Oil Change Interval? 3,000 or 7,500?

[JPKelly]

As a somewhat old timer who changed my oil every 3/3000, I found it difficult to resist my urge and hold off until the recommended 7500 mark for our 04 XC70. While I do check the level and clarity on a regular basis, I did hold off for the first oil changed based on the mfr's recommendation.

I just had the vehicle in for the included 7500 maint. I did upgrade to Mobil1, as I run in all my other vehicles.

The car came back with a reminder sticker from the dealer based on my old 3/3000 standard.

Is 7500 still the recommended interval or not? Should I do my own oil change between the 15000 maint or just fight the urge and wait for the next 7500 miles?

[jkochis]

7500 miles or 12 months... I use Amsoil in my XC70. Dealers trying to make more money on oil changes and the 04's include oil changes until 30k which is (4) of them so they are trying to make money in between. [7500, 15000, 22500, 30000]

I just got an Acura and the owners manual states 10k oil change intervals and dealer sending me 5k oil change reminders, not showing up for another 5k.

[John@CdnRockies]

JP, afraid you will not find a consistent answer to this one! My Canadian dealer recommended a change at 2,000 km, followed by 8,000 km, then 16,000 at which point we would revert to a 15,000 km interval. If you search on "oil change intervals" I expect you will find several threads discussing various alernatives.

I am going with the dealer recommendations (8,500 km thus far) in the hopes of this car lasting many years. As you noted, however, this is more stringent than the owners manual recommendations.

John

[Tom H]

This topic is discussed in every forum for every vehicle made. It is hard for us old timers to comprehend changing oil at any interval over 3000 miles. I used to change oil on my new engines at the first 500 miles to get the break-in particles out of the system and then at 3000. I drive a lot of short trips (under 5 miles) on a daily basis so I stick to the 3/3000 routine. The cost of oil is cheap and for me is a very small price to pay for the piece of mind.

[hd70]

Just as an info. There was once a posting about the long first interval. It was said that these particels would be necessary to break-in the motor. If the oil is changed before the recommended interval the break-in period would be extended. I'm not an expert, just try to recall what I read. Happy discussion.

[dlr97]

This topic is discussed in every forum for every vehicle made.
Ah yes, the never-ending debate on all forums. Just for info: Porsche recommends 15K mile oil changes or 2 years maximum at lower mileage, 1 year recommended (which I do). However those motors come with Mobil One, have 9+ liter capacity, and require synthetic. BMW and MINI oil service light is based on many factors other than mileage (number of cold starts, hours hot running, etc.) and require synthetic. That usually works out to 8K-14K miles for most drivers. All dealers for all of these makes want to do more frequent oil changes IF you will pay for it.

I think I will change to synthetic on our new XC70 around 2500-3000 miles, and then use the 7500 mile interval with my own synthetic for the US Volvo included 'free' oil changes.

Cheers,
Dave

[leadingedge]

Like hd70, I'm offering hearsay advice. My other car is an Audi, and at the Audi forum I frequent, there have been many reports from those supposedly "in the know" that the factory fill oil should be left in for the recommended period in order to help with the break-in process. (For my A4, that was 5,000 miles.) After that, you can feel free to shorten the intervals if you want.

The truth may never be known. You can never get a straight answer on this subject.

[Quietlymknnoise]

'04 Owners do not forget you have free maintance service for 30,000 miles.

[AutoMonkey]

Every 7500 miles whether it needs it or not... :)

AM

[wiz]

What AutoMonkey said. John, you've done the right thing - wait until 7.5K then put in a quality synthetic. Next oil change - 15K miles.

[mikeklett]

where do you do-it-yourselfers get oil filters and an oil filter wrench. i live in the sticks in Idaho and need a mailorder outfit. thanks in advance

[BillAileo]

They are probably not the cheapest, but IPD (http://www.ipdusa.com) is certainly reliable and knowledgeable and they have both the filters and an inexpensive tool (WST261 now on sale for $6.25).

Bill

[hurbane]

Here is a situation likely to heat the debate on oil changes. I just purchased a used 2000 Volco XC70 with 87,000 miles, which had oil changes every 4,000 to 5,000 miles with conventianal Quaker State 10-30 oil. The engine is chock full of crystalline carbon deposits, has no oil pressure and it needs a new engine! Bummer for me, eh; I have checked with many mechanics if the excessive sludging could have been caused by anything other than not enough oil changes and they all say NO. Any insight on conventional Quaker State would be helpful.

Cheers, Hurbane :eek:

[BillAileo]

Although the wisdom of many is to change conventional oil at 3,000 mile intervals, 4-5,000 miles does not seem terrible. However, the presence of the deposits may suggest oil breakdown from excessively high temperatures, something that would have been far less likely with a synthetic oil. Was the car driven hard (often translates into was it driven by a young male)?

