Oil Differences

CurrentSea

CurrentSea

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Sep 23, 2002
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I usually order Volvo SAE30 Synthetic.
Not sure how, but I ordered Volvo Synthetic 10W40. What is the difference?

I go to Volvo's website and it looks like they replaced the SAE30 with the 10W40.
 
Straight 30 is a single weight whether the oil is cold or hot.
10 w 40 is 10 weight (thinner) cold and 40 weight (thicker) hot.
Multi viscosity oils get moving faster at startup and also make
for easier starts in cold weather.
 
ok, wonder why they switched.
Where I boat 10W40 is probably better.
Thanks!
 
quote:
Originally posted by CurrentSea

ok, wonder why they switched.
Where I boat 10W40 is probably better.
Thanks!

Click to expand...


I would go with the straight 30 weight if it were my boat and that's what Volvo originally recommended.
I've never heard of a boat motor blowing because of the wrong weight oil; but why not stick with the manufacturers original recommendation?
They pay engineers a lot of money to come up with these things.
 
quote:
Originally posted by CurrentSea

ok, wonder why they switched.
Where I boat 10W40 is probably better.
Thanks!

Click to expand...


I would go with the straight 30 weight if it were my boat and that's what Volvo originally recommended.
That 10W scares me a little in a hard working boat motor.
Then again, I leased two new Hondas for my wife and I to drive this year and they take 0W - 20. The stuff pours out like apple juice.
I've never heard of a boat motor blowing because of the wrong weight oil; but why not stick with the manufacturers original recommendation?
They pay engineers a lot of money to come up with these things.
 
quote:
Originally posted by JVM225

quote:
Originally posted by CurrentSea

ok, wonder why they switched.
Where I boat 10W40 is probably better.
Thanks!

Click to expand...


I would go with the straight 30 weight if it were my boat and that's what Volvo originally recommended.
That 10W scares me a little in a hard working boat motor.
Then again, I leased two new Hondas for my wife and I to drive this year and they take 0W - 20. The stuff pours out like apple juice.
I've never heard of a boat motor blowing because of the wrong weight oil; but why not stick with the manufacturers original recommendation?
They pay engineers a lot of money to come up with these things.

Click to expand...


Volvo does not supply the 30W anymore.
 
quote:
Originally posted by TheGreatEscapeII

quote:
Originally posted by JVM225

quote:
Originally posted by CurrentSea

ok, wonder why they switched.
Where I boat 10W40 is probably better.
Thanks!

Click to expand...


I would go with the straight 30 weight if it were my boat and that's what Volvo originally recommended.
That 10W scares me a little in a hard working boat motor.
Then again, I leased two new Hondas for my wife and I to drive this year and they take 0W - 20. The stuff pours out like apple juice.
I've never heard of a boat motor blowing because of the wrong weight oil; but why not stick with the manufacturers original recommendation?
They pay engineers a lot of money to come up with these things.

Click to expand...


Volvo does not supply the 30W anymore.

Click to expand...


They might not supply it, but if that is what they originally recommended then I would buy it from another manufacturer. Lots of quality choices out there. They probably just had it made to their specs and labeled it anyway.
Marine engines work extremely hard pushing a heavy boat through water at generally high RPM. I'm no expert, but I wouldn't be comfortable with 10W in a motor that was originally designed for straight 30W operating under those conditions.
Again, I don't ever remember hearing of an engine failing in a boat because it had the wrong weight oil in it.
But; why not stick with what the engineers recommended?
 
A 30w oil will stay the same consistency whether hot or cold. A Multi-viscosity oil will stay consistent with the base weight, for example 10w in a 10w40 blend. The viscosity enhancers added to the base weight will make the 10w act as a 40w in hot conditions. It will take that 30w oil a lot longer to reach the valve train in a cold start up than the 10w40. The oil will have the same qualities as a 40w under loaded, hot conditions.
It would be my guess the refiners are phasing out or cutting back on the production of straight weight oils as they are becoming less and less requested.
I personally use a 15w40 blend in everything except my new cars and trucks. These units are requiring lighter weights for fuel economy and rapid lubrication of the valve train because many new engines have overhead cams that require lubrication in a hurry.
You should be fine with the 10w40...
 
quote:
Originally posted by JVM225

quote:
Originally posted by TheGreatEscapeII

quote:
Originally posted by JVM225

quote:
Originally posted by CurrentSea

ok, wonder why they switched.
Where I boat 10W40 is probably better.
Thanks!

