I have a 1994 850. I've had the oil changed at my service center since I got the car in 2000. They have been using a synthetic blend 5/30. I was thinking of starting to do my own oil/filter changes to save some money. My wife has a 1997 850, so I could do them both.

Anyway, should I stay with the synth blend or can I change to a full synth? Is it worth it? I live in Texas where the temps in summer are over 100 deg. My car must have about 160K miles on it.

A friend suggested using an oil extractor pump (to get the old oil out from the dipstick area). Any comments on that?

Suggestions?

Thanks

 

It's great for a boat where you can't get to the drain but I think pulling the plug does a better job.

For my turbo they recommend 15W40 when above 14 degrees F, 10W30 above -4 degrees and 5W30 for under four below.

 

Below zero is not a big problem in Dallas TX... Are you saying the lower first number is better for cold weather? I'm confused.

I have been told that you never change the type of oil. If you have used one type, changing it may cause problems. Is that true? I have used synth blend (Casterol 5w/30). I have topped it off with Mobile syngh blend 5w/30).

Should I use something different because of the hot Texas weather? Can I switch to a full synth? Is it better? Car is old and has a lot of miles...

Thanks

 

Oil is oil. I'll start a fight with that but you can switch and mix all you want. In TX if it was my car I'd run 15W40 synthetic all year. I do believe that synthetic oil is the best and it's worth the extra cost for the value it gives to the engines moving parts. If you can afford a name brand, Castrol, Mobil, Valvoline .... great if not then I'd get a parts house brand the autozone synthetic or oreillys synthetic before I'd run a synthetic blend and I don't use conventional oil anymore even in my lawnmower.

That's just my opinion
The factory recommends 15W40 full synthetic for a Volvo turbo.

 

I have switched all of my cars to full synthetic, even the one that had 188,000 when I got it. Switching shouldn't matter. It can be the straw that breaks the camels back but if the camel is that loaded down, a pot hole could break it.

Also, the hotter it is the heavyier weight you should use. So, 15w-40 for hot summers is better than 10W-30. I try to use 10W-30 in the winter months and 10W-40 in the summer months. The manual says you should use 15W-40.