2001 Saab 9-5

[Stelth]

Actually asked part of this question in the PCMO forum and then realized I should ask here. Please don't hurt me.

Just picked up a 2001 Saab 9-5, 3.0 L engine, mostly for wifey to drive to work. She's not much of a hot-rodder, so I doubt the turbo will be spinning hard most of the time.

Got the car yesterday, I'm gonna try to change the oil today since it looks pretty dark and I don't know what it is. I got some Mobil 1 Euro Formula 0w-40 on sale at NAPA and a NAPA Gold filter. The manual seems to recommend 10,000 mile OCI's for "normal" service, and 5000 mi. OCI's for "severe" service. I was thinking of going 7500 this time. What do you think?

Also, in the future, when Mobil 1 isn't on sale, I'm gonna be looking for something less expensive. Looking pretty hard at Wolf's Head, which is a Gp. III oil that meets ACEA standards. Any recommendations? The manual recommends synthetic blend or synthetic. Some blends seem to meet the ACEA standards, would they be OK?

 

[bodeh6]

For that car, German Castrol 0w30 or Mobil 1 0W-40 would be the best choices.

 

[rg200amp]

Originally Posted By: Stelth
Actually asked part of this question in the PCMO forum and then realized I should ask here. Please don't hurt me.

Just picked up a 2001 Saab 9-5, 3.0 L engine, mostly for wifey to drive to work. She's not much of a hot-rodder, so I doubt the turbo will be spinning hard most of the time.

Got the car yesterday, I'm gonna try to change the oil today since it looks pretty dark and I don't know what it is. I got some Mobil 1 Euro Formula 0w-40 on sale at NAPA and a NAPA Gold filter. The manual seems to recommend 10,000 mile OCI's for "normal" service, and 5000 mi. OCI's for "severe" service. I was thinking of going 7500 this time. What do you think?

Also, in the future, when Mobil 1 isn't on sale, I'm gonna be looking for something less expensive. Looking pretty hard at Wolf's Head, which is a Gp. III oil that meets ACEA standards. Any recommendations? The manual recommends synthetic blend or synthetic. Some blends seem to meet the ACEA standards, would they be OK?


0w40 is a great oil. I never really looked at it before I had a VW and I researched what oils meet the VW spec I needed.

Doing the research, I found Mobil 1 0w40 is a truly fantastic oil.

If it meets your cars specs, it should serve you well.

If you read the "sever service" notes, most people are considered "sever service" things like stop and go driving, short trips, ect. . . . are all aspects.

7500 sounds like a good OCI. Perhaps run it to 5000miles and get a used oil analysis? That will give you somewhat of an idea of how longer you could go past 5000miles.

Best of luck!

 

[zoli]

Good choice - have a lot of great journeys with it!
Fully synthetic 5W-40 is proposed (Mobil 1 Turbo Diesel Truck, Total Quartz Energy 9000, German Castrol).

 

[Saab9-3]

The 9-5 with the 3.0 V6 does not have a turbo as far as I recall, its a NA.

The above oils mentioned will be just fine none the less.

 

[Stelth]

Originally Posted By: Saab9-3
The 9-5 with the 3.0 V6 does not have a turbo as far as I recall, its a NA.

The above oils mentioned will be just fine none the less.


Well, while I haven't actually seen the turbocharger with my own eyes yet, it does have a boost gauge that says "turbo" on it. I'd actually prefer NA, but all the specs I've read on the 2001 9-5 list three engines, all turbocharged.

 

[terminaldegree]

The 9-5 with the V6 is what they call "asymmetrically turbocharged", in that a small turbo is driven by the exhaust gas off one bank of cylinders.

Unlike the 4-cylinder versions from that time period, I'm pretty sure your car doesn't have the same PCV valve issues. The two problem areas specific to that engine I've read about are the oil cooler leaking into the coolant (usually involves resealing) and sometimes the Garrett turbo doesn't live a long life. The motor has a timing belt with a change interval of 60,000 miles and a few other things like pulleys/tensioner should probably be changed while things are apart.

Comfortable car for long highway drives-- I hope you have good luck with yours.

 

[MI_Roger]

Originally Posted By: Saab9-3
The 9-5 with the 3.0 V6 does not have a turbo as far as I recall, its a NA.


The V6 has a turbo. It resides in the exhaust manifold of the rear bank of cylinders and receives only half the exhaust gasses.

On my Saab 9-5 with the 2.3 litre L4 I use 5W/40 synthetic but the V6 is probably not as hard on the oil as the 4-cylinder engine.