Engine Oil/Steering Fluid Advice

ShamrockS70 · Post by **ShamrockS70** » 19 Nov 2018, 17:56

What engine oil is recommended for winter driving my '98 S70?

Also: My steering oil is leaking. I'm currently topping up. Is STP Steering Fluid with Stop Leak compatible?

Many thanks.

Post by **misha** » 19 Nov 2018, 18:01

5w-40 all year round for engine.Easy cold starts in winter(5w) and enough protection in summer temperatures(40).
Atp AT 205 for steering rack leak.

ShamrockS70 · Post by **ShamrockS70** » 19 Nov 2018, 18:15

Thank you so much.

Is Atp a brand or grade of oil?

WhatAmIDoing · Post by **WhatAmIDoing** » 19 Nov 2018, 18:25

Just google "ATP AT-205 stop leak" and it should come right up. Does a solid job rejuvenating seals to stop those pesky oil leaks.

You have a few choices for oil. 5w-40 as misha said is good for year round. I run 10w-40 all year, just fine. You could also run 10w-30, I think that's the standard recommended in the manual. If you live somewhere with really cold winters (highs well below freezing), then 5w-30 is also acceptable, but you will want to change it before the weather gets hot again.

Post by **Rattnalle** » 20 Nov 2018, 02:32

WhatAmIDoing wrote: 19 Nov 2018, 18:25 Just google "ATP AT-205 stop leak" and it should come right up. Does a solid job rejuvenating seals to stop those pesky oil leaks.

You have a few choices for oil. 5w-40 as misha said is good for year round. I run 10w-40 all year, just fine. You could also run 10w-30, I think that's the standard recommended in the manual. If you live somewhere with really cold winters (highs well below freezing), then 5w-30 is also acceptable, but you will want to change it before the weather gets hot again.

Oil viscos always seem to create confusion.

0w, 5w or 10w is the cold viscosity. This is the only part relevant when considering cold starts. How viscous the oil has to be depends on your definition of winter.

w30 or w40 is the viscosity when warm. Generally 30 is ok but 40 gives a better protection if driving hard in really warm climstes where cooling might not be as efficient. This part has no impact whatsoever on winter performance.

Oils with a small span between cold and warm viscosities like 10w30 are generally cheaper and easier to make than say a 0w40.

Personally I go for 5w40. It covers pretty much any situation that's likely to come up, year round. -30 to +40 degrees C or so.

Post by **abscate** » 20 Nov 2018, 05:06

ShamrockS70 wrote: 19 Nov 2018, 17:56 What engine oil is recommended for winter driving my '98 S70?

Also: My steering oil is leaking. I'm currently topping up. Is STP Steering Fluid with Stop Leak compatible?

Many thanks.

NY is a big state climate-wise

NYC is temperate, the finger lakes, north country get bitter cold in winter