Good day all, need an oil change, shop quoted me $90. How could a simple oil change be so much. I ordered 3 filters, new oil fill cap/gasket, poly engine stabilizer for $101.00. Do the math!


1999 V70 T5 124k miles, a dream to drive
1993 240 sedan classic #915

You will need to buy 6 quarts of synthetic oil. Around here that is close to $7 a quart or $42. A Mann oil filter costs me $4+ each for a case of 10. A crush washer is around $1. I bring the old oil back to the autoparts store, driving there is a gallon of gasoline at $3.75. So MY cost is around $50, plus a beer for my labor!

If you go to a dealer and give him $90, he still has to pay someone to do the labor, pay for the building, etc.

I just got an oil change at the MB dealer, I have a 2008 diesel. $136.47. That's for 9 quarts of oil that I can only buy at the dealer.

Klaus

Hello, It looks like you'll be doing your own oil changes. These engines benefit from synthetic oils; they help keep the breather system (PCV) clean. Did you get replacement aluminum washers (drain plug gaskets) too? Give your transmission's fluid a look while you're at it. The transmission's drain plug takes the same washer. DO NOT neglect your transmission fluid. The Volvo claim that the transmission fluid is "lifetime" is simply wrong. The 4 speed in the 1999 uses common Dex/Merc fluid. Does your 1999 use the metal spin on oil filter or the replaceable element type? At 124K you should see if the fuel filter has been changed. Also, don't overlook brake and P/S fluid flushes. Keep your baby young. Do get back to us after you install the poly bushing. Many people find the resulting shaking intolerable. Kira

Wow - and I have 4 cars that are quite a bit older than my Volvo, that would be a lot of fluid for me to change.

Time to buy a gallon! It is hydraulic fluid and will get contaminated with water, like brake fluid.

Klaus

Chudar, before paying that kind of cash find out what oil they are using. While I agree that cost is a bit steep don't forget the points Klaus brought up. If they are using Mobil 1 or Elf and you run a 5000 mile interval then you may consider it.

My local "super lubo expresso" in my area gets $71 for an oil change using Mobil 1 0w40 (6.2 qts)...but the filter is crap....some brand called Defense. If I bring my own Mahle filter for $5.50 they give me a credit of $2.00 (Says a lot about their filter) and it costs me about $74.5 in the end.

My local Volvo dealer gets $29.95 for a change (dino oil and Volvo filter) and I can usually conn them into checking the bevel gear oil while they are under the car. I bring my own Mobil 1 in, (costs about $46) so in this scenario I pay $76....close to the in and out place.

In the end I would honestly recommend synthetic oil.

Steve

Also be advised that you're probably not getting good value from Mobil 1 anymore. So far as a I can tell most (if not all) Mobil 1 oils are now 'hydrocrack' oils, and not real synthetics. There's nothing wrong with hydrocrack per se, except that it is marketed and /priced/ much too high for what it is - which is just a better more highly processed conventional oil. A good oil yes, an expensive oil no. They're making wicked margin off of it. There are places in the world (Germany is the most notable example) where it's actually illegal to sell this stuff as 'synthetic', which I think is telling.

There are better deals in synthetic oil, that's all.

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1998 V70 AWD->FWD->AWD Turbo 220k+