Castrol 0W40

[mtd240]

I now am more confused than when this topic started!

Haha, well, I guess it is probably easier for everyone to just keep on using the oil they like.

Here is the summary of this whole thread: Castrol 0W40 "European Formula" - thinner on start and thicker on run than 5W30.

[JRL]

We usually don't get all THAT cold (under 20 degrees farenheit is rare) and not all that hot, low 90s or thereabouts, so I guess I'll just stick with my M1 5w 30

[sjonnie]

I now am more confused than when this topic started!

Which is why there is one simple answer, use 0W30 all year round unless your summer temps are >90F, in which case switch to 0W40 for the summer.

[912R]

I made the switch over to Castrol 0W40 with my last oil change a couple of weeks ago (going from Castrol 5W30) and have not seen any oil consumption yet. Our car (04 XC70) has 270k km on it, and oil consumption has been noticeable (I don't have the forethought to monitor usage /1000 km though as it's the wife's car, so it gets checked whenever I remember to!). I'm sure I'm getting due for a PCV rebuild come spring, so that may explain some of the oil consumption. But I wanted to pass on my thanks to those in this thread that pointed to the 0W40.

Those of you on the forum for a while may recall that I am an oil geek...evidenced by this thread, for example: http://www.volvoxc.com/forums/showth...light=oil+rant

Now, for the past few years, I've been running 5W30 Pennzoil synthetic, and Mobil 5W30 synthetic in the XC. All SM oil bought on sale when SN came out. My oil consumption on the XC (which now has 211,000 miles on it) has been a consistent 1QT every 1500-2000 miles. In other words, I am adding 3 to 4 qts between each 7500 mile oil change.

Well, the stash of cheap oil on my shelf has dwindled and about 2,000 miles ago, I used Castrol 0W40 in the XC (bought on sale, but available for a reasonable price here: https://www.amazon.com/Castrol-03101.../dp/B00JGQLZSU ). I checked the oil level before our trip to DC last weekend and after we returned. 2,200 miles after the oil change with the Castrol 0W40 - the oil level has move about 3/16" down the dipstick. About 1/4 of the way from full to minimum.

In other words, the oil consumption on the XC has dropped from 1 QT/2000 to about 1QT/8000!

Pretty dramatic difference. The T5 for the record, on its steady history of Mobil 1 0W40 uses about 1QT/8000. I rarely add oil before I change it, and then only to keep it near the top on a long road trip.

Needless to say, I am reconsidering the future oil changes on the XC and the next one won't be a 5W30 synthetic, it will be that Castrol 0W40 Synthetic.

[sanfelice]

That is the oil I use in my 2000 V70R and just last year switched to that in the 04 XC, big difference in engine feel and starting in cold.

However, I still lose more than I should, AND that is after replacing my PCV two years ago. But, I did not clean out the pipe from the oil pan up to the front of the block (but I did clear out from the front side of block, just not all the way down). So, I am back to having to do that after I get some of the more serious problems sorted with the car.

[Willy]

We usually don't get all THAT cold (under 20 degrees farenheit is rare) and not all that hot, low 90s or thereabouts, so I guess I'll just stick with my M1 5w 30

Seen the conditions that you mention, and if there is no higher than average oil consumption, I think that is a wise decision :-)
Willy

[JRL]

Well, except for today (- wind chills)!
This V70 so far has 0 oil consumption at 106K miles