Date: Mon, 13 Aug 2001 23:39:40 -0400 From: Via Regia <hereslookinnopsamcom> Subject: Re: What oil should I use?
Can't we all just get along? People will inevitably swear by whatever they use (so long as there are no major problems). Those who use synthetics will swear by synthetics (to justify the extra cost?), others will swear by additives,others still will say "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" and stick with tried and true mineral oil. I have had Saabs since the early 80's. And have used mineral, additives, and full synthetic. Frankly, I see little difference between the three, although I would like to think that whatever I am using currently is providing some benefit (it is a rather pricy fully synthetic brand, so I need to justify the extra cost - if I didn't, I would experience what psychologists refer to as "cognitive dissonance"). As long as you change oil frequently, you should be OK with whatever you use. My SAAB 99 ran on mineral and had no problems what so ever. Had to junk it after the second rebuilt tranny went. In my 85 900S, I used Castrol GTX 10W40 and started using an additive, Called "Tuffoil", when car had about 80,000 miles on it. I don't know if any of you remember the SAAB Club newsletter "Nines", but people used to swear by that stuff in the mid 80's. It worked for me - I junked the car with 150,000 miles on it after a second rebuilt tranny seized on me. I had the motor tested right before the car's demise and the mechanic told me that compression was like in a new motor (was it due to the additive?). I now have a 87 900T with 157,000 miles on it. I bought the car with 140,000 miles and it was raised on mineral oil - no problems. I started using synthetic in it and have had no problems what so ever. Well, I did develop a rear seal leak, (very slow), which may or may not have been related. To make this long story short, use whatever works, and most things will work as long as you keep to regular oil and filter changes. For every person who has a high milage car "because I use synthetic", you will find another who uses mineral, etc.. The SAAB motors are extremely durable. It is the transmissions that seem to be a nightmare, and an expensive one at that. In most cases, your tranny will go well before the motor does. Happy SAABing Via Regia, 3 SAABs and 6 transmissions.
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