Hi, I have a volvo 850 10 valves with 225000 km. I want to switch it to synthetic oil. I think it can help the engine/seal/overall . Is it a good thing to do? Also, if yes, what kind of brand do I choose? Mobil 1, Castrol Syntec ? To finish, I heard putting 5W50 is a good thing. I live in Canada, so summer is around 20-30 degree celcius and winter around -15 to -5. Anyone can help me with all these questions??


Thanks

Bruno alias the Brute

Does anybody check the archives or use the search engine at this site? Seems that this subject has been beaten to death several times over and still the same questions keep on coming.

Hi,

I dont understand why some of you say that castrol Syntec is not a synthetic oil... And that only some vintage/grade of mobile1 is synthetic... why are Castrol and Mobil claim they are synthetic? (Castrol Syntec and Mobil1) I dont understand... I need some explaination because i'm not gonna pay 3 time the price for synthetic oil while it's not true synthetic... Can you provide some link?

thanks

Synthetic oil is a good thing, especially if you want to extend/use the newer/longer oil change intervals.

Castrol Syntec is NOT synthetic oil, and only SOME vintage/grades of Mobil 1 are 100% synthetic.

There is absolutely no need for your car to use 5W-50. Your owners manual viscosities are correct.
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http://www.fidalgo.net/~brook4/oilslubesfilters.html

Even if Castrol Syntec isn't a true sythethic, it does have some synthetic additivies/qualities, and still blows away dino based oils. Bottom line, if you change your oil regularly there shouldn't be any problems. People are taking this debate way out of proportion.

I asked my Volvo dealer about it, and he said that the Castrol Syntec had a better rating and was more effective than the Moble 1. The Moble 1 was actually more expensive, so he wasn't trying to feed me any BS.

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'95 Volvo 854 Turbo: Gold Edition
K&N Air Filter, Leather, 6 disc CD-changer, Rear Spoiler
tinted windows

I think only the 0-weight Mobil1 is synthetic, the rest of the Mobil1's are hydrocracked dino oils. Syntec isn't a true synthetic either. For anyone south of the arctic circle, the higher number is the important figure (30, 40, 50) as it represents flow characteristics/viscosity at normal operating temperatures. The low number refers to characteristics in cold engine conditions. And 0W will flow better than 5 W or 10W in very cold weather.
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(98 S70 T5SE misc mods, mostly lighting) (92 940GLE)

I don't think what you said about Mobil 1 oil is correct. In any case, when you post something like this, please also post a resposible link for reference.
Ken

Automotive discussion boards have lit up everywhere as nobody has missed the deterioration of reformulated Mobil1 (pour point is up, flash point down for all but 0W). Mobil1, of course, won't say what's going on and the API is pretty useless (this is the group that considers blends to be synthetic). Confusion abounds, but the data point to a deterioration in the barrier lube consistent with other known 'semi-synthetics' that use hydrocracked dino as opposed to PAO's and esters. There are no reliable independent test organizations reporting on this...yet. That said, here are a few links.

Mercedes Shop Forum
http://www.mercedesshop.com/shopforum/showthread.php3?s=56f42eba2aa87cb9d5b332196127453f&threadid=35289

Mobil 1 (check out the pour point drop off at 5W+)
https://dallnd6.dal.mobil.com/GIS/MobilPDS.nsf/26b7c4b33367a4a086256665004e4266/61638dff7d0453b085256b8400618b40?OpenDocument

Comment from probetalk
http://www.probetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?s=c8d3b5225a6ecabd669801d6c917d501&threadid=1700965625&perpage=40&pagenumber=1

Actual labtest, wear
http://lists.f-body.org/pipermail/fourth-gen/2002-May/011771.html


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(98 S70 T5SE misc mods, mostly lighting) (92 940GLE)

From the bowels of the Mobil website:

13. CAN DELVAC 1 BE RUN IN GASOLINE ENGINES?

Delvac 1 is an excellent gasoline engine oil. Delvac 1 meets the API SJ service classification, which covers most gasoline automobile engines.

18. I HAVE BEEN HEARING ABOUT NEW BASE STOCK TECHNOLOGY CALLED HYDROCRACKING OR HYDROPROCESSING THAT IS SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE SYNTHETIC PERFORMANCE AT CONVENTIONAL OIL PRICES. WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THIS?

Hydroprocessing is a term which refers to a manner in which lube base stocks are made. Hydrocracking is a form of hydroprocessing. A wide quality range of base stocks can, and are, produced by hydroprocessing. The majority of hydroprocessed base stocks, produced in the U.S. today, for the most part, are equivalent to conventionally refined stocks. Although hydroprocessing does offer the potential to provide better performance than conventional stocks, in some applications they do not equal the performance of synthetics.

In fact, what are most important are not the differences in the base stocks themselves, but rather the performance of the finished lube oil using these stocks. In this regard, we are unaware of any product on the market containing conventional, hydroprocessed or any other stock that matches the superior performance of fully synthetic Mobil Delvac 1. The performance requirements for a premium engine oil in current engines involve a wide range of criteria, including:

High- and low-temperature performance, where Mobil Delvac 1 synthetic stocks excel.
Soot dispersancy (additives and the base stocks must be able to handle high levels of soot), where our data show that hydrocracked stocks may improve performance versus solvent-refined stocks -- but do not reach the levels of performance of Mobil Delvac 1 Synthetics.
Cleanliness and wear protection where Delvac 1 has demonstrated outstanding engine durability performance out to one million miles at extended drains of 60,000-80,000 miles.


Using basic logic from Philosophy 101...the other synthetics aren't, well, aren't quite as synthetic. BTW, this refers only to Delvac1 5W-40.

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(98 S70 T5SE misc mods, mostly lighting) (92 940GLE)

I recently switched to Castrol Syntec 10W-30 and am very satified with it.
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'95 Volvo 854 Turbo: Gold Edition
K&N Air Filter, Leather, 6 disc CD-changer, Rear Spoiler
tinted windows