I cannot agree with most of Skyship's post.
First off, the 1.9 diesel is not the same as a white block (WB). Completely different designs.
About the "book": VCNA had "dodgy" published oil specifications here for many years, and permitted dealers to pump cheap bulk conventional "energy saving" 5w-30 into high pressure WB turbos for 7.500 mi OCIs. And many did, sludging up quite a few.
Perhaps things were different in Europe. But that's what went on here in the US.
Trust the enthusiasts and the Volvo indys in the field, who have to deal with these once they get traded in out of warranty.
The ONLY reason VCNA was recommending 5w-30 in them was to meet advertised fuel efficiency. The WBs are designed for and run well on heavier oils. The only caveat is that the oil be suitable for the anticipated winter temps, and that a heavier oil will increase turbo spool-up, which could reduce performance.
There is no requirement to run a Castrol product in a Volvo - it is pure cross-marketing that Castrol paid for. Shell and XOM make great oils, too.
I will again repeat: in a Pre-1999 WB, a heavier oil is preferred to reduce consumption. After '99, Volvo improved the ring pack and consumption is much less of an issue on lighter oils
In the NA WBs, you can run a less robust oil than in the turbos, provided a more modest OCI is observed. The NA engines are easier on oil. The turbos are not.
In the turbos, the oil composition and specification is far more important than the viscosity, and the use of an A3 full synthetic oil is STRONGLY recommended. You will not see any of that in ANY Volvo owners manual in North America for most years. And despite what the owners manual says, a plain jane conventional "starburst" API-SL or SM oil won't cut it in a turbo for very long . . . and certainly not for 7,500 miles.
Good oils for the turbo WBs include M1 0w-40, GC, and RTS. The last two are at or near a 40 wt. I would opt for GC or Redline in a higher pressure T5 or R engine. You can run a little lighter with Redline (which makes it a better track oil IMO), but need to avoid short trips more with it. An R in particular can be very hard on even the best oils depending on how hard it is driven.
All change intervals should be baselined at 5k to start, and only extended after a confirming UOA. If you run a better synthetic in a NA, 7,500 is easy.
And NEVER, EVER run a solvent flush through a turbo WB. It's a great way to score up the turbo bearing. I've recovered colleagues' WBs that the dealer wanted $5k to desludge with $45 worth of ARX.
I do agree that the best filter for a Volvo is the OEM, and that is usually also a Mann or Mahle.
First off, the 1.9 diesel is not the same as a white block (WB). Completely different designs.
About the "book": VCNA had "dodgy" published oil specifications here for many years, and permitted dealers to pump cheap bulk conventional "energy saving" 5w-30 into high pressure WB turbos for 7.500 mi OCIs. And many did, sludging up quite a few.
Perhaps things were different in Europe. But that's what went on here in the US.
Trust the enthusiasts and the Volvo indys in the field, who have to deal with these once they get traded in out of warranty.
The ONLY reason VCNA was recommending 5w-30 in them was to meet advertised fuel efficiency. The WBs are designed for and run well on heavier oils. The only caveat is that the oil be suitable for the anticipated winter temps, and that a heavier oil will increase turbo spool-up, which could reduce performance.
There is no requirement to run a Castrol product in a Volvo - it is pure cross-marketing that Castrol paid for. Shell and XOM make great oils, too.
I will again repeat: in a Pre-1999 WB, a heavier oil is preferred to reduce consumption. After '99, Volvo improved the ring pack and consumption is much less of an issue on lighter oils
In the NA WBs, you can run a less robust oil than in the turbos, provided a more modest OCI is observed. The NA engines are easier on oil. The turbos are not.
In the turbos, the oil composition and specification is far more important than the viscosity, and the use of an A3 full synthetic oil is STRONGLY recommended. You will not see any of that in ANY Volvo owners manual in North America for most years. And despite what the owners manual says, a plain jane conventional "starburst" API-SL or SM oil won't cut it in a turbo for very long . . . and certainly not for 7,500 miles.
Good oils for the turbo WBs include M1 0w-40, GC, and RTS. The last two are at or near a 40 wt. I would opt for GC or Redline in a higher pressure T5 or R engine. You can run a little lighter with Redline (which makes it a better track oil IMO), but need to avoid short trips more with it. An R in particular can be very hard on even the best oils depending on how hard it is driven.
All change intervals should be baselined at 5k to start, and only extended after a confirming UOA. If you run a better synthetic in a NA, 7,500 is easy.
And NEVER, EVER run a solvent flush through a turbo WB. It's a great way to score up the turbo bearing. I've recovered colleagues' WBs that the dealer wanted $5k to desludge with $45 worth of ARX.
I do agree that the best filter for a Volvo is the OEM, and that is usually also a Mann or Mahle.