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Rotella is apparently a diesel oil, but there newest synthetic, a 5w40 (or50?) is supposed to be quite good for saab engines with some wear. Rotella meets all gasoline specifications, and is cheaper than most of the name-brands (mobile 1 etc).

People talk a lot about synthetic's propensty to leak, some of the seals though are really quite easy to replace. The valve cover gasket is generally a major source of leaks - this oil dribbles down the head and then gets burned on the exhaust manifold - this may be the smell you notice at idle. a new gasket is <$20 and takes about 20 minutes to install.

The other two major seals that people talk about are front and rear main seals, one is behind the harmonic balancer (the main crank pulley) and the other is behind the flywheel. Both of these take a little more time to access, but are not impossible to replace - just a little more time required.

The only other seal that I know of that leaks oil is the oil pump o-ring - this is generally addressed when the crank pulley is removed for the front main seal.

You should pop the head and clean off all the coked on oil on the outside of the engine (most of this will be on the head - simple green works if you rinse afterward). Then drive the car around for a couple of days and look to see where the oil is leaking from. Don't be afraid of knowledge man. Don't be a puss about the valve cover gasket either - I'm sure its rock hard and you're probably leaking oil out there.

I've never heard it tested (and I'm sure Dick in Falls Church will say I'm on crack) but I'd guess that changing dino at 2k and changing synthetic at 12k, (filters changed at 3k in each case) would lead to roughly similar engine wear. I know my wife's vw golf started to run rough when I let the mobile 1 oil go to 9k. now I change in that car (still synthetic) at 5k.

NT


posted by 128.101.25...

• synthetic oil use in a classic 900 turbo? Y/N, John, Tue, 16 Dec 2003 21:26:58
  • I read once on this board that Rotella syn 5w40..., nt moore, Thu, 18 Dec 2003 21:51:39 <-- Viewing This Message
  • Have had AMSOIL in mine for many years. n/m, Dick in Falls Chruch, Wed, 17 Dec 2003 08:39:18
  • Re: synthetic oil use in a classic 900 turbo? Y/N, KB88900T, Tue, 16 Dec 2003 23:33:14
    • Synthetic oil use in a classic 900 turbo? ABSOLUTELY!, Stealthbomber, Wed, 17 Dec 2003 05:58:48
      • Yah, even if you are leaking, synth is still better, KB88900T, Wed, 17 Dec 2003 10:06:21
        • burning smell at first red on turbo/apc gauge or 5K rpm, john, Wed, 17 Dec 2003 21:04:04
          • I had some drips on my old engine that I could smell., KB88900T, Wed, 17 Dec 2003 23:47:27

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