1994-2002 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
Hi Mark,
Everything Jeff said is true, but there's more to it for the "average" Saab owner. Recent Used Oil Analyses have shown that Saab turbos are pretty hard on the oil. The new 9³SS takes enormous strides in addressing this by:
1) adding GM's latest version of the on-board Oil Life Monitor,
2) increasing the engine oil capacity from 4L (4.2qt) to 6L (6.3qt), &
3) REQUIRING the use of fully synthetic oil.
Keep in mind that oil protects both by viscosity (providing a liquid film between parts) & by additives (providing a last-resort barrier if the oil film gets too thin). This is one of the reasons why Saab's OE oils contain additive levels comparable to diesel engine oils (& also one of the reasons why the Japanese Automobile Manufcturer's Association has been resisting GF4 approval for the new xW-20 wt oils; but that's another story ... ). Maintaining that liquid film is much more effective at protecting parts than relying on the additives. And once that film's cohesiveness has been destabilized by abuse from the engine, there's not much you can do except dump the oil. The heat & astoundingly high rpms of turbos are known oil-abusers. The oil breaks down faster, & the additives get used up quicker. Lesser oils will work, but at greatly reduced overall durations.
Saab's recommendation for the past few years has been an oil meeting the most stringent European standard, ACEA A3. These ACEA standards are much higher than our API ones. Unfortunately, A3 oils are naturally thicker than all other grades, & the US financially penalizes auto manufacturers for poor fuel economy across their entire range of models. So now, Saab's OE oils are thinner, & no longer meet their own long-standing recommendation. (Their previous version of 5W-30 semi-syn did meet this Euro spec, & was more than 25% thicker than their current 5W-30 semi-syn.)
So the things to look for are durability & protection. Premium synthetics (like Amsoil & Mobil 1) are formulated from better components (polyalpholefins) than other over-the-counter brands, & so they hold up quite a bit longer & continue to provide that important oil film. In the case of Mobil 1 oils, the most protective oils are their 0W-40 (which is one of only two oils recommended for the new 9³SS) & their 15W-50. With the fuel economy penalties assessed here in the US, I don't ever see Saab recommending the 15W-50. But that doesn't mean it's not the best oil for the job, only that it doesn't meet both the engine protection requirements specified by the designers & the financial penalty avoidance desired by the accountants. If you live in an area which doesn't get below freezing in the winter, then M1 15W-50 (or Mobil's Delvac 1 5W-40 diesel engine oil) is probably the best oil to use in these particular engines. For all colder climates, I'd use either M1 0W-40 or D1 5W-40.
If you're set on using Saab's current 5W-30 syn blend, then I'd recommend you change it every 3k miles unless you're driving nearly 100% highway miles. Even then, don't let it go longer than 5k miles, as it simply won't hold up. Upgrading to a premium full syn 5W-30 (again, like Amsoil, Mobil 1 or Saab's OE 0W-30) will allow you go longer & have better protection the entire time. And selecting an even more durable oil (PAO full syn, ACEA A3-rated xW-40 or xW-50) with an even better additive package will provide the most of everything you want an engine oil to do.
posted by 216.160.177...
No Site Registration is Required to Post - Site Membership is optional (Member Features List), but helps to keep the site online
for all Saabers. If the site helps you, please consider helping the site by becoming a member.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
