just bought a 960 , it showed 6000 over for oil change. went to Valvoline quick change oil change for an oil change- it was $90. can I use any syn oil for my Volvo or does it have to be for European cars only. Thought about about royal purple or Amsoil

Hello,

I think you really love your car wanting to use the synthetics for its engine oil. Go on no any harm here. In fact Volvo recommends synthetics use in extreme climates. If you're not in those climates, well you've got extra protection in there. You can use any of the synthetics from established oil companies. The engine is not that choosy over any oil.

The oil change interval is at 10k miles. Minimal oil specs are SAE 5w/30 to 10w/30 grade SG. SAE 15w/40 if you do lots of mountain driving or towing. These are taken from the 1993 960 owner's handbook. By today most oils are easily over that specs.

You can prolong the OCI if you use synthetics but car manufacturers like to be on the safe side hence the unchanged recommended OCI. Understandably they don't want any legal entanglements arise from oil change.

For me I would like to think of an analogy something like the human body. No matter what quality foods we ate (caviar and all...pun intended!) we must dump it at the end of the day or the next day. That's how the body cleanses itself. Car engine has no way to dump its combustion products in oil unless the owner does it.

I just use normal mineral oil from Shell Helix 10w/30. My OCI is usually between 5k to 7k miles. I mostly do short trips from home to office. So there's much more unburned combustion products in the oil. Hence I opted for shorter OCI to dump these off. In a way that's how I show my love for the car.

Yes most Brickboarders here change their own oil. You should too. It's the more intimate expression of love. Especially to a Volvo!

Regards,
Amarin.

Any oil will do. Change it and the filter frequently.

Greg

Dear 3toes,

Hope you're well. $90 for an oil change???!!! Yikes!!!

Many Brickboarders do our own oil changes. I use Mobil 1, Full Synthetic, 10W/30. Others - depending on location - use 5W30 or 10W40.

Since you just bought a 960, do you know - backed by documentation - when the timing belt, timing belt tensioner, and water pump were last changed? On 960s, a broken timing belt (or a failed tensioner) allows valves to strike pistons, bending valves and possibly ruining pistons (and so the engine). If you do not have documentary proof (date, mileage, part numbers, etc.) that the timing belt has been changed, do it as soon as possible.

See the FAQs for a list of preventive maintenance tasks.

Hope this helps.

Yours faithfully,

Spook