98 v70: rant and want oil info Topic is solved

[CIK7]

I found a v70 base model with sunroof in Nautic Blue. I am focused on getting it and will say I'm pumped, but I'm disappointed its not manual. If its manual I dont care that its just N/A. Its the only v70 I can find right now. Im torn because id rather buy an auto T5 or 850 Turbo rather than an auto N/A, but i dont want responsibility for repairs on the turbo lines if and when that happens. Robert Spinner (RobertDIY, MVS rspi) makes removing the turbo look easy in his video. If the N/A had a manual, id wholeheartedly take it. Im going to get it regardless unless a p80 2.3t pops up.
Question: if the car has had synthetic most its life, can I switch it to conventional? Ive heard switching from conventional (after using most its life) to synthetic can blow some sort of seal. Cant remember what was said. But can that happen vice versa?

[misha]

Why would you want to use conventional oil on these engines...there is no point.

Use at least semi-synth...if you don't want fully synth.

[CIK7]

Why would you want to use conventional oil on these engines...there is no point.

Use at least semi-synth...if you don't want fully synth.

On my 96 960 (shares same whiteblock design) first owner always used conventional. So I made sure to use conventional. But its cheaper. Saves me $2 per jug. I have a jug of conventional unopened in closet

[misha]

You can use conventional oil,but you will need to change it more frequently....so consider that about how much you can save.

Oil and coolant are taking care about engine,and those are not really the items you would want to save on.

Semi-synth can go at least up to 10k km/1 year while conventional should be changed at 5-7k km/1 year whichever comes first.

Conventional oil will degrade faster than semi-synth or fully-synth...and it can't provide proper protection in various condition.

It's your car,your engine and your choice....and only you are deciding about what you will use.

[scot850]

I have run both and have even interchanged them due to what I had to hand. When synthetic oil came out many years ago there was a bunch of people claimed that synth oil caused seals to leak. But those where often on cars that were 10+ years old at the time and the oil seals were often not as good, heck, old British cars even used rope seals until the end of the 70's!

Modern seals are more durable and able to deal with the modern oils.

Pay your money and make a choice. Dino = more changes, synth = less changes, even using the so-called synthetic oil they sell us here in North America. They also do tend to keep the engine internals cleaner. Synthetic is also easier on the engine for cold starting, especially in winter temps.

As for the 4 speed auto V70NA. I had the 5 speed auto 2000 that I repaired and sold to my buddy. The 5 speed auto is often maligned as being a weak trans. It is just more complex and doesn't take to poor maintenance and no oil changes. Otherwise I like it in the NA over the 4 speed auto as it has quicker changes so keeps it in the power band better.

Either way the NA is a robust engine and the 20 valve is a solid motor and revs well. They can be modified to give more power.

If I just needed a car to run around town, I would use an NA as they warm up quicker and get way better mileage than a turbo.

Good luck whichever way you go.

Neil.

[CIK7]

I have run both and have even interchanged them due to what I had to hand. When synthetic oil came out many years ago there was a bunch of people claimed that synth oil caused seals to leak. But those where often on cars that were 10+ years old at the time and the oil seals were often not as good, heck, old British cars even used rope seals until the end of the 70's!

Modern seals are more durable and able to deal with the modern oils.

Pay your money and make a choice. Dino = more changes, synth = less changes, even using the so-called synthetic oil they sell us here in North America. They also do tend to keep the engine internals cleaner. Synthetic is also easier on the engine for cold starting, especially in winter temps.

As for the 4 speed auto V70NA. I had the 5 speed auto 2000 that I repaired and sold to my buddy. The 5 speed auto is often maligned as being a weak trans. It is just more complex and doesn't take to poor maintenance and no oil changes. Otherwise I like it in the NA over the 4 speed auto as it has quicker changes so keeps it in the power band better.

Either way the NA is a robust engine and the 20 valve is a solid motor and revs well. They can be modified to give more power.

If I just needed a car to run around town, I would use an NA as they warm up quicker and get way better mileage than a turbo.

Good luck whichever way you go.

Neil.

Excellent feedback thank you.

[Eddystone]

I found a v70 base model with sunroof in Nautic Blue. I am focused on getting it and will say I'm pumped, but I'm disappointed its not manual. If its manual I dont care that its just N/A. Its the only v70 I can find right now. Im torn because id rather buy an auto T5 or 850 Turbo rather than an auto N/A...

I have a 99 T5 Auto and a 98 N/A V70 Auto. The T5 is spirited little beast and is geared for a high speed, so it runs highway speeds at lower rpms. However, every time I drive the V70, I am impressed with what a wonderful little appliance it is. Very smooth, doesn't really feel that slow, and it just motors on. We roll. So much simpler than the 1999 fly by wire, somewhat artificially intelligent 2.3 liter turbo. Easier to both identify parts and buy parts for. There's real beauty and elegance in simplicity even when a car is not that much simpler.

Don't knock the little car. My V70 is the same Nautic Blue with sunroof and manual AC, if not trans.

[yanga001]

Joining in with the nautic blue v70's. The smoothness of the transmission is something that a lot of modern cars have not matched as the focus is more on staying in the power-band. Case in point, test drove a highlander and the transmission seemed so confused when trying to accelerate. I am happier with the N/A for a daily driver, it had 280k Km's when we got it and its now roughly 315k Km's. I added an activated trip computer, cleaned it up a bit and have a bunch scheduled for it in the upcoming months.

It might not be the fastest thing in the world by any standard, however it is a much more enjoyable experience to drive compared to many modern cars. The only regret is having to recharge that AC every so often.

[abscate]

The 30 mpg of my two NA P80s, carefully cared for by previous owner, is addictive.

[SomeGuy537]

The 30 mpg of my two NA P80s, carefully cared for by previous owner, is addictive.

They gotta be manuals both right? If you're getting 30 mpg with an auto i need to know your secret!