Magazine test car maintenance.

[Wayne M.]

Just now browsing a current Motor Trend, and checking facts on their summary of a Volvo 4door hatch with a turbo'd 4. What was interesting was that in 25,XXX mi they did 2 oil changes. That and 1 tire rotation and repair of a clogged washer nozzle was the extent of maintenance for this vehicle. 12000 mile oil drop. I think that's extreme even if the on board monitor was obeyed. Opinions?

 

[mwilson]

I'm good with the 12,000 mile oil change. That's what Hoopty gets. The GM algorithm is very accurate. The question is how accurate is Volvo's algorithm?

 

[RustyJC]

I have a 2013 Volvo C30 R-design T5 (2.4L turbocharged & intercooled inline 5 cylinder) with a Polestar (Volvo's performance division) ECM tune (fully warranted by Volvo) and a 6 speed manual transmission. If the Motor Trend test vehicle was a turbo 4, it sounds like it has the new Volvo Drive-E engine.

At any rate, the factory oil change intervals on my C30 are 1 year or 12,000 miles. The only reason this is possible is because Volvo specifies a special ACEA A5/B5 synthetic engine oil. Personally, since I use my car as a commuter to and from work in the Houston area, I use a 6,000 mile oil change interval. When Volvo previously specified an ACEA A1/B1 synthetic engine oil, the change interval was (IIRC) 7,500 miles.

The only problems I've experienced were ABS sensor drift on the front hubs (typical with hotted-up C30s) which is cured by resetting and shimming the sensor brackets and the same plugged fitting in the windshield washer system.

Rusty

 

[fest3er]

Shoot, I didn't change the oil in my '98 12V for 230k miles. I did add oil as needed and change the full-flow and by-pass filters on schedule. But I didn't remove the drain plug between '99 or '00 and this year.

If the maintenance manual says change the oil when told or at specific intervals, that's when you change it. There's been no need to change lube every 3000 miles on most vehicles made in the past 5-10 years, even when using the cheapest bunker oil you can find--that meets the specs of course. If you use a top quality synthetic that doesn't gain viscosity (due to evaporation), has very good additives, and has enough basic material (TBN) to counteract the acidic byproducts of combustion, you can use the oil longer.

 

[Tractorat]

The question is how accurate is Volvo's algorithm?

Ive heard that volvo, dodge, etc do not have their own algorithm. Everyone buys the technology from gm who perfected it. (?)

 

[Wayne M.]

I was able to look again. It's a '15 V60 T5 Drive-E. I'll assume it's a VVT engine since it's got a high compression ratio of 10.8:1. I know about trusting alogorithms. Midnight has it too, but the manual is quite clear on not letting it past 10k on a drop. Presently I'm 46%@4400 mi. I'm not comfortable at running it to the end yet. Perhaps I will once and run a TBN analysis on it. I just read a lot about oiling issues and VVT mechanisms/ phasers/ whatever and blocked passages in some trade mags I browse. Tighter drops may prevent that.
I guess MT is just following the cars lead, but typical human nature might push that further (I'm too BUSY)!

 

[Wayne M.]

Shoot, I didn't change the oil in my '98 12V for 230k miles. I did add oil as needed and change the full-flow and by-pass filters on schedule. But I didn't remove the drain plug between '99 or '00 and this year.

If the maintenance manual says change the oil when told or at specific intervals, that's when you change it. There's been no need to change lube every 3000 miles on most vehicles made in the past 5-10 years, even when using the cheapest bunker oil you can find--that meets the specs of course. If you use a top quality synthetic that doesn't gain viscosity (due to evaporation), has very good additives, and has enough basic material (TBN) to counteract the acidic byproducts of combustion, you can use the oil longer.

HEY THERE! that's a different league- and an owner who cares. I'm focusing on Jane Q. Public.