Engine oil VALVOLINE or ELF

[Valvoline SynPower](http://www.valvoline.com/products/brands/synpower/full-synthetic-motor-oil/5) is what I have run since I purchased my 2012 Subaru Legacy.

Anyway, when I had my Passat 1.8T and sludge issues were the big fad, my oil of choice was Valvoline Synpower 5w40. It met 502 and was not a synthetic blend but rather a real synthetic.

I use valvoline because it's common and it does the job. My auto mechanics instructor also recommended it because he said most of the engines he'd taken apart that had run valvoline looked pretty crud free.

Strictly anecdotal, but at 56,000 I switched from the usual suspect Castrol to Valvoline Synpower. Engine starts more smoothly and observed mileage on highway has gone from approx 30 to approx 34 mpg.

I use 20/50 Valvoline year round....

I currently use ELF Exellium NF, Motul is good too I was tempted to get it....you can also check out ECS Tuning, they sell Lubro Molly now, I think that's gonna be my next choice and I might stick with it. I've used Amsoil for about 20K miles and liked it too. Otherwise, you can't go wrong with Castrol Syntec 5w40 either, I've used it since new all the way till 60K miles.

I was recently obsessed with oil in my 01 1.8T. I was at http://www.bobistheoilguy.com alot and determined that Valvoline Synpower 5w40 was the way to go based on oil analysis and availability. Castrol Syntec 5w40 appeared to degrade faster and the viscosity wasn't near as good as the Sypower after only 3k miles on it. IMHO Synpower outperforms Syntec in our motors based on actual facts and numbers from the oil analysis.

I used ELF Excellium NF 5W40.

I use only valvoline 10w60 in all turbo motors

Valvoline Synpower 5w 30 is on the approved list for VW usage, doesnt make it THE choice but whatever floats your boats I guess and in this case it looks like R P floats you the best