Oil type

[j1539f]

I have a Volvo penta 3.0L sx drive 2002 year model. The oil filter leaked into the bilge so replaced oil filter and no leak but now need to add oil. I didn't do the original oil change so not certain on current oil type. The only thing I could find to buy was 10w30. Is this ok?

Thanks Jeff

 

[Don S]

Re: Oil type

Do not mix type of oils. If you don't know what was in your engine, empty the rest of the oil in the engine and put in whatever you want.

 

[j1539f]

Re: Oil type

Thanks Don

Just wanted to post a follow up question. I know quite a bit of oil leaked out and the level was low when I checked it the other day. Our warning buzzer went off while we were operating at WOT and I shut down, idled and it went off. From what I have read, a low oil level can cause the low oil pressure sensor to go off because of the work the pump has to do to keep the oil pressure in the engine. Is that true? The buzzer won't go off for just low oil level will it? The temp gauge and everything else was fine when the buzzer happened. Haven't added oil and test drove it yet to see if alarm goes off again.

Thanks,
Jeff

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Oil type

Yes -- the buzzer goes off for low oil. Actually it is going off because of NO oil. The alarm is tripped by low oil PRESSURE -- not low oil LEVEL (although that's just one cause of low oil pressure). Look at it this way. If there is no oil in the engine the oil pump has nothing to pump and hence cannot create pressure which is why the oil pressure gauge was probably sitting at zero or possibly bouncing around 5 psi. The oil pressure switch triggers the alarm at around 5 - 6 PSI. This is exactly why gauges were replaced in cars years ago with idiot lights (pardon the expression) because people knew RED LIGHT meant something bad was happening whereas a gauge that read Zero meant nothing because nobody ever looked at it or if they did, didn't understand what it meant. Even with the light, people continued to drive until the engine seized up due to lack of oil. This is what happened to you. Check the oil BEFORE every trip and you don't have these issues. It is a simple 1 or 2 minute exercise that can save you the cost of an engine. Consider yourself lucky. Oil is oil. 10W-30 is fine but I'm curious as to just what store did you happen to be in that had ONLY 10W-30? Most auto stores have racks of oils. On the lighter side, cars today have gauges or digital displays again but I'd wager a good 80% of the drivers have no idea what the gauges really mean. They are typically tied into a warning light system but I am rambling here. Done!