Best Oil For 2000 S40

[AU-S40]

My car has 127,000 miles on it and I have always used Castrol 10W/30, but I have heard that synthetic is better for turbo engines. Is this true? If so, which brand do you recommend? Also, should I stay with 10W/30 or swap to 5W/40? Finally, I usually go right around 5,000 miles between changes. Is this OK, or should I change it sooner?

[zulu-v40]

I use Mobil-1 10W/30 synthetic and change the oil about every 3,000 miles. I'm pretty sure I could get away with doing it every 5,000 miles.

[AU-S40]

Thanks for both of the replies. I was just trying to get an idea of what everyone else did.

[zulu-v40]

From the Haynes Manual:
Multigrade engine oil, viscosity SAE 10W/30, 10W/40, or 15W/40, to ACEA A1 or A3, API SH or SJ

Capacity:
Models up to 1997 - 5.3 litres
Models from 1998, except GDI engine - 5.4 litres
GDI engine models - 3.8 litres

Search this forum a bit more for more opinions. I think you'll find a lot of it comes down to personal preference and the relationship you have with your vehicle.

[MoVolvos]

I'd say keep doing what you are doing. I think it is better to use synthetic but I've heard instances where someome switched to synthetic on a high mileage car and it started leaking or burning oil. Most new cars recommend 10k miles between oil changes. 5k is probably safer. I think the 3k mile change was something invented by oil companies.

SUMMARY: Basically, synthetic lubricants offer performance beyond mineral oil lubricants primarily where extremely low or extremely high temperatures are a concern.
http://www.swepcousa.com/lubesite/tt899.htm

Almost everyone who has changed to Swepco stayed with it and "The engine is running quieter at any cruising speed, all I hear is wind/road noise." is the typical experience. Just wind/road noise while on the freeway.

EXCERPT: Last Post on Page 2
OK Folks...
Here are my first impressions/-seat of my pants-observations on the Swepco (mostly) 5W30. So far its been >500km and 10 days. The engine is running quieter at any cruising speed, all I hear is wind/road noise. Start up is quick and the rough idle is gone. Fuel consumption seems to be a tad better (gas gauge), I will have hard numbers after a few fill-ups.
As for the piston slap.....
It has changed......
It is now clear, clean, crisp, somewhat like well tune castanets....I've never heard so well...

Stay tuned for more info.
Jean

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ub ... mber=77240

http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/sho ... co_pg8.htm

Blessings,
BKM
-

Swepco also provide LOA at a very, very reasonable rate.

THE IMPORTANCE OF LABORATORY OIL ANALYSIS (LOA)
The analogy has often been made that oil analysis is comparable to the testing of blood from a standpoint of
inferring that it is the “life fluid” of a system. For over seven decades, Southwestern Petroleum has been
reducing the total real cost of lubrication for cost conscience customers in every industry. While lubricants
traditionally average approximately 1% of maintenance budgets, they can impact as much as 35% or more of
maintenance costs. The cost of new equipment and equipment downtime continues to increase at an average
of 10-15% per year, with a magnitude ten times that of the cost of lubrication.
The first step in dealing with this critical problem is the realization that the cost of inadequate lubrication is
not just a price difference between the highest and lowest quality products, or the salary of one less oiler.
The cost is actually a function of the cost of equipment and the cost for the efficient utilization of that
equipment. For operations with a great deal of equipment or the need to use that equipment a high
percentage of the time, the cost of inadequate lubrication can be staggering. Performance oriented
management recognizes that inadequate lubrication is a cost that need not be paid, and proper lubrication, as
well as the monitoring of fluid lubricants through Laboratory Oil Analysis, is a means to improve
productivity and profitability substantially.
It has been our experience, and has also been confirmed by numerous studies, that the longevity and
performance of lubricants is a function of 1) the lubricants quality and 2) operation variables. While we have
control over the quality of the lubricants, we do not have control over the operational variable. Keeping this
in mind, we realize that the only way we can extend lubrication cycles with our products safely to the most
effective and efficient oil change interval for maximum machine productivity and economy is by monitoring
the lubricant in each individual unit. SWEPCO’s Laboratory Oil Analysis Program (LOA) was established
to take the guesswork out of the picture and ensure SWEPCO customers realize the maximum benefit from
their lubricant dollar.
Oil analysis, as a means of determining the condition of an internal combustion engine, gearbox or
circulating system, has moved out of the area of theory and into that of sound, practical
preventative/proactive maintenance procedure.
LUBE
TECHNI-gram
FR OM:
LEWIS FOX
DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY