody gone the AMSOIL route?
I am running it to see... can't say I notice a diff.

[agam]

honestly, if you guys are ordering oil, you're wasting money honestly. If its not available locally, you're wasting money. From bobistheoilguy.com, the better oils have been pennzoil platinum, valvoline synpower, castrol edge, pennzoil ultra, and the shell rotella line. these are relatively affordable and are very effective for what they are.