Oil education needed

[Speedy88]

It's about time I put some expensive oil in my engine. Always used halfords semi synthetic because a little bird told me the manufacturer wasn't actually that bad at making oil. My questions are:

Should I go fully synthetic?

What is a good quality oil I can buy that will protect my engine?

[trabitom99]

I'm no expert, but what I've snapped up over the years is that the synthetic "racing" 0W-xx oils are a lot thinner, which can cause older cars to leak oil. Remember, these oils weren't even around when our cars were new.

I tend to go for the cheapest oil from a well-known brand (usually Total, although I just snapped up 5L of Liqui Moly for 14,99€), avoiding the no-name stuff from DIY stores. 15W40 in summer, 10W40 in winter and I try & change regularly. Better to change a basic oil more often, then leaving an expensive oil in for too long ... The filter on 360s is a bugger to change, so I only swap that every other change.

With that technique, my 360s got 333000kms on the clock now, and I only need to top up once between oil changes.

Tom

[volvodspec]

i agree with that on every stock 300 engine

but, speedy has a rebuilt 16V lump. so full synthetic oil shouldn't be a problem and can even keep the engine in a perfect condition.
just don't extend the oil service intervals just because there is "better oil" in it, that's not the point of a better quality oil

[trabitom99]

speedy has a rebuilt 16V lump. so full synthetic oil shouldn't be a problem

Ah, I forgot

Tom

[Hell Driver]

I put semi synthetic in my 1.7 (Old 8 valve engine) Yes it did cause a very small oil leak at first but when the engine warmed up it stopped and now the leaks gone completely (I suppose the oil's thickened a bit with use?). Regular oil and filter changes are well worth it, I change the transit every 8,000 to 12,000 miles approx, even though the spec is 18,000. It does a lot of work and you've got to allow for the time the engine is running when your idling if you do a lot of town driving. If you drive it hard and also do a lot of short trips change it much sooner than the standard interval.

[Speedy88]

Well remembered anjo Should have made it more clear... Ok sounds right, I was thinking of starting on some Mobil 1 full synth oil this time around but I'm not sure how much better it would be than hellfrauds or other cheaper makes.

[macplaxton]

Use a decent oil filter too.

OEM Volvo ones for me (and I use them on other cars where they'll fit). Failing that, Mann

[magnumpi]

I'm using Fuch oil from GSF, which was £12.99 for 5ltrs and apparently it's what the German manufacturers use at the factory.

I found a NOS Renault 5/9/21/25 oil filter in the garage from when my dad had either his 5 or 21 Turbo. It was a lot wider and taller than the new genuine Renault filter i put on last time, so figured a bigger filter can only be an improvement.

[trabitom99]

Use a decent oil filter too.
OEM Volvo ones for me (and I use them on other cars where they'll fit). Failing that, Mann

+1 to that, look out for a filter with a non-return valve, ensuring the filter doesn't lose all it's oil when the engine is off. Bosch filters have these too, Mann as well IIRC, but Mahle filters don't.

Cheers

Tom

[macplaxton]

Last month I bought a couple and they were about £7.50 each.

Beware you get the correct one.

Me: "two IMPERIAL 3/4 UNF filters please"
Volvo Parts Counter Guy: "what's it for"
Me: "1982 Volvo 343"
Volvo Parts Counter Guy: "ah yes, that one outside?"
Me: "That's the one"

Volvo Parts Counter Guy disappears into the stores

And he comes back with two METRIC ones

Me: "No, I want two of those like you got on the shelf. You see that on the side?"
Volvo Parts Counter Guy: "Yes"
Me: "That says 1984-ONWARDS. The old ones use IMPERIAL threaded filters."
Volvo Parts Counter Guy: "Er, okay"

Volvo Parts Counter Guy disappears into the stores again]

Finally comes back with the right ones.

3517857 is 3/4UNF-16 Imperial thread. Fits Volvo cars 1962-> Excl. Diesel, Dieselturbo & 340 B 14 1985->
3467632 is M20 x 1.5 Metric thread. Fits Volvo 300: B 14 '85-, B 172, D16 / Volvo 400 all models exclusive D 19 T

(Someone might know the chassis number / engine number change-over points as I'm not running Windows to look it up at the moment)