[Bmo Pete]

Of course you want people to come in and change their oil frequently.....you make money and up sell services to them. You have a very biased view, unintentional or not, to some degree.

I don't think you can build much of an opinion about the longevity of 10,000 mile oil change intervals on a Volvo....we haven't had any volume of cars new enough reach high-mileages yet. I find it so odd this is the opinion about cars, when other vehicles like a tractor, or semi, or a bulldozer have doubled or tripled their oil change intervals, and there is no controversy in the ag or construction or trucking industry on if long oil change intervals are bad....no one in those industries claims infrequent oil changes leads to more leaks and problems and general disrepair of those piece of equipment. So why would cars be do different from these machines?

He has a "very biased view".... Dude you're killing me! You are friggin Capt. Volvo...LOL.

 

[VolvoFaRmeR]

You go Farmer, keep wearing that 8 years like a badge of honor

Don't take this the wrong way....but that 8 years has allowed me insight far beyond the average consumer....and probably that includes you. I've service thousands of cars, and now I service agriculture equipment on the farm as well. I've been to Sweden, flown all over the US for training, worked with numerous "lemon law suit" cases.....experience most don't get. Seems rather rude to try to to discredit someone with a lot of Volvo service experience while you are making claims that are technically misguided. Reminds me of some service customers I've had.... If you want to claim your ownership experience makes you more knowledgeable than a long-time service advisor then I'm sure I'll have no way to convince you anything I have to say is of value.....geez.

The fact that you think you see "smoke" behind your car leads me to believe you are not very technically inclined to understand what's happening. And 1/8 of an inch lower on the dip stick constitutes oil consumption? I don't think anyone can say that they could accurately account for 1/8" of a change on a dipstick...temperature alone could cause a 1/8" difference in the reading on a stick and have the exact same amount of oil in the car with no consumption. It's a rather silly thing to claim in my opinion....and I can tell you that 1/8" didn't go out your exhaust pipe, and it didn't create that tail pipe exhaust soot either.

 

[Mrsideways]

Of course you want people to come in and change their oil frequently.....you make money and up sell services to them. You have a very biased view, unintentional or not, to some degree.

I don't think you can build much of an opinion about the longevity of 10,000 mile oil change intervals on a Volvo....we haven't had any volume of cars new enough reach high-mileages yet. I find it so odd this is the opinion about cars, when other vehicles like a tractor, or semi, or a bulldozer have doubled or tripled their oil change intervals, and there is no controversy in the ag or construction or trucking industry on if long oil change intervals are bad....no one in those industries claims infrequent oil changes leads to more leaks and problems and general disrepair of those piece of equipment. So why would cars be do different from these machines?

Call it a bias opinion, but it's rooted in what I see. As far as your other machines, correct I never change the oil in my lawn mower. My Air Compressor just got it's first oil change in 20 years(despite manufacture recommending once a year, OOps). But neither of those items see anywhere near the stress an automobile engine see's these days. Modern cars that are pushing for gas mileage will run 230+ water temps regularly. I haven't logged a Volvo's oil temps but in BMW's I've owned in the past I've seen oil temps north of 275 regularly around town. That's mighty hot. You quote Semi's. Diesels are a different animal. They run lower RPM and generally lower Oil temps. I've got an XC90 sitting on the lot right now with 370,000 miles, so I've seen some high mileage cars out there.

 

[Wayne T5]

Yes, this is what I am seeing. I had the same thing you describe with the 2.0t in my old Avant.

I see this on most cars that are accelerating heavily - unburned fuel, carbon deposits, or something else but most likely not oil unless it is blue smoke.

 

[VolvoFaRmeR]

You quote Semi's. Diesels are a different animal. They run lower RPM and generally lower Oil temps. I've got an XC90 sitting on the lot right now with 370,000 miles, so I've seen some high mileage cars out there.

I used diesels not to compare them to gasoline but to compare that ALL internal combustion engines have had oil change intervals extended greatly, double or triple just a decade ago. As far as lower oil temps for a diesel, let me tell you pulling 80,000+ lbs through the mountains or using a tractor for heavy tillage of the ground exerts a continuous work load our cars do not. These long intervals for semis are not reducing reliability or causing wear issues, this is widely accepted by the diesel industry. As far as your XC90 with high mileage, that's not a car that has been on a 10,000 mile interval....we still have to way to have an opinion that it will cause problems, because we don't have cars with the mileage to make any assumptions. You are only guessing at this point.

That said, I'm sure you have a lot of insight being a mechanic, and I'm sure you have seen more than me in this area as of late. Your input is greatly appreciated, and I hope you realize my comment about being biased was said in jest. Of course, you have to admit it's a little true! LOL And you have to admit that sometimes "old school ides" about maintenance die hard, new ideas sometimes are slow to gain acceptance....you may or may not be of this persuasion, but you have to admit at one time going from 3000 to 5000 intervals was considered ludicrous and now is widely accepted as completely fine.

