2008 S80 3.2L automatic. 216,000 miles.

I Replaced the oil pan in 2022 and my repair shop only had synthetic after I had been using conventional since purchasing the car new.
In 2023 The small oil leak that had plugged itself on the vacuum pump on top of engine returned and was so bad I had to replace that.
I'm due for an oil change, researching conventional versus synthetic, and swapping back to conventional. Lots of different opinions on that I'm finding online.

What has been your experience?
Thanks.

 

Volvo used synthetic in that engine beginning in about 2011. You should use that also.

 

A good resource for reading up on oil is the bobistheoilguy blog. The one common complaint on using synthetic for older engines is that its "too slippery" and can leak past seals. The easy solution to this issue is to use a "high mileage" synthetic which has seal softeners to help older engines. The real benefit to synthetic oil is that its made from natural gas vs from crude oil so it contains less sulfur - which can turn into sulfuric acid as the oil breaks down, plus dino oils have other impurities which will break down the oil over time. This is why cars designed for synth will go 7500-10000 miles between oil changes where older cars with dino oil would recommend oil every 3000 to 5000 miles.

 

My synthetic oil changes haven't gone even 5,000 mi before the oil has become discolored so changed them much earlier than expected. Disappointing and worrisome.

 

keep in mind in older engines you will get some blow by that can discolor the oil but that doesn't mean the oil isn't up to doing the job. I bet if you looked at your oil after a few hundred miles its probably already turned a darker color. If you are really concerned, there are shops that will do a chemical analysis of your oil to tell you what is creating the color change - ie HCs from the blow-by, coolant, moisture, oil break down etc. You also have the option of simply changing the oil at 5000 miles but that may not be adding any benefit, just more cost.

 

Most oil companies these days don't even offer conventional. Valvoline, for example, only offers a synthetic blend or full synthetic. No conventional option to be had.

 

I just had Volvoline 5w 30 conventional oil used in an oil change in USA.

 

I don’t see how, as Valvoline doesn’t list conventional on their website, and their cheapest ‘daily protection’ is a synthetic blend.

Unless you’re using oil that’s been stored for ~18 months as that’s when they finished the phase out of conventional oil.

 

Good point. I've been buying my oil at Walmart for 20+ years and sure enough, a quick check of their website shows they only market full synthetic or synthetic blend. My only suggestion is to use a high mileage version to keep the seals in good shape. Any Volvo with VVT really should be running full synthentic unless you like to replace gears and solenoids when they get a varnish build up.

 

A Google search and review of sites show many recent references to it in current use. I will be getting another oil change in a few months so I'll see how this one goes. Thank for your concern.