Best Engine oil for Subaru Forester

The dealership here itself was using 5w-30 as the default for oil changes even though 0w-20 is stamped on the filler cap. After checking myself that Subaru said that would be OK, I started using it too for my own changes just to avoid flipping back and forth -- though I have no idea if that would be a problem. In any case, the Forester seems happy, even if the mileage may have dipped slightly.

I had a 2017 Forester with 175k miles on it and only used factor oil and never had any issues. I did not do any off road stuff and it was only a premium model, not a wilderness model. I don’t think it matters as long as you change it regularly.

I switched to 5w-30 instead of the factory spec 0w-20 and that slowed down my consumption. I use Amsoil to maximize protection with use of the "wrong" oil weight and I monitor wear with oil analysis and seem to have no change in wear from my 0w-20 use.

My 03 forester was burning a quart every 1,000 miles when I got it. Switched to restore and protect and it just stopped burning oil. Not even a gradual decrease in the amount it was burning, just completely stopped burning oil all together.

Now, my wife's '16 FORESTER XT, 2.0 turbo, has 130,000 miles, Amsoil changes every 10,000 miles, and still burns NO oil.

I've been using penzoil platinum

I'm a loyal Amsoil user. I usually change my oil every 5k miles. However, 3 oil changes ago, I started sending samples to Blackstone.

First Analysis: paraphrased, engine looks great

Second Analysis 5k miles later: Engine Looks great, Oil still has plenty of life

Third Analysis, another 5k miles later: everything looks great, try waiting 8k between oil changes.

Yeah? I’ve been using Subaru oem oil in my 260kmile 2015 forester. It only burns a little.

Do not listen to them. I have a 2015 forester non turbo I used 5w30 and had all kinds of problems id get codes for over advanced timing on one bank and under advanced on the other, I was getting power loss going uphill, weird chattering noise.

I avoid the 5 minute drive-thru places. One of them wanted over $100 for full synthetic on my Subaru Forester. Not worth the 5 minutes.