I received the actual service campaign from our local dealer. They sent me a PDF of the document in question.

The service campaign involves installing a decal under the hood and also an insert in the owner's manual. The customer pays for the engine oil change.

Directly from the service campaign:

"Volvo has identified that upgrading the oil specifications to ACEA A5/B5 full synthetic will help reduce carbon buildup in the engine, and better align the oil specification used in newer Volvos."

This service campaign covers engine code 62 which is the 2.5T.

There is not a mandatory change required to retain any types of warranty. Carbon buildup is nothing new on these engines if they did not have proper and timely oil changes. If you are staying on top of your oil changes, then you are most likely fine. Some people will prefer to stick with the oil that they have been using and doing more frequent changes, others will opt for the synthetic and have an extended oil drain interval.

What Volvo has published is true for any vehicle where the original viscosity can be replicated in a synthetic. For older cars where you need a heavier oil, a synthetic is not a good choice.

 

I know what the campaign entails. Like I said, it changes the specification of the oil to use. It is the owner's responsibility to maintain the vehicle according to those specifications (5W-30 ACEA A5/B5 full synthetic changed every year or 7500 miles).

The VIN 62 is not the same as say, VIN 59. I've done dozens of sets of rings on VIN 62 engines due to carbon buildup. Haven't had to do any on a 59. There is a reason the 62 was replaced with 61 in 2013.

I've done them as goodwill repairs for customers who maintained the vehicle correctly. I've also had customers who did not adhere to the new requirements and they were denied any goodwill assistance.

I don't know why you want to argue about it so much.

 

There is no argument. I have simply laid out certain facts. The customer chooses how they want to proceed.

I am not sure where you are that you've changed that many sets. Our local dealer has done five or six and a few engines.

I have no issue with using the synthetic oil. However, if a customer is reluctant to use synthetic and keeps their oil changed, I could live with that too.

On vehicles originally designed for synthetic oil, we use Mobil 1. That goes for Mercedes and Corvettes which we sell, too. If it originally was designed and designated for a synthetic, then that's what we use.

 

Our dealer as a whole has probably done 30 sets of rings, if not more. I've done most of them because most guys don't want to do it.

Yes, of course the customer can ignore the oil requirements. I would not advise of it. And if you are advising of it, you shouldn't be. It has nothing to do with Mercedes or a Corvette.

 

Been lurking here for a while and decided that I should join in...I have a 2012 model and got the same letter. Mine has 120k miles and runs great. I have been using standard oil since day one. Oil is changed at 5,000 miles with a new filter....I am not changing and I totally understand what tony1963 is saying.

 

Wow, what a coincidence that someone decides to join and make this their first post. Another crazy coincidence is they happen to have the same IP address as tony1963.

 

I had appointment @ the dealer today, I'm now using full synthetic.

 

to me there's no real downside on going full synthetic, particularly with newer models with younger seals. Most would cite cost but the change interval mileage increases and you get less varnishing (good for avoiding VVT system issus) and better cold weather/start coverage. Besides, regular oil changes are the easiest way to provide proper vehicle maintenance. Same goes for other fluids - ie brakes, transmission, coolant. By example, I recently did a power steering fluid refresh on my wife's Highlander - used a turkey baster to pull fluid from the reservoir, refilled, started the car and turned side to site about 10x, then repeated about 5 times until the fluid was noticeably cleaner. Took about 30 miles and cost me less than $10 (Dex III ATF). My point is, why not be proactive and use the best resources? A lot cheaper than getting the VVT serviced etc.