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Oil Change Standard or Synthetic? Topic is solved

Help, Advice and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's P80 platform cars -- Volvo's 1990s "bread and butter" cars -- powered by the ubiquitous and durable Volvo inline 5-cylinder engine.

1992 - 1997 850, including 850 R, 850 T-5R, 850 T-5, 850 GLT
1997 - 2000 S70, S70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70, V70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70-XC
1997 - 2004 C70

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dcunited122

Oil Change Standard or Synthetic?

Post by dcunited122 »

I need an oil change soon, should I make the switch to synthetic? Pros and Cons? Thanks

White850Turbo
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Post by White850Turbo »

The old rule applies here: You get what you pay for. There's a reason synthetic costs so much more; it's that much better. I won't go real deep into anything here, but I'd suggest checking out the forums on BITOG. Synthetic is better for your car in every way.
-Sean

1995 850 Turbo (Extensively Modded)

1998 S70 T5 (Almost Stock)

turbotim2
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Post by turbotim2 »

The talk about synthetic has been pretty well all positive. I think if you run your car really hard you would probably want all of the protection you can get. I have also seen 4 cars to date that have over 400,000 miles on them and they have never seen a drop of synthetic oil in them. My advice is whatever you chose, stick with it and don't keep swapping back and forth. As an engine builder, I use only natural oil. I also change it frequently along with fliters and keep a close eye on those engines as they have alot more $$ and power in them then my Volvo family wagon.
2004 XC70

2005 S60 2.5T AWD (gone)

1996 850 GLT Wagon in Blue (gone)

1996 850 GLT Wagon in Green (gone)

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matthew1
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Post by matthew1 »

While I use Mobil 1 in my 850, didn't they downgrade the formula about two years ago? "Watered it down" a bit compared to what it's traditionally been?

I remember reading something about that and how they tried to spin it off as "improved."
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1998 V70, no dash lights on

1997 850 T5 [gone] w/ MSD ignition coil, Hallman manual boost controller, injectors, R bumper, OMP strut brace

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Tsquared
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Post by Tsquared »

If memory serves me, they re-adjusted the levels of paraffin and molybdenum. Both of these are additives to increase the life of the oil. If I can run down the link on it I will post it.

Any way you look at it synthetic is always better than dyno oil - even blended syn is better than strait dyno. The key thing with any oil is to perform the routine maintenance.

BTW: I use Mobile 1 in everything I have - I have found it to be the best synthetic for the $$
'11 C30 T5

'96 854 - died an early death with 184K miles. Killed by the front end of an LTD on a suicide mission (T-boned and both cars totaled).

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