 

[[email protected]]

1000 miles since I changed my oil and the oil level is still full. Using Mobil 1 5/30.

 

[JC30]

Do Volvo dealers use the same oil for every R-design? I'm sure viscosity changes but does Volvo use any full synthetic oil for any of their vehicles? I remember that my C30 used a blend, unsure what I got from the dealer upon buying my S60 T5.

 

[klr142]

All Volvos from 2013 and newer are supposed to be on A5/B5 and SN rated full synthetic from the get go.

All 2012 S60 T5s are supposed to be on that same oil as well now, and with the oil consumption issues we sometimes see on 2011 and 2012 6 cyl. engines, we also recommend it for them.(10/18 update)

 

[Warpedcow]

All Volvos from 2013 and newer are supposed to be on full synthetic from the get go... Supposed to be... I have no idea what the dealers are actually doing though.

Correct.

One local dealer here switched from using Castrol Syntec Blend to Mobil1 full synthetic in 2011 or 2012. To clarify, they made the switch for ALL CARS not just the 2013+ model years... not sure what the other dealer has done, I haven't been there lately.

 

[krn]

My dealer offered Mobil 1 in bottles if you asked for synthetic (my 7500 oil
change interval on my 2011 uses conventional). And that is what I did for my 2011. I paid
the extra cost over the free conventional oil (included with Safe and Secure program).

But in 2013 when Volvo started using synthetic at 10K intervals they switched to offering
me Penzoil (or Castrol, I forget, whatever brand it is that Volvo recommends).
They were nice enough to inform me of the change and make sure I was OK with
it (I was). I suspect starting in 2013 they were buying the oil in bulk now since a
larger number of cars would be using synthetic.

Older cars with 7500 intervals will still get conventional oil included under Safe and Secure
unless you pay the difference for synthetic.

So they don't all get the same oil.

 

[VolvoFaRmeR]

So they don't all get the same oil.

I think the key is here ALL 2013+ Volvos do get the same oil....100% synthetic

 

[LJZ]

I run a shop. I consistently see the cars that get 3k oil changes have less issues and spend less money over the life of the car. Cars that run 200k or more. The customers changing it at 5k and 7k have oil leaks more regulalry. The vent system gets clogged quicker. The valve seals leak more commonly. And the cars generally fall into disrepair from lack of a mechanic seeing them regularly to catch other issues early. Science and oil analysis can say what it wants but ive got many years of watching this happen. Its cheap, change it.

FWIW I agree with Mrsideways. I've run numerous Acuras to well in excess of 100,000 miles with oil changes religiously between 3 and 3750 miles (lifetime oil change at dealer thrown in with purchase usually so this is pretty painless) and have yet to have any of these cars give me any engine trouble whatsoever. Each of these vehicles runs pretty much the same as the day I bought them new and there is no perceptible use of oil between changes. IMHO the short oil change intervals I adhere to are cheap insurance and the tech that looks after my Acuras (including a /94 NSX) told me that when he did the 105,000 mile timing belt/water pump/valve adjustment, etc. job on my TL the inside of the valve covers were clean as a whistle as opposed to many cars he sees that change oil at 7500 mile intervals which he indicated are usually have valve covers that are full of gunk. I don't have the technical expertise of some of the folks on this board/thread but anecdotally I have had good experience with the oil change intervals I have been using for past 30 years so I will stay the course. I use the same 3500-4000 mile intervals on wife's /13 S80T6. I totally agree with Mr. Sideways -- I appreciate having the car in the hands of a good tech every 3-4000 miles and being told if anything appears to be in need of attention. I am not a mechanic or a service advisor but I've been around long enough to know if I'm getting the upsell treatment or if something is truly in need of attention (and I also have good long-term relationships with the my Acura and Volvo dealers so I don't need to worry that they're trying to put one over on me). Just my two cents -- not saying anyone is definitively right or wrong.

Best,
Jeff

 

[Okidiver]

For every oil change on my 2008 T5, I've bought a jug of Castrol full synthetic at Walmart + another quart and dealer has used that for the change, no worries...YMMV...

 

[Warpedcow]

My dealer offered Mobil 1 in bottles if you asked for synthetic (my 7500 oil
change interval on my 2011 uses conventional). And that is what I did for my 2011. I paid
the extra cost over the free conventional oil (included with Safe and Secure program).

But in 2013 when Volvo started using synthetic at 10K intervals they switched to offering
me Penzoil (or Castrol, I forget, whatever brand it is that Volvo recommends).
They were nice enough to inform me of the change and make sure I was OK with
it (I was). I suspect starting in 2013 they were buying the oil in bulk now since a
larger number of cars would be using synthetic.

