What would you do for a gentle cleaning for a 2006 Saab 9-3 2.0t with 88k miles? The car is new to us, and I don't know the service history. I was thinking of 15w40 Rotella with a pint of MMO, but I'm a little concerned about the turbo. No experience there.
Cleaning for 2006 Saab 9-3 2.0t
- Thread starter ET16
- Start date
- Status
Mobil 1 0w40.
Rotella T6 5w-40 and run it all the time. Theres a $5/gal rebate going on now too. It'll keep your turbo happy. The M1 0w-40 is also a good choice.
SAAB 2.0T manual says to use Mobil 1 0w40.
Not sure about the 2.0t, but it probably takes the same.
Not sure about the 2.0t, but it probably takes the same.
The turbo will flash that MMO off probably too fast to do much cleaning.
My first choice would be some ester cleaning like AutoRX. Some aren't comfortable with that.
If you want something more conservative than that, I'd suggest Maxlife 10W-40. This is what it was designed for.
My first choice would be some ester cleaning like AutoRX. Some aren't comfortable with that.
If you want something more conservative than that, I'd suggest Maxlife 10W-40. This is what it was designed for.
I often wondered about Turbo engines and MMO, but never looked into it because I don't own one. A lot of people seem to think it won't work, or will ruin the turbo. I decided to check the MMO forum today.
Here's what Rick Kelly from Turtle Wax had to say about it a few years ago. "Using Marvel Mystery Oil in your turbocharged engine will not cause any problems. It should help provide additional lubrication to the high spooling of the turbocharger."
If you do try it keep an eye on the oil level. You might also want to check with them for yourself.
Here's what Rick Kelly from Turtle Wax had to say about it a few years ago. "Using Marvel Mystery Oil in your turbocharged engine will not cause any problems. It should help provide additional lubrication to the high spooling of the turbocharger."
If you do try it keep an eye on the oil level. You might also want to check with them for yourself.
Originally Posted By: ET16
What would you do for a gentle cleaning for a 2006 Saab 9-3 2.0t with 88k miles? The car is new to us, and I don't know the service history. I was thinking of 15w40 Rotella with a pint of MMO, but I'm a little concerned about the turbo. No experience there.
Why do you think your engine needs cleaning?? If you are using good oil it will be clean already unless you don't change it often enough, have a small head gasket leak or the engine is running too hot.
Unless you have a serious problem with sludge or heavy varnish, just change the oil more often if you want a cleaner engine.
The oil you are using is not one recommended by Saab, it is a good oil but is kind of heavy when cold. Check oil finders or ask Saab dealer, as he might suggest a high detergent oil like M1 0/40.
If for some reason you do discover the engine has a case of black death, ask your dealer or even the Saab forum for advice about cleaning the engine. The Saab maintenance manual will give details of how to clean out sludge safely.
I would steer well clear of any drive around flush chemicals, as the turbo in a Saab is very sensitive.
What would you do for a gentle cleaning for a 2006 Saab 9-3 2.0t with 88k miles? The car is new to us, and I don't know the service history. I was thinking of 15w40 Rotella with a pint of MMO, but I'm a little concerned about the turbo. No experience there.
Why do you think your engine needs cleaning?? If you are using good oil it will be clean already unless you don't change it often enough, have a small head gasket leak or the engine is running too hot.
Unless you have a serious problem with sludge or heavy varnish, just change the oil more often if you want a cleaner engine.
The oil you are using is not one recommended by Saab, it is a good oil but is kind of heavy when cold. Check oil finders or ask Saab dealer, as he might suggest a high detergent oil like M1 0/40.
If for some reason you do discover the engine has a case of black death, ask your dealer or even the Saab forum for advice about cleaning the engine. The Saab maintenance manual will give details of how to clean out sludge safely.
I would steer well clear of any drive around flush chemicals, as the turbo in a Saab is very sensitive.
Last edited:
DB are those photos from a 9-3's 2.0, or a 9-5's 2.3l? The former had a sludge issue but I've never heard a word about a problem on the 9-3's Ecotec 2.0.
