Thanks all...
Totally with you MD on the potential of "causing more bad than good" idea. Infact- that's why I've held off until today. You guys are light years ahead of me in oil knowledge. Finally, I bit the bullet. I mean, perhaps it could go to 100k, but then at some point... it really would need to be changed.
For my 2005 xc70 I use the about $70 of 3309. For my wife's car, $210 worth of volvo's finest rebranded "whatever it is" for her Aisin TF-80SC.
Today was also a moment of courage on my xc70 as I worked up the courage to install an external transmission filter. The xc70 is on it's fifth change and will trip 200,000 by christmas. For these "new" volvo's, that seems to be an accomplishment (at least for me).
We live on a mountain, and the engine goes through a lot of shifting on inclines, and she drives pretty hard, where as I am perfect and lightfooted like a butterfly.
I figured I voided the warranty just by changing the oil as an uncertified volvo dealer.
I don't know what gives. hers is a 6 speed, and is probably still shifting right now in the driveway even though I turned it off 30 minutes ago. Mine is just five. Hers has a cooler thermostat and a much smaller external oil cooler, about the size of a deck of cards. I think my 2005 has a larger cooler in the radiator shroud. It has no thermostat I am aware of.
FWIW- we drove out to dinner tonight and she commented that things had gotten significantly better after the change. I sort of believe her, but am torn between an actual improvement and being biased in knowing I just changed it.
Who knows. At any rate- the car still works, and seems to work a "bit" better. My 915 was also shifting well yesterday after driving it for several hours in a "spirited" manner.
So there you go!
