Can I use Mobil 1 synthetic 5W-30 for hot weather in my XC70 2007

mdv · Post by **mdv** » 25 Jul 2017, 16:06

Hello,
I wonder if anyone has an opinion on this, please. Will Mobil 1 High Mileage Formula 5W-30 give adequate protection to my 2007 XC70 even in temperatures above 86°F (30°C)?

I have always used Mobil 1 High Mileage Formula in my old Volvos, and (rightly or wrongly) trust in the seal conditioners etc. I have not had problems with oil leaks an so on. Mobil 1 5W-30 HM has worked fine in my old Volvos previously, even in California summers.
I recently acquired a 2007 XC70 with 191,000 miles on it, and want to switch it to Mobil 1. But the Volvo manual for this model says that 5W-30 is only recommended for driving temperatures up to 86°F - in summer in California I need protection well above that (frequently into the 90°s, but seldom over 100°). The manual says I should use 5W-40 or 0W-40 for driving temperatures above 86°F
But Mobil 1 does not make a High Mileage formula in 5W-40 or 0W-40; I am concerned that switching to regular synthetic without the seal-conditioners etc, might increase the risk of leaks - and I just feel good about the High Mileage formula. The Mobil 1 website, if I input the make and model says the manufacturer recommends 5W-30 High Mileage, but it doesn't ask if it will be driven in a hot environment.
Would Mobil 1 High Mileage 5W-30, being synthetic, give enough protection in the heat, (so I can use the Migh Mileage formula)? Or should I stick to 5W-40 or 0W-40 and go without the High Mileage additives?

Thank you for any thoughts!
(Apologies if this is covered elsewhere - 'oil' is filtered out of search for being too frequently used, so I couldn't find anything.)

Mark

Georgeandkira · Post by **Georgeandkira** » 25 Jul 2017, 16:43

I'm not a tribologist nor do I play one on the internet.....But I have read the oil board and taken care of 6 turbos over the years....7 if you count the neighbor's Audi which was smoking like a train BEFORE I got to it.

The 0W-40 European Formula is an A3, B3 PAO (Group IV) oil. All the other Mobil1 products are A1,B1 Group III's. NEVER a problem with the turbochargers. The 0W-40 reduced the smoking by the Audi next door by nearly 100%.

They say the capacity for the PAO oils to coke (burn in the absence of oxygen) is nil. The oil in the turbo's bearing housings gets real hot upon shutdown. I honestly cannot comment on seal conditioning. I assume the 0W-40 has some conditioners in it.

If you're not going Redline or some other boutique oil, I'd use Mobil1 0W-40 EF or Total Quartz 9000 5W-40. AutohausAZ.com has it.

Post by **oragex** » 25 Jul 2017, 17:39

I think 5W30 is good for most areas in the US, unless you are are a very spirited driver.

One thing is, the 'high mileage' stuff in not the highest quality synthetic oil. It's somewhere between a synthetic and a mineral oil. If you care about using synthetic - which is a good idea for the turbo - go as above with a 'fully' synthetic oil. Plus, if you are worried about the 30 grade in your area weather, the 0W-40 mentioned above is not only a great choice but also perhaps among the best oils we can purchase here in North America. I know Castrol sells it, and I understand Mobil also has it. These are about the most 'fully' synthetic oils you can buy.

But the most important thing with your newly purchased 191K miles car is the switch to synthetic. I would only put synthetic if the previous owner has already used synthetic. If the car has only seen mineral, then switching to synthetic will clog the oil filter very quickly AND the engine will start consuming oil like crazy - I would sleep with the dipstick near my pillow so to speak. I would replace the filter only at 500 miles, then again at 1000 miles.

Post by **tryingbe** » 25 Jul 2017, 17:47

Marketing got you!

I have no problem using non "high mileage" on my car with 390k miles on it.

Post by **abscate** » 25 Jul 2017, 18:55

Are you consistently over 90 F or is that just peak temps in your area?

These aren't absolutes, a few days outside the range aren't going to hurt anything

dono · Post by **dono** » 24 Apr 2019, 06:39

Wish I had tried Mobil 1 High Mileage sooner. I drive a 2004 V70 2.5T AWD Wagon with 233k miles on it. It was burning about a quart every 800 miles for the last couple years. Since I put Mobil 1 High Mileage in it now only burns ~16 oz per 1,000 miles - it halved the oil consumption! My CAT is basically shot and Im sure the last 2-3 years of burning oil did it in. Had I switched to M1HM sooner I could have made the CAT last years longer.

I run 5w-30 here in the DC Metro area where we had 131 days over 80 degrees F in 2018 and an average of ~27 days per year over 90 degrees F. Im on the original turbo. I think unless you are towing or running high RPM's you should be fine with the 5w-30 Mobil 1. Obviously cooling system maintenance is a must (my radiator did fail at 177k contaminating my transmission with coolant).

IslandV70 · Post by **IslandV70** » 24 Apr 2019, 07:09

Why not use the oil Volvo suggests? Mobil 1 0-40W is very good oil.

Post by **Rattnalle** » 24 Apr 2019, 07:30

IslandV70 wrote: ↑24 Apr 2019, 07:09 Why not use the oil Volvo suggests? Mobil 1 0-40W is very good oil.

5w30 Acea A5/B5 spec is the recommended oil post facelift in Europe. I'm sure it works just as well in the US.

IslandV70 · Post by **IslandV70** » 24 Apr 2019, 07:40

In my part of the USA it can be over 90 F (33 C) after midnight.
Volvo does not suggest 5w30 for our climate for my year.
Also note many car manufacturers spec oil for best MPG when a slightly heavier oil might be better for engine protection

Post by **oragex** » 24 Apr 2019, 14:29

The above pictogram is very common. It seems to indicate that 5W-30 oil is not good enough above 86F. However, the oil is actually heated inside the engine by the engine heat way past 86F. More close to 210F or so. So the outside temperature doesn't have that much impact on the actual engine temperature. I'm going to dare and say I'm not sure what the chart is actually about. I get the idea about cold oil grade chart - the first number in the oil grade (0W, 5W, 10W and so on), that makes sense to me, but not sure how the hot oil grade is being related to ambient temperature given the engine is cooled down already quite precisely with the coolant and radiator fan.