0w20 oil on 850 awd?

SesMoge · Post by **SesMoge** » 20 Aug 2021, 15:21

Hello mates, nice to meet you.

While my main Volvo is an S70, I recently acquired an 850 awd model, 1997 year as well.

The dealership has been helpful in getting parts like timing belt and accessories. (poor 850 has been sitting for a few years, almost turned into a rwd car by the previous owner) When the dealership gave me 0w-20 engine oil however... I thought that oil is way too thin for this B5254T engine?
(owners manual is lost, temperatures stay withing freezing and 20° Celsius year round, coastal area, lots of small city driving, usually)

Meanwhile I went ahead and got a 10L jug with 5w40 Biltema full synthetic. (as recommended by entering the 850 licence plate number on their website)
Ever since I put Biltema 10w40 semi-synthetic in my S70 B5202S, the engine has been as smooth as never before. Less smoke from the exhaust even.

My gut tells me to go with the biltema 5w40 for the 850 awd. I think the dealership is too obsessed with those new cars these days. I think those new 2019 S60 R-design use 0w20.

Cheers!

Post by **MoVolvos** » 20 Aug 2021, 15:32

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"temperatures stay withing freezing and 20° Celsius year round, coastal area, lots of small city driving, usually"

0W-30 or 0W-40 would be better year round for both cars.

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Post by **Clemens** » 20 Aug 2021, 16:29

I'd stick with 5W-40, 0W-40 is too thin from my experience, and 0W-20 is WRONG. The manual suggests 10W-40, 5W-40 is better for your temperatures.

Post by **Sveedy** » 20 Aug 2021, 16:32

Welcome, and nice ride !
I agree - nothing less than 30 weight. I would lean toward 40 myself. How many miles are on it ?

Post by **MoVolvos** » 20 Aug 2021, 17:44

Clemens wrote: ↑20 Aug 2021, 16:29 I'd stick with 5W-40, 0W-40 is too thin from my experience, and 0W-20 is WRONG. The manual suggests 10W-40, 5W-40 is better for your temperatures.

Rotella T6 for 5W-40
Castrol Titanium for 0W-40

Depending on the mileage and the length of time close to freezing weather one works slightly better than the other but both should be fine. The more mileage and worn the engine it's best to use the 0W-40 for quicker flow at start up during cooler weather but the 5W-40 is a little more robust.

Again, both are fine as the weather is below the high temp capabilities of both weights.

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Post by **scot850** » 20 Aug 2021, 19:48

Handbook will say 10W-30 in summer and 5W-30 for winter. 5W-40 is what I use for my 2000 V70R as that is what is specified in the handbook. Car doesn't tend to use oil between services even with 270kkm on the engine.

I know some owners use 0W-XX oils on their older cars, but it is too thin unless you want to burn oil. 2 stroke engines...? I have tried the thinner oils but find my cars all used oil between services until I moved back to the thicker higher mileage options.

Neil.

Post by **Clemens** » 20 Aug 2021, 23:31

scot850 wrote: ↑20 Aug 2021, 19:48 Handbook will say 10W-30 in summer and 5W-30 for winter. 5W-40 is what I use for my 2000 V70R as that is what is specified in the handbook. Car doesn't tend to use oil between services even with 270kkm on the engine.

I know some owners use 0W-XX oils on their older cars, but it is too thin unless you want to burn oil. 2 stroke engines...? I have tried the thinner oils but find my cars all used oil between services until I moved back to the thicker higher mileage options.

Neil.

Interestingly, the European Handbooks (at least the German language versions) don't list 10W-30, but 10W-40 only.

Anyhow, as Neill said, I alsonexperienced that 0W-40 is too thin, I switched back to 5W-40 for the R and 10W-40 for the T5 and the oil consumption improved alot

SesMoge · Post by **SesMoge** » 21 Aug 2021, 00:11

Sveedy wrote: ↑20 Aug 2021, 16:32 Welcome, and nice ride !
I agree - nothing less than 30 weight. I would lean toward 40 myself. How many miles are on it ?

Thanks for the many useful replies people!
Ah, it's got about 208,731 miles. Over 200k miles of small, cold, and short city trips. Probably. I usually go for a longer drive in the weekends, in order to get the engine thorougly heated up. My daily driving consists of 10 minute 3.1 mile long trips to work. The cars barely have time to heat up. Same story with my S70, if not worse. Very short trips to the grocery store, only 0.5 mile long, in these past 20 years.

Post by **abscate** » 21 Aug 2021, 06:10

I have to say to love this one…

If you can't fix it, you don't own it.

SesMoge · Post by **SesMoge** » 24 Aug 2021, 15:16

abscate wrote: ↑21 Aug 2021, 06:10 I have to say to love this one…

If you can't fix it, you don't own it.

Quote from a certain poplular diy electronics repair shop... I don't forget the feeling after successfully replacing the battery in my old iPhone 5S.

I should mention that the dealer gave me 0w30. Not 0w20. I still think it's too thin though.