Brake In Period

[MagicDragon]

In my 1993 Volvo 850 GLT Owners Manual, it states "break-in driving is necessary for the first 1,200 miles (2,000 km)." I don't see this statement in my 2002 V70 XC Owners Manual. Or is there? I have over 2,000 miles now so either way it's done. Also, my dealer told me I don't have to have the oil/filter change until 7,500 miles even if it's brand new. Is this true? To be on the safe side I requested an oil/filter change anyway.

[lsokol]

I did not have my oil changed till around 7000miles.

[Art]

Hey Guys,

My dealer had me bring the car in at 2000km for a free safety inspection. This included an oil, lube and filter change. I thought this was a standard procedure for all new volvos.  http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif

On another note, did anyone out there receive free scheduled maintenance during the warranty period for their XC?  i.e. oil, lube, filter change

[cbob]

I got a free 2 y /42k km maintenance program from the dealer.
They said the first oil change and check was not due for 12k km, but I intend to bug them sooner than that, just to be sure I've got clean oil during break-in.  http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[1Lieutenant]

With some newer cars, (VW, Audi, Acura to name a few), the owner's manual states that the oil must NOT be changed before 5-7.5K miles.  Failure to leave the initial oil in for the proper amount of time will result in inadequate break-in and increased oil consumption.

Steve

[MagicDragon]

Really?  How about in case of Volvos?

[coastal]

I recall our car had an oil change at 2000km as well.

We got ours on a special promotion at the time, 3 year/60,000km free scheduled maintenance.

[1Lieutenant]

I will be changing my oil for the first time on my 2002 XC at 7.5K.  I don't want to run the risk of high oil consumption.  I may be paranoid, but I changed the oil the first time on my 1999 XC at 2K and the car used 1 Qt/1K thereafter.

Steve

[trzesnk]

My manual (Volvo Car Corporation) says - first check and first oil change at 20'000km. Volvo Poland says: "We recommend thou, that you will show-up for check after 10'000km". I tend to believe Volvo Cars Corporation. I have read (and posted some weeks ago) an article about changing the oil to fully synthetic one. You should not do it to early (whatever that means) because the engine will not break-in on synthetic oil. It is just to good lubricant. I was told (at Volvo Poland) that all engines were broke-in in the factory thou. I think I will wait untill 20'000km... At least this is what I think now...

[Kny]

Hello all,

My dealer told me that the first oil change was at 12 000Km as stated in the book.
I mentionned that i would like to change the oil every 6000km or so, but he argued that for the breaking in period, a special oil was used and that the 12 000km was the appropriate time to change to regular oil.
I would believe they use that high a number to insure that regardless of the driver, the car would be "broken-in" after that period.
(Side note- the dealer told me that an old lady's car, after 50 000km had oil consumption problem and still very bad gas consumption as well. Volvo technicians came from abroad and eventually figured out that the car was not broken-in yet! http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

So there you go...



Happy and safe riding
Kny

[cbob]

Since my last post, I received a letter from Volvo stating that my "break-in oil change and complete vehicle check" was due at 1,500 km (not 12,000) or within one month, and it was free. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
I'd already put 1,400km on in 18 days, so I toddled into my dealership to talk it over with the service mgr.
Apparently (here in CanuckLand) they put a "lubricant" that is mostly additives into the car @ the factory, and it needs to come out when it has done its job, which is to collect any gorp that is produced when you first start really using the engine. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif
They also advised me that due to our climate, driving here on the Wet Coast is considered "severe" use, and they ignore the "minimum" service intervals (12k) in the User Manual as well as the "extra service" interval (8k) in favour of oil/filter changes every 6k km. About what I was doing in my previous vehicles anyway, as this corresponds to seasonal service.
After all, it's the 4th of August, and it has been pounding rain all night and all day so far, and is still 12 deg. C. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

They gave me printouts of all the service items at each of the 7 visits that maximize the value of my free 42k km service package, so there is a certain incentive to do the oil changes at those intervals.

Michael http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[Kny]

Darn Cbob! You got a 2 year free maintenance!!!

That's amazing. When i bought the car i talked about it to the dealer and he never gave in, not even mentionned that it was a possible thing. I'm happy for you as we all are going to pay for ours and finance your free maintenance  http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

I get the feeling form reading the other posts that the oil change frequency is a variable affair depending on many things, not least of which, the dealer vision on it.

Hard to figure out... i think i'll write to Volvo canada and get their opinion. I'll keep you informed should i get news

Happy, safe and lubrificated driving  
Kny http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[cbob]

Don't feel too bad Kny, I just saw the latest Volvo ads, and they are now offering financing at less that half the rate they gave me. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif
And I've only owned it since July 12.
You win some, you lose some. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

Welcome to the group, and enjoy driving your new XC!

