Re: synthetic oil ?[S80][2001]  Rich K. Fairfax, VA -- Sunday, 25 March 2001, at 7:34 a.m.

Having changed the oil on MANY of the new cars with the 7500 mile recommended interval, I couldn't believe the condition of the oil at 7500
miles, the way it looked, the way it smelled and the way it came out of the drain hole. I wanted to add to my personal belief that 7500 miles was
a bit too long so I had a customer that agreed to stop in every 1000 miles so that I could draw an oil sample. After sending in the samples at 1K
intervals I now know that at the 4 to 5 K range the oil should have been changed. The customer was running regular oil. I know that this is just
one car, but I'm paying for these samples out of my own pocket so it's enough for me, if you don't want to go along with the general collective
wisdom of many of the posters, I would suggest that you sample your oil for your self and then make your decisions based on the results you
get. Keep in mind that Volvo is only concerned about your car not having any problems for 4 years or 50K miles (USA).
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Rich K.

Im suprised Volvo doesnt come factory with synthetic oil. Does anyone think its a good idea to use say, Amsoil or Mobil 1. And does 7,500 miles drain intervals seem prudent ? I have a new S80 and love it! It now competes for drive time with my 325i.
remove "nospam" from email if your going to use it.

Synthetic oil is a good idea, brands you mention are tops, and the interval is fine. Don't fall for the longer oil change interval, the wear from bearings and fuel content in the oil build up over time and they don't care if its synthetic oil or not. (I don't sell oil)
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Rich K.

I can't honestly say I've read the oil section in an S80 owners manual but in their older FWD cars owners manuals, Volvo does recommend using synthetic oil vs petroleum based oils. I won't comment on change interval either as that can get into a whole new topic in itself but synthetic oil will outlast petroleum oils in tests and I'd opt for Amsoil myself.

...and there's one brand that's exceptional.

I noticed you have a BMW 325i. If you belong to the BMW Car Club of America, you can get BMW 5W-30 Synthetic for about $2.90 a quart. That's 20% below suggested retail and most BMW dealers sell it to BMW CCA members at that price. This synthetic oil meets the tough European ACEA A3 specification. Most other synthetic oils do not, such as Mobil 1, Amsoil or Valvoline 5W-30.

Castrol's plant in Europe makes this oil for BMW but it's not the same as Castrol's 5W-30. I use this stuff and change it every 5000 miles in both our S80 and Z3. I suggest you change oil and filter at 1000, 2500 then 5000 miles and every 5000 miles afterwards.

Drive safe,
--
Bart B.

A good synthetic oil will have no problem with 7500 miles. The advantages are cooler running, less wear in extreme conditions, better MPG, more power, less wear on start up.

Yes, I sell Amsoil. I try not to hide that fact. I do want to investigate the European ACEA A3 spec mentioned, I'm not sure Amsoil was tested to this. I know Europe is pushing for 50,000 KM (31,000 mile) oil drain intervals, so this spec may be related. Amsoil 0W-30 is rated to go 35,000 miles.
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Paul/Pablo/Paulo Seminara

Amsoil Paul

Yes, a good synthetic (or even a not-as-good one) is an excellent idea.
And 7500 miles is not a problem. If in doubt, do some oil analysis and gain peace of mind.

FYI

http://www.oocities.org/MotorCity/2195/engineoil_bible.html

hey, remember that you should probably use dino oil for the break-in period, not synthetic until you have driven the X amount of recommended miles. that is probably why your car did not come with synthetic from the factory. supposedly the engine will not break in properly with synthetic.
--
i want a 4WD 245MT (monster truck), where can i get one? maybe w/V8...

Sorry 'bout that.
--
Bart B.

Hello out there--

If you are recommending that changing the oil at 7500 with synthetic is OK, then why pay the extra $ for synthetic when the manual says 7500 with regular oil!

You'll do fine with regular oil in your car's engine but you pay the extra money for synthetic because it offers that extra bit of protection. No need to start another war on this topic because it's been pounded to death time and time again--the benefits are there, whether or not you want to pay for them is up to you.

Having changed the oil on MANY of the new cars with the 7500 mile recommended interval, I couldn't believe the condition of the oil at 7500 miles, the way it looked, the way it smelled and the way it came out of the drain hole. I wanted to add to my personal belief that 7500 miles was a bit too long so I had a customer that agreed to stop in every 1000 miles so that I could draw an oil sample. After sending in the samples at 1K intervals I now know that at the 4 to 5 K range the oil should have been changed. The customer was running regular oil. I know that this is just one car, but I'm paying for these samples out of my own pocket so it's enough for me, if you don't want to go along with the general collective wisdom of many of the posters, I would suggest that you sample your oil for your self and then make your decisions based on the results you get. Keep in mind that Volvo is only concerned about your car not having any problems for 4 years or 50K miles (USA).
--
Rich K.

I have to ask, I heard on another forum that volvo was putting at leat a synthetic blend in at the factory (I know it isn't as good a s a full synthetic if true) does anyone know wheteher they are putting in a blend, full syntheic or "dino" in the cars at the factory? if it is a blend I would think you wouldn't need to change it out too fast (at least not as fast as dino) and if full synthetic you wouldn't need to change it for synthetic as it is already there.

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scott martini, 89 740gle 16valve, 350,000 km and now 68 122s 60,00 miles

Then manual says 7500 miles. Is the consensus ---it is too long between changes? I have no problem bringing the car in at 5000 miles.

Unsure about the "blend" that Volvo may or may not be putting into their new cars but what I do know is that although synthetic does last longer than dino oil, you still shouldn't extend the oil change intervals because of all the crap that builds up in the engine. Contaminants still collect and build up regardless of what kind of oil you put in your engine.

It is true that the factory fill is a "blend". It is fairly thin and very light which aids in the breaking-in process.

Based on several conversations that I have had with Volvo engineers in Sweden, I always recommended to our customers to have that original oil changed at 3500 or 3750 miles and then they can switch to a full synthetic.

On my car, I have 1660 miles and I am going to change the oil now and then again at 3750. At that point I will switch to Mobil 1.

Yannis
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'01 V70 T5 M, Classic Red/Graph L, Sunroof, Rear Spoiler, Cold Weather, 4CD Surr.Sound, 17" "Tethys" Alloys...950 miles averaging 25.8 mpg mixd driving

Thanks Yannis,
That clarifies matters for me. I'll probably switch to synthetic when I finally get to buy my new volvo, though I won't be extending my oil change intervals past volvo's recommendations no matter what any one else may say. I too think it is a good idea to change the oil for the first time a bit earlier.

--
scott martini, 89 740gle 16valve, 350,000 km and now 68 122s 60,00 miles