Most people use Mobil 1 0W40 (or equivalent GM LL rated oil) and follow the oil life monitor. Using an oil that does not meet GM LL 025 A/B and changing it on a traditional change schedule is an alternative that may not save you money and may or may not be suitable for your engine, but that's what you've done and so far it seems to be working OK.

A half quart in 7500 miles is really minimal oil usage. Most manufacturers won't even listen to you complain unless your oil usage is more than a quart per thousand. In the seminal textbook "The Internal Combustion Engine" by MIT Professor Hayward Taylor, circa 1939, it was stated that oil usage of less than a quart per thousand miles means inadequate upper cylinder lubrication and you should switch to a lighter weight oil! Well we clearly have come a long way since 1939, but you get the drift - your rate of oil consumption is hardly problematic.

Now if you want to step up a notch to Mobil 1 0W40, you may see a decrease in oil useage, but for any other 40 weight oil, you are moving into uncharted territory. The new engine introduced in the 9-3SS seems to have tighter bearing clearances than the traditional Saab engine, and the oil temperature is kept at a relatively cool 190F by the oil-to-water heat exchanger - as compared to the 9-5, which runs with a 220F or so setting on its oil-to-air cooler.

Mobil 1 0W40's higher kinematic viscosity may well reduce your oil usage, assuming it's from any of the internal seals (valve guide seals, rings, or turbocharger seals) is barely more viscous in the bearings than the 30 weight oil you are using now, while a more robust oil such as Mobil 1 10W40 "high mileage" or Mobil 1 5W40 "diesel" oil would be significantly more viscous. You could safely change to the latter if your engine showed low oil pressure despite having its oil pump verified as good, (indicating increased bearing clearances) but otherwise, I'd not recommend it.

posted by 70.127.149...

• Time to switch from 5W30?, Ari2, Mon, 4 Jan 2010 21:37:55
  • Re: Time to switch from 5W30?, Brian in MA, Tue, 5 Jan 2010 09:10:15
    • Re: Time to switch from 5W30?, simul8guy, Tue, 5 Jan 2010 20:29:57
  • Why?, Dick in Falls Church, Tue, 5 Jan 2010 08:13:23
  • oil change strategies (long and technical), Stephen Goldberger, Tue, 5 Jan 2010 07:13:56 <-- Viewing This Message
    • Re: oil change strategies (long and technical), Ari2, Tue, 5 Jan 2010 08:26:54
      • Re: oil change strategies (long and technical), Stephen Goldberger, Wed, 6 Jan 2010 10:55:36
      • Re: oil change strategies (long and technical), REM in Seattle , Tue, 5 Jan 2010 09:31:49
  • How much gets poured in at each oil change?, MI-Roger , Tue, 5 Jan 2010 03:42:06
    • Re: How much gets poured in at each oil change?, Ari2, Tue, 5 Jan 2010 08:20:50
      • Your hope is sorely misguided (+), vvk, Fri, 8 Jan 2010 13:51:33
  • I use Mobil 1 0W-40..., REM in Seattle , Mon, 4 Jan 2010 22:56:55
    • Re: I use Mobil 1 0W-30, davids , Tue, 5 Jan 2010 10:57:30

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