Bill

[Artz]

Thanks for this thread. We just picked up our new 04 XC70 (Black/graphite) yesterday, and I was shocked tp read in the owners manual that the desired interval is 7500 miles. I'm on old 3000 mile guy also, Guess I'll follow the directions and have the dealer do it at at 7500, but switc to synthetic. (that will be a change for me too - I've never used synthetic).

I do have a question: what reaction have you had when you've brought the car into 'oil change shops'? I would guess that the procedure of reusing the filter housing and just changing the element, along with manually replacing the o-ring must have thrown some of the folks who do this all day long? Related question - do you rely on the shops to have the parts in stock, or do you supply the filter parts yourself?

[2004XCer]

Just bought a new XC70. Any idea what type of oil the factory puts in initially? I'll be changing initial oil at 1500 then 7500 miles. Really can't see how the oil metal helps to "break-in" the engine by honing the cylinders. Can see that the metal in the oil will break down engine bearings.

Thanks,
Mark

[John@CdnRockies]

Plain dino (10W20) oil is what the Canadian vehicles are equipped with. The synthetic stuff is only put in after 17,000 km (10,000 miles).

Btw, our dealer recommends changing the dino out at 2,000 km (1,600 miles) and then again at 10,000 km (6,000 miles) which runs counter to what the owners manual indicates.

Only at the 17,000 mark do they go with synthetic which is thereafter changed as per the manual.

John

[Truckman]

I hate to bump an old post, but I felt my $.02 was worth it here. A friend of the family and former neighbor, "Mr. F", who I've known for over 20 years (geesh that made me feel old, calculating that :( ) is a Volvo service manager, having worked his way up from mechanic. My salesman (from a different dealership) told me to bring the car back @ 1000 miles for an oil change (at the dealers expense) to clear out particles from breaking the motor in. I asked "Mr. F" about this, because I wanted to bring my '04 XC70 to him for service, knowing I wouldn't get the typical dealer/service B.S. He said that his dealership didn't do the 1000 mile oil change, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with it.

Here's the important part of what he told me: the 7500, 15000, 22500, and 30000 maintenance schedule is provided and covered by Volvo. Change the oil at least once inbetween the scheduled changes. They have been battling a sludge issue for some time now, and because of that they now use a Castrol synthetic blend. I have also talked with mechanics at a shop where I work (our tow truck company rents office space from this shop, so we work in the same shop but not together, if that makes sense..) and after I told them what "Mr. F" told me, they recommended using a full synthetic like Mobil 1 since synthetic won't sludge. Personally, I've always been a 2500 mile person (with standard non-synthetic oil) which fits in nicely with the 7500 mile plan (two changes inbetween Volvo's changes). The way I figure it, you can't change oil too soon, but it's easy to change it too late.

Sorry for the long post, now back to our regularly scheduled programming.. :D

[gary]

Here's the important part of what he told me: the 7500, 15000, 22500, and 30000 maintenance schedule is provided and covered by Volvo. Change the oil at least once inbetween the scheduled changes. They have been battling a sludge issue for some time now, and they use a Castrol synthetic blend. :D

Truckman,

Good info - thanks. If I understand this right, you're saying that Volvo has a sludge problem with Castrol Synthetic blend? That's what I've been using in the '03, but perhaps Mobil1 is a better choice. On the other hand, I certainly haven't experienced any oil-related problems in almost 22K miles. BTW, great city you live in, really enjoy the Inner Harbor and Federal Hill and Fells Point areas. My wife is from western Maryland (Frostburg) and we use to live in Elkridge just south of Bal'mer on US 1. I suspect I'll be back in that neck of the woods in about 3 years (DoD employee).

[Truckman]

Truckman,

Good info - thanks. If I understand this right, you're saying that Volvo has a sludge problem with Castrol Synthetic blend?Yeah, I re-read it and it came out wrong..here's the corrected sentence: "They have been battling a sludge issue for some time now, and because of that they now use a Castrol synthetic blend."
BTW, great city you live inWhat, are you nuts? LOL
really enjoy the Inner Harbor and Federal Hill and Fells Point areas. My wife is from western Maryland (Frostburg) and we use to live in Elkridge just south of Bal'mer on US 1. I suspect I'll be back in that neck of the woods in about 3 years (DoD employee).Those are the few nice areas in the city...I work in one of the worst neighborhoods (I should say, "hoods"), so my opinion of the city isn't very nice..that and I hate the mayor..
:eek: did I just say that out loud? :rolleyes: Elkridge is nice, I like it down there and the Columbia/Ellicott City areas...