I don't recall ever having used Citgo motor oils. But I've never seen compelling evidence not to, either. But it seems odd to be going over the top over the issue of a franchised Volvo dealer using what you and several other posters are implying is a sub-quality bulk oil when the dealer would be liable for oil-related damage if that were true. I would imagine most dealers (any make) have bulk oil drums delivered for the convenience and economics of scale. My former Honda dealer would sell customers all the "Genuine Honda Motor Oil" in quart bottles they wanted in the parts department. The service department used bulk Mobil Drive Clean fed through a metered hose, though. Unscrupulous? Draw your own conclusion, but keep in mind that "Genuine Honda Motor Oil" is relabled Mobile Drive Clean. If Volvo required Castrol by name, then according to the Moss-Magnusen Act, Volvo would have to give it to customers. I'm more interested in knowing what API service category the Volvo owner's manual specifies rather than the brand name recommendation. If it's common "SL", then, brand is a lessser consideration as long as the oil's changed at Volvo's recommended intervals. If you insist that nothing short of a full synthetic is good enough for you, then buy it and take it to the dealer to install. Life's too short to stroke out over motor oil. Speaking of which, I wonder how many of us bring our blood pressure to a roiling boil discussing the "abuse" to our car engines from using inferior brands or types of motor oils while we habitually stuff our mouths with Big Macs and fries by the handful and wash it all down with a double caffeine jolt of designer coffee concoctions...
[ December 08, 2003, 01:54 PM: Message edited by: Ray H ]