Before we got too many miles on the engine after adding Seafoam cleaner, the oil needed to be changed. Seafoam is breaking up deposits and crud in the crankcase and taxing the oil filter. It was probably time anyway since we don’t know how many miles have been put on the car since the last change.
Drove the car for a few miles to warm up the goo so it would drain out better. Raised the front end of the car and rested on jack stands for access. Put catch pan underneath and opened the oil pan plug to drain out all the thick crud and oil.
Unscrewed oil filter and replaced with a new high-quality Fram ExtraGuard filter.
Installed new after-market oil drain plug which has a magnet on its tip. This should catch any metal particles (or loose tools 😉 ) swimming around in the engine to protect it and help alert us to significant engine wear. Used new sealing washer, which is recommended practice although people do re-use them. Tightened to specified 26 ft-lb torque.
Lowered the car and filled with 5-1/2 qts of fresh Castrol GTX semi-synthetic motor oil for high-mileage engines. There is a lot of debate about full synthetic vs. normal oil. I just split the difference by using something in between. Checked dipstick to make sure level was correct.
Disposed of old oil properly.
$17.67 oil, $3.77 filter, $7.95 drain plug
Tags: change, drain plug, filter, oil
1997 Volvo 850 Wagon Project 
June 26, 2014 at 9:50 pm |
Volvo OE or Mann (which makes the Volvo filter) have a check valve built into them that prevents oil in the top of the engine from draining back down into the crankcase overnight. This is supposed to reduce startup wear which is the most wear an engine gets in its lifetime.
The Mann filters are identical to OE and are available from fcp or on ebay in a six-pack for average $6 apiece.
June 29, 2014 at 9:00 pm |
Thanks for the info, Ken. I had not heard about the check valve so I did a little research. You’re right that the Mann filter (OEM) has this feature, and many Volvo guys swear by Mann filters. However, I found that the first two after-market oil filters I looked at also have this feature. Purolator filter for the Volvo 850 says they have an anti-drain back valve. So does the Fram Extra Guard filter that I installed in this car. So what was once a unique feature now seems to be common. Jim