I've used and sworn by Mobil 1 for the past 15+ years. Used it in my Ford Probe in college which had an engine notorious for ticking HLA's - M1 was the only oil that would stop the ticking. I used it in my WRX and Legact GT before buying my S60.
Since buying both my XC90 and S60 I've largely stuck to the S&S intervals and understand that Volvo uses/recommends Castrol.
I've never been a fan of Castrol largely b/c of what has been reported about the whole Group III / Group IV - "Synthetic is just a marketing term".
But since Volvo recommends Castrol and I didn't have a qt laying around in case I need to top off my XC90 I bought a qt of Edge (Syntec).
I opened it up, and the first thing I noticed is a strong petroleum small. This contrasts with a sterile, almost sweet smell that I remember fresh M1 having. I assumed this is what a petroleum-based Group III smalls like vs a PAO based Group IV.
Does anyone know WHY Volvo recommends Castrol? Is it pure marketing or is there a technical reason? (Lots of OEMs recommend M1 for technical reasons and are known to collaborate in R&D with XOM - but I've not heard of this with Castrol).
Also, is there an analysis anywhere comparing Group III and Group IV? I would assume that advances in hydrocracking have come a long way and would be very interested in seeing if Group IVs still have a real world advantage at this point (e.g. Pour Point)...
Since buying both my XC90 and S60 I've largely stuck to the S&S intervals and understand that Volvo uses/recommends Castrol.
I've never been a fan of Castrol largely b/c of what has been reported about the whole Group III / Group IV - "Synthetic is just a marketing term".
But since Volvo recommends Castrol and I didn't have a qt laying around in case I need to top off my XC90 I bought a qt of Edge (Syntec).
I opened it up, and the first thing I noticed is a strong petroleum small. This contrasts with a sterile, almost sweet smell that I remember fresh M1 having. I assumed this is what a petroleum-based Group III smalls like vs a PAO based Group IV.
Does anyone know WHY Volvo recommends Castrol? Is it pure marketing or is there a technical reason? (Lots of OEMs recommend M1 for technical reasons and are known to collaborate in R&D with XOM - but I've not heard of this with Castrol).
Also, is there an analysis anywhere comparing Group III and Group IV? I would assume that advances in hydrocracking have come a long way and would be very interested in seeing if Group IVs still have a real world advantage at this point (e.g. Pour Point)...
