‘98 V70 GLT Engine oil Recommended Viscosity/Brand for Optimal Performance.

TobleroneFSS · Post by **TobleroneFSS** » 30 Jul 2026, 19:12

Hey y’all, Just picked up a 98 V70 GLT here with around 232k km, and I’m wondering what’s the community recommended oil since I’m seeing a bunch of different viscosities here. I’m in Calgary, Canada so it’ll get pretty cold here in a couple months but right now avg 25-30 degrees. I’m currently running 5w-40 which might be too thick for the season but not sure. Just drove 500km and it ran fine, but I doubt it’s optimal for performance which is the goal for this build. What’re yall thoughts?

Post by **scot850** » 30 Jul 2026, 23:39

Your handbook has the info you need and the temperature ranges they work best at. A 98 will usually recommend 5W-30 for winter and 10W-30 for summer use. We don't do a big annual mileage and so use 5W-30 all year around. The only P80 engine I have ever seen recommend 5W-40 is the one in our 00 V70R.

If you don't have a handbook, PM me as I have a bunch of them.

Neil.

Post by **abscate** » 31 Jul 2026, 04:09

TobleroneFSS wrote: 30 Jul 2026, 19:12 Hey y’all, Just picked up a 98 V70 GLT here with around 232k km, and I’m wondering what’s the community recommended oil since I’m seeing a bunch of different viscosities here. I’m in Calgary, Canada so it’ll get pretty cold here in a couple months but right now avg 25-30 degrees. I’m currently running 5w-40 which might be too thick for the season but not sure. Just drove 500km and it ran fine, but I doubt it’s optimal for performance which is the goal for this build. What’re yall thoughts?

Welcome Toblerone…I can’t resist warning you that there are used oil mongers in Calgary you have to watch out for ….

Many in kilts…

(Long standing joke here on MVS)

viewtopic.php?t=75054&hilit=Cheapskate

Post by **erikv11** » 31 Jul 2026, 10:48

I use 5W-40 synthetic in all my Volvos year-round, including the 98. Not quite as cold here in the winter as for you.

Post by **scot850** » 31 Jul 2026, 19:33

W don't normally get all that hot here, but then we do live at 3000+ ft above sea-level. Tomorrow we are to get to an unusually warm 90-95F then the following day we drop to about 75-80F. I have no idea why the R is specified for the 5W-40. Had an argument with AMS Oil who refused to sell me 5W-40 for my R and told me I should only use 5W-40. At that point I was done with dealing with stupid.........!

I have suggested 5W-40 to owners of high mileage cars which burn through a lot of oil as it does help reduce oil consumption in those cases.

Neil.