Quick oil question

[daver1100rt]

Hello- 03 XC70, 153k miles. I've owned the car since September and am now due for an oil change. I don't know what type oil the car has used since childhood- conventional? synthetic? synthetic blend? What blend should I use now and in the future? Thanks, Dave

[Tahoe_XC]

Put Mobil1 or other full synthetic in it from now on. But more importantly do a full PCV service.

[Xheart]

After much deliberation and feedback from forum members Pennzoil EURO 5W-40 is best in my driving situation. Once a year oil change.

[daver1100rt]

Yeah, pcv service is planned, but with an unheated, detached garage in Syracuse, I'm gonna have to wait till spring on it. I'll start with the full synthetic on this change

[JRL]

I wouldn't right now.
Use the synthetic blend until you do the breather (PCV)

[daver1100rt]

Oh, ok, I'll just do the synth blend this time. Full synth after the PCV.

I did the PCV job on my old '95 850 about 6 or 7 years ago, kinda a pain and took me a while, but I did it. I'm guessing the job is similar on this XC.

[Tahoe_XC]

Choice of oil is a much debated topic and one that can be technically debated forever. Semi or full you are moving in the right direction.

As for the PCV complexity, it is not the easiest job, but not the hardest either. I have 3 XC's and have now done it 4 times. It takes about the same amount of time ever time I have done it. My learning from the 4x I have done it are: 1) make sure you use all new parts 2) make sure the new parts include the new designed check valve banjo bolt on the intake 3) when doing the timing belt replacing the cam seals is advisable too.

[Astro14]

Mobil 1 0W40. And I have multiple used oil analyses to prove it.

Read more here: http://www.volvoxc.com/forums/showth...Oil-Rant/page5

[daver1100rt]

I've read that I can wash out that big breather collection box with gasoline or other solvent, but I know the hoses get old and brittle so I'll replace all of those.

As for the timing belt, she has 153K on her currently and the sticker under the hood says the last one was put on at 105k. so it's in my future, but I've got a couple of years to go.

Snow is falling........ Dave

[sjonnie]

You want a 0W30 oil for cold starts in the NY winter. Used Oil Analysis shows about 3x more wear from cold starts in winter months even when using a 0W30 oil, that's only going to be worse with a 5W30. I would not use a blend, it won't survive the winter and you'll end up with a thinned out oil by spring causing even more engine wear.