Click to expand...


I would go with the straight 30 weight if it were my boat and that's what Volvo originally recommended.
That 10W scares me a little in a hard working boat motor.
Then again, I leased two new Hondas for my wife and I to drive this year and they take 0W - 20. The stuff pours out like apple juice.
I've never heard of a boat motor blowing because of the wrong weight oil; but why not stick with the manufacturers original recommendation?
They pay engineers a lot of money to come up with these things.

Click to expand...


Volvo does not supply the 30W anymore.

Click to expand...


They might not supply it, but if that is what they originally recommended then I would buy it from another manufacturer. Lots of quality choices out there. They probably just had it made to their specs and labeled it anyway.
Marine engines work extremely hard pushing a heavy boat through water at generally high RPM. I'm no expert, but I wouldn't be comfortable with 10W in a motor that was originally designed for straight 30W operating under those conditions.
Again, I don't ever remember hearing of an engine failing in a boat because it had the wrong weight oil in it.
But; why not stick with what the engineers recommended?

Click to expand...


Volvo does not recommend it anymore thus the change in their stance.
 
Kind of silly to ignore updated mfgr's spec. ...if the spec is still for the same engine not a change between non-Vortec & higher-reving Vortec.

There has been a lot of discussion about multigrade oils having much less "shear-factor" resistance compared to straight 30W, except for some 15W40 oils- notably Merc.'s.
My blue Vortec MPI's spec 15W40 and I use Valvoline All Fleet Plus at 50 hr replacement intervals according to the mfgr. . The techs at the factory say straight 30 W is fine too, though that is no longer stated in the manual.
 
I sent volvo a message to see what they say about the switch.
Since I am still under warranty I want to use what they recommened and they sell.
Yes I am sure it is rebranded but for now I use genuine volvo oil and filters.
It costs a little more but its one less excuse they can use if I blow a motor!!!
I am just suprised that they went from sae30 to 10W40.
Manual still says SAe30 but when you go to their website and lookup my motor it recommeneds the 10w40
 
Even experts can change their minds. I Volvo thought it was important to use Straight 30 then they would still sell it! It seems pretty clear they think the 10w40 is as good or better.
 
Dave what are you using in your engines? My last oil change was straight 30w but I am considering 10w40 for reasons stated above. I still have straight 30 in the transmissions.
 
John I use Rotella 15w40 in the engines and straight 30 in transmissions. It's hard to find straight 30 these days.
 
quote:
Originally posted by CurrentSea

I sent volvo a message to see what they say about the switch.
Since I am still under warranty I want to use what they recommened and they sell.
Yes I am sure it is rebranded but for now I use genuine volvo oil and filters.
It costs a little more but its one less excuse they can use if I blow a motor!!!
I am just suprised that they went from sae30 to 10W40.
Manual still says SAe30 but when you go to their website and lookup my motor it recommeneds the 10w40

Click to expand...


Calling them was a good move. It's always best to get it straight from the horses mouth. Going with their product and recommendation is an especially sound decision with the motors still under warranty.
I didn't realize that the warranty was still active. Had I known that I probably would have suggested you call them for clarification.
You probably won't have a problem with the motors, but if you ever did you don't want to let them off the hook because an oil analysis indicated that you didn't use the exact product they told you to use.
My Corvette is still under warranty and I always make sure to buy the exact brand and weight oil they specify in the manual. The new Mercruiser motors in the boat are also under warranty. There are other choices out there that are probably just as good or better for a few less dollars, and I doubt that I'd ever blow up a motor simply because of the brand/weight oil that was in it; but if something does happen to one of them I wouldn't want to give anyone an easy out.
 
Thanks Dave. I have not looked for it yet but I can not imagine 30w being hard to come by.

My 18 month warranty is up march 1st so I do not have that to worry about anyway.

Does anyone here use royal purple or any other synthetic?
 
I have always used Volvo synthetic SAE 30. Hard to find any now, so I will get the synthetic 10W40. Question is I still have one qt 30 left over. Would it hurt to use that one qt with 4 qts of 10w40?
 
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