how often should i change my oil on volvo 850 1996?

Question

The manual says every 5,000

Answer 1

Wow, I had no idea there were so many people still on the 3,000-mile thing!

If your manual states 5,000 miles it's cause you have one of the turbocharged motors. Otherwise, Volvo recommended 7,500 mile intervals between oil changes.

In any event, following the manufacturer's directions is generally the best way to maintain your car. If you're a bit of a worrier, you can shorten the interval but, in your case, 5,000 miles is gonna be fine - absent a summer of towing a trailer in 100-degree weather or a non-stop diet of stop-and-go city driving in the winter or if you live a half-mile or so up a dirt road where enough of the dirt is kicked up into the air that it gets into your air intake (a bit will always make it from the intake, past the air filter, and into your motor oil - not good).

I can't remember if the manual specifies it or not but it's not a bad idea to make sure it gets changed every six months whether or not you've racked up 5,000 miles. Despite the HUGE improvement in motor oils in the last twenty years there is still some residual time-related breakdown in the oil's capacity to perfectly do what it's supposed to do for your motor.

Answer 2

I had an 89 volvo, and I had to change the oil every 2000-3000 miles. And since it was so old, I had to check the oil ever 2 weeks, to make sure that it wasn't being burned off. But, it just threw a rod & is dead now.

I would definitely advise changing the oil ever 3000 miles at the latest. Better safe than sorry.

Answer 3

Check the type of oil that is usually used in your car. If it is synthetic, stick with synthetic. If it is conventional, stick with conventional. If you use synthetic, you can run 5,000 miles easy - Porsches can go 20,000 miles on an oil change (new 911's). If you use conventional oil, I would stick to 3,000 miles. If you have a turbo and run conventional, 2,000 miles would be a good idea. If you want to check if your car has synthetic or conventional, do a simple test: put a large drop of oil from your engine (take from the dip stick) in an old frying pan and put a large drop of new conventional oil in the same frying pan. Synthetic oil is very difficult to burn, so watch to see if the oil in the engine burns about the same time as the new oil.

Good luck!

Greg

Answer 4

Check the owner's manual. The 3 month 3,000 mile criteria is something the oil change people came up with.

Answer 5

every 3 months or 3000 miles.

Answer 6

The general rule is once every 3,000-6,000 miles. 6,000 if you drive mostly highway driving and longer distances. 3,000 or so if you do all city driving and very short trips.

Answer 7

no matter what car you have you should change it every 3,000-5,000 miles!

Answer 8

I hope you've changed it by now