Oil Changed - Serious questions

viper69 · Post by **viper69** » 20 Sep 2018, 18:53

I brought my car below in sig file for an oil change. With one exception back in 2006 or 2008, the car's engine has only had natural oil. I don't see the advantages of synthetic or synthetic blend, mind you I'm not oil expert either. I drive my Volvo on average less than 1000 miles a year lately.

With that said, today my oil changed (usually 5W30), and this time I didn't mention to use real oil.

The guy used 76's 5W30 weight synthetic blend oil for the oil change. I don't know anything more than that.

Is my engine going to be in trouble? Such as seals giving way, leaking oil, or worse? Let me know guys, and I will get my oil changed tomorrow and put in Castrol GTX that is real oil.

I'm pretty worried.

Thanks in advance

Post by **scot850** » 20 Sep 2018, 20:03

There is some information to say that with an older car you may see issues. But you are using a blend which should be no real issue. European cars have used these for 30 years or so like Audi/Volkswagen.

I have changed my last 5 P80 Volvos to synthetic as I do little mileage as they tend to absorb less water when my cars don't get used much as well as for the cold weather we get here.

I wouldn't worry, maybe others may see it different.

Neil.

Post by **jimmy57** » 20 Sep 2018, 20:18

No, not going to be a problem. The differences that existed between synthetic and regular oils once upon a time have not been true for 20+ years. Synthetic blend oil has a small fraction of synthetic oil blended with regular oil. The changes in motor oils dictated by oil requirements of car manufacturers has increased the detergent levels to suppress sludge for the longer oil change intervals. If you run the oil too long and it gets sludge in the engine then the regular oil higher detergent levels is going to be a risk to turn loose the sludge to a similar risk level as synthetic oil.

Post by **abscate** » 20 Sep 2018, 23:37

With your low use the kind of oil you use is almost immaterial. Do you get the car hot at least a couple times a month ? That would be good.

< 20 miles a week!

viper69 · Post by **viper69** » 20 Sep 2018, 23:57

Thanks everyone.

Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t get it hot for long periods at all. I have a different car and so use that one more often. It’s Japanese so the maintenance is cheaper.

I love my 850GLT, but wish the maintenance wasn’t so pricey. And being a 5 speed manual I love driving it.

If only Volvo would take the time to fix the windshield wiper arm from lifting from the windshield!

Post by **Rattnalle** » 21 Sep 2018, 00:31

I've never had an issue with the wipers on any of my Volvos. Sure they don't just need alignment?

As for the oil question. Synthetic oil is better in every way. There is no advantage to mineral oil. A blend will be better but still not as good as a synthetic. We stopped using mineral oil on this side the ocean a long time ago. The exception perhaps being classic cars.

The possible issue that can be encountered is if an oil with much more detergents is used suddenly, cleaning the engine too quickly if it's not clean to begin with, but that could be the case regardless of what the base oil is.

Post by **misha** » 21 Sep 2018, 02:22

viper69 wrote: ↑20 Sep 2018, 18:53 ...The guy used 76's 5W30 weight synthetic blend oil...

What is 76's?

Post by **abscate** » 21 Sep 2018, 05:17

Probably Phillips 76.... brand name over here

We don’t brand bash over here but The Euro / Asia split is pretty clean. I haven’t owned anything Asian since 86, and the claims of reliability and such are funny , given that automakers share supply chain

My neighbor who claims his Toy transmission was better than my neighbors V70 didn’t like finding out that AISIN made both.

Post by **Rattnalle** » 21 Sep 2018, 05:41

abscate wrote: ↑21 Sep 2018, 05:17 Probably Phillips 76.... brand name over here

We don’t brand bash over here but The Euro / Asia split is pretty clean. I haven’t owned anything Asian since 86, and the claims of reliability and such are funny , given that automakers share supply chain

My neighbor who claims his Toy transmission was better than my neighbors V70 didn’t like finding out that AISIN made both.

The Asian brands have a pretty good reputation for reliable and cheap ownership here as well. Rust aside though that's improved considerably.

On the other hand there are no American cars here apart from classic cars, the odd Dodge Ram or Mustang - cars that have no substitute made anywhere else and appeal to a certain kind of people.

Post by **abscate** » 21 Sep 2018, 07:17

We don't maintain our cars they way you guys do, Ratnalle, so the definition of reliable over here is 'I didn't fix or replace anything'

Just like you will find a trashed V70 from someone who changed the oil three times over its life, you will find plenty of trashed Aisan and American cars for sale for parts here.

CR recent APRIL 2018 ranking of reliability/satisfaction puts

Genesis (Hyundai), audi, and bmw on top, FWIW