Older cars with 7500 intervals will still get conventional oil included under Safe and Secure
unless you pay the difference for synthetic.

So they don't all get the same oil.

Depends on the dealer.
Borton Volvo here started using synthetic in EVERYTHING when the switch happened.
Our 2011 T6 had the 60K S&S service coverage. Our free services every 7.5k miles did include a full synthetic oil change ever since we bought it in late 2012 with just under 40k miles, because that dealer was only doing Mobil1.

 

[Warpedcow]

FWIW I agree with Mrsideways. I've run numerous Acuras to well in excess of 100,000 miles with oil changes religiously between 3 and 3750 miles (lifetime oil change at dealer thrown in with purchase usually so this is pretty painless) and have yet to have any of these cars give me any engine trouble whatsoever. Each of these vehicles runs pretty much the same as the day I bought them new and there is no perceptible use of oil between changes. IMHO the short oil change intervals I adhere to are cheap insurance and the tech that looks after my Acuras (including a /94 NSX) told me that when he did the 105,000 mile timing belt/water pump/valve adjustment, etc. job on my TL the inside of the valve covers were clean as a whistle as opposed to many cars he sees that change oil at 7500 mile intervals which he indicated are usually have valve covers that are full of gunk. I don't have the technical expertise of some of the folks on this board/thread but anecdotally I have had good experience with the oil change intervals I have been using for past 30 years so I will stay the course. I use the same 3500-4000 mile intervals on wife's /13 S80T6. I totally agree with Mr. Sideways -- I appreciate having the car in the hands of a good tech every 3-4000 miles and being told if anything appears to be in need of attention. I am not a mechanic or a service advisor but I've been around long enough to know if I'm getting the upsell treatment or if something is truly in need of attention (and I also have good long-term relationships with the my Acura and Volvo dealers so I don't need to worry that they're trying to put one over on me). Just my two cents -- not saying anyone is definitively right or wrong.

I trust Blackstone labs oil analysis more than anecdotes about sludge (often unrelated to actual oil condition) or anything else that could very well not be correlated.

So far, I have seen no actual oil analysis indicating a problem with 7.5k oil changes on the P3 Volvo engines. There are plenty of the early 6 cylinders well beyond 100k miles now, V8s as well (though that isn't relevant to this specific forum). Heck, I even saw an S80 3.2 I6 with 320K+ miles on it. At that age/mileage if it needed a new engine due to "not enough oil changes" it would be in a junkyard rather than for sale.

 

[JC30]

I trust Blackstone labs oil analysis more than anecdotes about sludge (often unrelated to actual oil condition) or anything else that could very well not be correlated.

So far, I have seen no actual oil analysis indicating a problem with 7.5k oil changes on the P3 Volvo engines. There are plenty of the early 6 cylinders well beyond 100k miles now, V8s as well (though that isn't relevant to this specific forum). Heck, I even saw an S80 3.2 I6 with 320K+ miles on it. At that age/mileage if it needed a new engine due to "not enough oil changes" it would be in a junkyard rather than for sale.

I feel 7.5K miles seems a good absolute stopping point to then change oil. I'm nearing that now and will probably limit the max amount of miles between changes to that, and use full synthetic.

 

[s6013t5]

I feel 7.5K miles seems a good absolute stopping point to then change oil. I'm nearing that now and will probably limit the max amount of miles between changes to that, and use full synthetic.

I used to think just like you. Blackstone changed my mind. See my thread below. 10,000 mile intervals are fine because the oil shows plenty of life left and the metals show the engine isnt harmed

http://forums.swedespeed.com/showth...sis-Results&highlight=Blackstone+oil+analysis

 

[[email protected]]

The road trip to the Detroit Auto Show added another 1100 miles, so as I approach 2500 miles since the oil change, the dip stick shows no oil usage.

 

[motoretro]

Chris,
Just wondering, what year Volvo and model do you have and which engine is it equipped with?
Motoretro

The road trip to the Detroit Auto Show added another 1100 miles, so as I approach 2500 miles since the oil change, the dip stick shows no oil usage.

 

[JC30]

I used to think just like you. Blackstone changed my mind. See my thread below. 10,000 mile intervals are fine because the oil shows plenty of life left and the metals show the engine isnt harmed

http://forums.swedespeed.com/showth...sis-Results&highlight=Blackstone+oil+analysis

I subbed that thread. I also wonder, after reading through it, how much of the time driving was the car driven spiritedly as in say upwards of 3K RPM? I rather enjoy revving up the T5 and it sounds especially good with the Borla exhaust, do you think this will effect the oil much or still be negligible? I guess the only way to tell is an oil analysis.