Synthetic blend for Volvo turbo?

[barney500]

I own a 99 Volvo S70GLT, (5 cyl low pressure turbo engine), with about 106K miles on it. Oil has always been changed at dealership, every 6 months, they use Citgo synthetic blend 5w30.

I will be doing the oil changes on this car myself now.

I have read that a turbo engine should run synthetic, although the owners manual says dino is ok, except for an engine that is run in extreme cold or heat or for towing. That is not the case for this car.

Engine uses almost no oil between changes. Looking into the oil filler hole, there is some buildup, but not a lot.

I only drive about 6000 miles/year, always far enough to get the engine to normal operating temp. Lots of highway miles, too.

Should I just keep using syn blend, or go with full synthetic?

If I go with full synthetic, can I change the oil just once a year?

Thanks.

 

[hate2work]

Lots of highway miles, always up to temp, no oil use, only driven 6k per year, well maintained, using a good synthetic... this car is the poster child for annual changes.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Any US full synthetic would be a "syn blend".

 

[ZZman]

Why not run a full Syn Oil. It is not that expensive really if you only change it once a year(6,000 miles)

 

[barney500]

Thanks to all for the advice. I will do the next oil change with synthetic, probably M1 5w30, and maybe do a UOA after 9 months to see what's up.

 

[silverrat]

If you are going to spend the money on Mobil 1 then you might as get 0w40

 

[Oregoonian]

M-1 5w30....and 1 year OCI's should work perfectly.

Pureolator PureOne or Puro Classic would be a good filter for the above.
____________________________
29=003 Ford Focus (2.3L) / 89K
Mobil 1 5w20EP / OCI: 1 Yr or 12K+/-
Filter: Mobil 1EP

 

[ItsuMitsubishi]

If you see some buildup, why not 'kill two stones with one bird' and use a synthetic oil made with base stocks that have inherently good dispersency and detergency. Is Mobil still blending mostly with ANs + GrIII or have they started using their "Visom" yet?

 

[OneEyeJack]

I have an 850 Turbo Wagon. They are easy on the oil except for one situation, temps over 100F and high hi way speeds, which I guess you should expect. I used Mobil 1 0w-40 and after a marginal uoa per the lab, based on a couple of trips across the desert in the summer at 40,010 total miles and 5,010 on the oil. I switched to Renewable Lubricant's bio based 10w30 engine oil. That was the end of any lubrication problems. You have to buy it by the 5 gal tub to get any break on the price and shipping. I wanted the best for my car. I have no idea if it's the best for anyone else but it worked for me with lots of desert travel, so no flames, please. Then an illegal ran my wife through a guard rail at 70mph on the freeway. The Volvo did its job and protected my wife, no injury. What's left of the car is parked beside my garage. I just could not see letting it go to the junk yard.

 

[coffee]

I use 15w40 in my Volvos and it works very well.

 

[volvomix]

Wrong oil for the Volvo, but especially wrong if you are in NY.

Not my car though.

 

[Kestas]

I have an 02 Volvo S40 with the 4-cyl turbo. The car was bought used and had a good amount of deposits under the oil filler cap. I could never understand why Volvo specifies regular 5w30 oil and 7.5K OCI.

I use synthetic 5w30 and 6K OCI. I'm sure I could extend the OCI, but this is what I feel comfortable with.

 

[volvomix]

What model and what engine?
Most 2.4, 2.3 and 2.5 L turbo engines are 5 cylinders, not 4.

 

[Kestas]

The 02 Volvo S40 only came with the 1.9L 4-cyl turbo in the US.

 

[Eddie]

Why fix what works? The other option I would go for is the one year OCI with a Synthetic like PP or Mobil1 in the factory recomended weight.