Service Campaign S29650
 

Got this letter in the mail the other day, stating that Volvo is saying that upgrading to full synthetic oil will reduce carbon build up in the engine, and also align with the newer Volvo's.
I have 2012 S60 T5. 17,000 miles.
Never ever used any oil, longest I drove it was a trip about 1400 miles.
Dealer wants $100 to change to synthetic.
All comments welcome on going from dino to synthetic.
Would you make the change or not ?
Also , why should I care If my 2012 aligns with a newer Volvo.
This is NOT a recall.
They said they would put a sticker on the motor, telling operator to use full synthetic oil, this is what the service is for.

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Nope, it's never had synthetic.

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Go with the new spec. Otherwise, kiss goodwill goodbye if your piston rings ever need replacement for oil consumption.

Well, I put on less than 3000 miles a year, change oil at regular intervals, oil is always clean, and full.

I am withdrawing my comments to avoid any conflict.

I converted my 2000 S40 to full synthetic a while back in an effort to keep the VVT system clean. Car has shown no issues at 110K miles now. My 2012 VW CC came out of the factory with full synthetic - and a statement that Castrol Edge (5W-40) meets all VAG (VW/Audi Group) specs. It goes for $8 a quart at Walmart so that's probably why the dealer is quoting a higher price for the oil change (note that the 5 quart jug goes for $25 and VAG's juice goes for $60 so go figure on the mark up. My only question is on the recommended change interval for low mileage usage. Traditionally the advise was spring and fall for dino oils but not sure what conventional advice is for full synthetics. On my VW I have been following the maintenance reminder vs the calendar (generally about every 8000 miles give or take) so running full synthetic isn't really that cost prohibitive..

The maintenance interval is unchanged with the new spec. Every 12 months or 7500 miles.

I just called the local Volvo dealer and talked to my contact there in service. He agreed with what I said earlier and said that it nearly word for word what they are telling customers. As far as the drain and fill parameters, they are following the recommendation of the oil manufacturer. For synthetic, they recommend a longer drain interval.

For synthetic on the 2013 and later models, the interval is 12 months or 10,000 miles.

On the 2012's that had this campaign, it is not.

They're fine with a 10 to 12k drain interval on synthetic even for a 2012 model.

Well whoever you talked to is wrong. There is no 12k interval. And the bulletin for the campaign specifically states there is no change in the interval.

I'm sure that it is fine. I do an annual oil change on my Mercedes that uses Mobil 1 and that has been just fine.

Annual is part of the interval. 12k miles is not

The OP and I had a good chat. I think that he's on the right track now.

If you told him to ignore the service interval and ignore the campaign, he is on the wrong track.

For anyone else who may read this and would like the correct information, the 2012 S60s in this campaign are switched to a different oil spec to prevent carbon buildup on the rings, causing oil consumption. They should only be using the specified oil and it should be changed every year or 7500 miles.

The OP and I had a good chat. I think that he's on the right track now.

That 2.5T engine has been in production many years. The most important part of the maintenance program is to do regular oil changes. Best wishes all.

Guess what- not every 2.5T is the same.

Telling someone to ignore a service action, ignore specified oil change intervals and oil specs has no place here.

Nobody ever told me to ignore this service bulletin .