Synthetic v. "Regular" Oil

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mdrawson - 02 May 2006 12:58 GMT

I have an '05 XC90 V8, and I'm getting different opinions from the Volvo
Service Dept and my usual (non-dealer)Volvo mechanic re what type of oil I
should be using in this car. One is saying that this car should have
synthetic oil and the other is saying that regular 10w30 is all that's
necessary.

Anyone have any informed information about this?

Thanks in advance.

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Michael Pardee - 02 May 2006 13:28 GMT

>I have an '05 XC90 V8, and I'm getting different opinions from the Volvo
>Service Dept and my usual (non-dealer)Volvo mechanic re what type of oil I
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Thanks in advance.

This is going to start a big brouhaha....

I say they are both right: regular 10W-30 is adequate, synthetic is better.
I can see synthetic doesn't leave varnish in engines (when we took the valve
cover off my son's '94 Acura to change the timing belt I was amazed to see
the head and valve train looked brand new). Whether it actually provides
better protection... I believe so, but I'm not going to argue about it.

Mike

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Steve - 02 May 2006 23:23 GMT

> I have an '05 XC90 V8, and I'm getting different opinions from the Volvo
> Service Dept and my usual (non-dealer)Volvo mechanic re what type of oil I
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Thanks in advance.

Synthetic oil IS better - it will give better protection, beter mpg's and is
less likely to break down and sludge up, but dino oil is damm good too.

Dino oil is $2 a quart, Mobil One synthetic is $7 or 8 a quart. If it were
my new(ish) **anything** I think I would use Mobil One. I have a 94 940 I
bought used. It has 187,000 on it. I use dino oil in it because I have
heart too many stories about older cars starting to leak if you put
synthetic in them.

It's good peace of mind, but hey, if you choose to use dino oil and use
SM/SL/SJ rated oil you have nothing to worry about, just use a mann filter
and keep it filled up.

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bob - 03 May 2006 13:43 GMT

>>I have an '05 XC90 V8, and I'm getting different opinions from the Volvo
>>Service Dept and my usual (non-dealer)Volvo mechanic re what type of oil I
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> SM/SL/SJ rated oil you have nothing to worry about, just use a mann filter
> and keep it filled up.

Am I slow this morning? What is "dino" oil? I am wondering what I am
going to put in my 2001 S40 that I bought used with 72,000 km (43,000
m). The book says that oil changes are to be done at 12,000 km intervals
- it seems like a lot to me.
Bob

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Steve - 03 May 2006 16:30 GMT

> >>I have an '05 XC90 V8, and I'm getting different opinions from the Volvo
> >>Service Dept and my usual (non-dealer)Volvo mechanic re what type of oil I
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
> - it seems like a lot to me.
> Bob

Dinosaur, the place where some oil came from...although I suspect (with no
data) that there has to be much more post flora then post fauna :)

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Michael Cerkowski - 03 May 2006 19:41 GMT

(...)

> Am I slow this morning? What is "dino" oil? I am wondering what I am
> going to put in my 2001 S40 that I bought used with 72,000 km (43,000
> m). The book says that oil changes are to be done at 12,000 km intervals
> - it seems like a lot to me.
> Bob

"Dinosaur, the place where some oil came from...although I suspect (with
no
data) that there has to be much more post flora then post fauna :)"

That's correct - oil is mostly decomposed plant matter, with just a
little dinosaur 'additive'. There were a lot more plants around, by
weight,
than animals.

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http://freevision.org/michael/index.html

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mdrawson - 03 May 2006 21:58 GMT

I thank everyone for their input on my original question. I believe that
due to a schedule of desert and mountain driving, I'll opt for the synthetic
(as opposed to the "dino" fossil oil). I do wonder, however, with the price
of crude, etc. these days, how come dino oil is so much cheaper than
synthetic, which I assume is concocted in a lab somewhere from manmade
materials.

Bob, to your question about mileage between oil changes being 12,000 km, my
recent vintage Volvos have stipulated changes at 7,500 mi which I think more
or less is the same. I do, however, change the oil at the midpoint of the
recommended interval, especially with the turbos, and I've never had any
problem with my turbos.

>>>I have an '05 XC90 V8, and I'm getting different opinions from the Volvo
>>>Service Dept and my usual (non-dealer)Volvo mechanic re what type of oil
[quoted text clipped - 29 lines]
> seems like a lot to me.
> Bob

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John Yahn - 09 May 2006 00:22 GMT

96 850 Turbo 260000 miles & 01 V70 Turbo 160000 miles. the 850 has had
synthetic oil since new, the V70 since I bought it with 52000 miles.
Neither leak, neither use more than 1/4 quart between oil changes at 6000
miles. Im sold on synthetic!!!
John

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