1996 850 Synthetic Oil Or Regular Oil?

turbotim2 · Post by **turbotim2** » 24 Aug 2007, 12:19

Haha, I knew I would find an engineer on here to get fired up!

I know the reputations but have to say, I have put WAY more money, parts, time and effort into this Volvo then probably any other car I've had (of all shapes, sizes makes, etc.). But I still love to drive the Volvo, and my wife loves hers too.

Post by **matthew1** » 24 Aug 2007, 12:50

turbotim2 wrote:Engineers are notorious for making things way more complicated then they need to be. Thats why GM doesn't use them.

Ok, that answers that. But can you tell me why they don't use designers?

sorry, off topic, couldn't resist

jaredNYC · Post by **jaredNYC** » 07 Jan 2010, 13:45

I too was lucky enough to get a 96 850 GLT with low miles (77,000) in NY. I always change the oil every 3,000 but at around 110,000 after replacing the timing belt and water pump for the second time (I did it when I got the car but the mechanic put in a cheap water pump and the bearings went at 110000 so I replaced both belt and water pump again... Luckily the motor never overheated when the waterpump failed. Another mechanic had suggested an engine flush so I did that and then another mechanic - who works at a Volvo dealer suggested I start using synthetic oil so I switched. This past weekend I noticed a few drops of very slippery oil in the snow. I hope I haven't sprung a leak but I'll keep my eyes on that dip stick before I start the car.

Post by **IVIUSTANG** » 07 Jan 2010, 14:45

When my timing belt broke 30,000 miles prematurely. I had a shop put in a used engine with 120,000KM(40,000KM less than the car had on it at the time) I immediately ran full synthetic, within a couple weeks the rear main seal gave up the ghost, it was fixed free under warranty and I still run full synthetic in this engine with zero litres being added between oil changes, no movement at all on dipstick from fresh oil change to next oil change. The engine cranks over ALOT better in -40C weather and I don't worry about cooling my turbo by idling after driving as synthetic supposedly doesn't coke like dino. Synthetic keeps its flow properties through a much wider temperature range.

- Jesse

Post by **polskamafia mjl** » 07 Jan 2010, 15:13

zenmervolt wrote:
JRL wrote:Agree with the above. (Why the heck did you change at 145K)?

It's a crapshoot to start using Synthetic after 50-60K in ANY car.
You don't know the history and it could make things a lot worse regarding oil leaks.
When I bought my 850 R it already had a wisp coming out the RMS so I changed it, cleaned most of the PVC THEN started using Mobil 1
9WITH THE NEW REAR MAIN).
I probably will do a complete breather box change at 75 or 80K (72K now)
if I still own it
Sorry, but that's an old wive's tale if I've ever heard one.

Synthetic will never cause a leak. It will make existing leaks much more obvious, but it will not cause them.

I've switched several older cars over to synthetic, my 914 at 120,000 miles, my 951 at 145,000 miles, and my current S70 T5 at 113,000 miles. None have started leaking oil after the switch. Of course, that's because none leaked before the switch either.

If you get leaks after putting synthetic in, then you had already damaged your engine anyway. Blaming it on the synthetic is just foolish. It won't eat seals and it won't cause a problem.

There are zero potential downsides to running synthetic (provided, of course, that you choose the correct weight and API grade).

+1 Being afraid of synthetic oil is like being afraid of the boogey man. There's no reason for it. The manual recommends synthetic oil. There's really no reason not to use synthetic oil.

Post by **tjts1** » 07 Jan 2010, 15:45

I switched to synthetic at 170k miles (7,500 mile OCI), now at 201k miles, no problems. I use Shell Rotella 5w40.

9394volvo850s · Post by **9394volvo850s** » 07 Jan 2010, 17:48

turbotim2 wrote:
A Volvo P1800 has the record for over 1,000,000 miles and it is still going.
There are many Chevrolet taxis in NYC with over 1,000,000 miles. Volvos have a better reputation for safety and longevity but the truth of the matter is you have to fix them all. And I work with many engineers so when anyone says "over-engineered" it makes me cringe. Engineers are notorious for making things way more complicated then they need to be. Thats why GM doesn't use them.

Also, I have had 2 Fords now that have exceeded 400k miles which I consider pretty good.

the 1966 Volvo P1800 record holder was last at 2,600,000 helives in NY and his name is Irv gordon.
Oh yea full syn oil in both my Volvo 850s 259K 5 speed and 171K Turbo syn ATF and motor oil