Michael http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Gundo]

No matter what car you drive, if its got an internal combustion engine, it needs to be broken-in and the oil should be changed after 1,000 miles.

Seems to me as though Volvo has this wrong, and they realized it.  First they said 12,000 km then 1,200 km..are you kidding me?  There is a major difference there!

I use Mobil 1 synthetic in all my cars, and still change the oil on all every 6,000 or 6 months.  Mobil 1 is twice the price per quart, but provides significant benefits during hot and cold starts - the time you have the most engine wear.

By break-in, you should drive conservatively for at least 1,000 miles, no red-lining the engine, no abrupt downshifts, NO cruise control (the key here is to vary engine rpm more than normal during break-in.

Do you have questions about why synthetics are so good?  Check out this link:  Synthetic Oil Discussion (http://www.mr2.com/TEXT/synth_oil.txt)

[Kny]

After 2 days, i got a reply from Volvo Canada giving me a phone number to call and a name to talk to... so i did, and here is what i got.

Yes they do use a special break-in oil. That oil has some detergent proprieties that help clean and polish the internal parts of the engine during break-in period.

How long to keep it? Not a definite answer. Long enough for it to do its work and for the engine to get "broken-in", but not to long either. (although should you change it at 12000km as mentionned in the book, they can`t say anything waranty wise)(but the engineer i talked to, seemed whitout saying it, to be against it, finding that too long a period)

When to change the oil? Volvo established (operation manual) that if you change your oil at least once per 12000km as stated, you should not have any problems and you shall keep your warantee no problem. Now if you prefer to change your oil every single day, it is up to you and they will approve of it as the newer the oil the better. The technician i talked to said that he suggest (his opinion) every 5000km to 6000km.

Synthetic oil - Again as mentionned in the manual, you may use synthetic oil. It is not an obligation, but a suggestion. Again the technician mentionned that good synthetic oil (Mobil1 for exemple, although he had no preference as long as the viscosity factor mentionned in the book was respected) is in fact better as it sticks more to the internal engine parts and protects better again abrasion. Of course, the synthetic oil will cost more then regular oil. Further more, even though on some synthetic oil cans, it is mentionned that you can go up to 20000km without changing your oil, i would be carefull since going more then 12000km without oil change (regardless of type) will bring you over Volvo's stardard and might generate warranty problems should an engine problem occur.

So to wrap it up, the best of the best would be something like an oil change every 6000km or so with synthetic oil.
The better of the best would be an oil change every 6000km with regular oil.
The better would be an oil change every 12000km with synthetic oil
The minimum and necessary warantee wise, would be an oil change every 12000km with normal oil
And for the first oil change... the jury is still out on that one!

And as some of you mentionned, if you are going to go with synthetic oil, you should do it as soon as possible (meaning at your first oil change, and not at the lowest km possible).


Hope that helps put things in perspective a little.

Happy, safe and oily driving
Kny

[Art]

Very insightful Kny. Sounds like synthetic is the way to go. Any idea what type of product you're dealer is using? I'm coming up on 38,000km and will probably make the switch when I bring the car in next week.

[Kny]

Hello Art,

I called my dealer and asked the same questions. Again, just to illustrate how it varies from place to place, he mentionned that they were using the Volvo 12000km rule for oil changes even for the first change arguing that it needs to be in there fro the entire break-in. I told him about the previous post, and mentionned that i would like to make my changes at 6000km to which he agreed (more money for him i guess  http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif ).

Now the oil they normally use at my dealer is a semi-synthetic oil 10w/30 all year long (i live in Montreal Canada).
During a normal oil change they replace the equivalent of approx 5.5 liters which is, if i look in the manual, the equivalent of the main oil reservoir and oil filter without oil cooler area. The normal oil cost for an oil change (not including labor, filter etc) is around 25.00$ cnd.
Should i want synthetic oil, they have some (Quaker state) and they basically charge double for the oil, around 55.00$. ($10/liter)

That`s pretty much all the info i have. Now i know i will go to various stores and compare prices and brand (mainly Quaker state and Mobil - i saw on the net that the Mobil is rated for ILSAC GF-3 (what ever it means) and the Quaker state for 2 only... does it make a difference i have no clue.. experts might convince me either way i guess.. they seem very good oil both ways). If the price is more economical i'll bring my own to the dealer, otherwise i'll let him do it.

One foot note, i saw on the net, that the quaker has Synthetic blend and Full synthetic... do not let your dealer or the store pass you one for the other.

Happy, safe and which-to-chose driving  http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
Kny