I have a 2003 9-5 with 178k, a steady regimen of 5k OCIs primarily with Mobil 1 5W-40 has kept it sludge free. I have used Auto-RX on it 3 or 4 times in a preventative manner.
jeff
I have a 2003 9-5 with 178k, a steady regimen of 5k OCIs primarily with Mobil 1 5W-40 has kept it sludge free. I have used Auto-RX on it 3 or 4 times in a preventative manner.
jeff
JHZR2
Staff member
The 2.0t does great on m1 0w-40 and GC 0w-30.
For superior cleaning, id potentially try amsoil sso 0w-30, which did great in mine.
For superior cleaning, id potentially try amsoil sso 0w-30, which did great in mine.
The Saab sludge problems are more prevalent in some models more than others. The big issues were extended oil change intervals that were not realistic.There must be more to the Saab sludge story though.
My daughter's 1995 900S had sludge in the sump and oil pick up with documented synthetic oil changes every 5000 miles when we bought it at 85k miles. That model was not suppose to have a sludge problem, but did. I think it may have had something to do with the exhaust being run so close to the sump and our warm climate in Georgia.
If I had a Saab with no service history or any doubts..I sure would look under the valve cover and inspect. That oil screen is a very fine weave and gets blocked easily. The sludge deposits are very hard and I doubt they will dissolve with any cleaner you might try.
Better to look and see rather than starve the engine of oil with a blocked pick up.
My daughter's 1995 900S had sludge in the sump and oil pick up with documented synthetic oil changes every 5000 miles when we bought it at 85k miles. That model was not suppose to have a sludge problem, but did. I think it may have had something to do with the exhaust being run so close to the sump and our warm climate in Georgia.
If I had a Saab with no service history or any doubts..I sure would look under the valve cover and inspect. That oil screen is a very fine weave and gets blocked easily. The sludge deposits are very hard and I doubt they will dissolve with any cleaner you might try.
Better to look and see rather than starve the engine of oil with a blocked pick up.
JHZR2
Staff member
^ive followed the 2 year, ~14k mile OCI per the OLM, and have no sludge or other issues oil-wise, running the CORRECT spec oil.
But I've owned mine since new. I wouldn't trust others to put in the right oil.
But I've owned mine since new. I wouldn't trust others to put in the right oil.
Originally Posted By: ET16
I have a bottle of AutoRX somewhere. What oil should I run it with? Is synthetic still frowned upon?
The only synthetic that "could" be problematic is one with esters. That would mainly be something like Redline. PAO or Grp III syns would be fine with ARX.
I have a bottle of AutoRX somewhere. What oil should I run it with? Is synthetic still frowned upon?
The only synthetic that "could" be problematic is one with esters. That would mainly be something like Redline. PAO or Grp III syns would be fine with ARX.
Ack I said "former" in my post when I meant "latter". The GM-based Ecotec 2.0 in the 2003 and on 9-3 had this engine and I've never heard about sludge issues with it. It's a completely different design from earlier Saab engines and the 2.3 used in the 9-5 through 2009.
As for AutoRX, personally I've used conventional 10W-40s for the clean and rinse phases - 3k OCIs with quality conventionals didn't scare me. The car was originally spec'd for 5w30 semi-synthetic for 8k+ intervals (inadvisedly in turned out but still). If you want a synthetic maybe go with Rotella 5W-40.
Mobil 1 0W-40 is the common oil of choice for that car otherwise.
jeff
As for AutoRX, personally I've used conventional 10W-40s for the clean and rinse phases - 3k OCIs with quality conventionals didn't scare me. The car was originally spec'd for 5w30 semi-synthetic for 8k+ intervals (inadvisedly in turned out but still). If you want a synthetic maybe go with Rotella 5W-40.
Mobil 1 0W-40 is the common oil of choice for that car otherwise.
jeff
2 bottles Rx with ester free mineral oil. Run 5,000 miles. If HLA's get noisy change filter and continue
- Status