Automakers Loading Up Cheap Cars With Expensive Oil To Boost Mileage Claims

Lately, we've seen a proliferation of cars in our test program that require extra-thin 0W-20-weight synthetic oil. And while this was pretty exotic engine lubricant just a couple of years ago, the cars requiring this expensive synthetic oil are often much less than exotic.

This point hit home recently when I was driving our Subaru Impreza test car on the highway and the low oil warning light came on.

Some digging through the owner's manual revealed the small sedan requires SAE 0W-20 synthetic oil. Driving around checking service stations in our Impreza late on a Saturday night revealed no such motor oil on local store shelves. It's possible that these stores tend to stock oil for older cars that are more likely to have developed leaks or begun burning oil. Later, we found that some stores that car this thin oil only sell it in gallon jugs, rather than by the quart--not much help if you're running low.

 

dodgedart - 9/20/2012 12:42:09 AM

+1 Boost

walmart around here has empty shelf slots generally- there is often an empty shelf slot for quarts of zero weight blends.
Still can't find a true long-wearing synthetic in that weight, only the additive infused blends that run normal oil change intervals.

MorePower - 9/20/2012 4:00:08 AM

+1 Boost

High compression and the drive to engines as efficient as possible are too blame.

Wally world usually has a sale on synthetics about 40 weeks out of the year. Stock up when you're there. You can save a few extra dollars if you do the oil change yourself, or just take the oil with you when you get the car serviced.