Oil change, used oil very low viscosity

[Rob]

I changed the oil in my Volvo today and when draining the oil it came out like it was water. I was very surprised at how low viscosity the oil was. It was semi synth 10w40 in a high performance engine so not ideal but I only put the cheap stuff in as I had a huge oil leak for a few months. Any ideas as to why it was such low viscosity? Anything I should be worried about?

 

[sae70]

Do you have any of the can left that you used to fill it with so you can compare the viscosity between then and now.

 

[nivapilot]

Is it a diesel with DPF filter?

 

[Rob]

Steven, yes I buy the oil that came out in bulk as I use it in the LC and pretty much everything else I have owed and serviced and it has always come out in similar viscosity as when I put it in. Even though the cheap 10w40 oil is appropriate for use in the Volvo I usually use 5w40 fully synthetic as it is a high performance engine but as I said earlier, it had a huge oil leak so no point wasting the expensive stuff. I think I had to top up 10 to 15 litres in just under 4k miles so would be been pretty expensive to run it on 5w40.

Its a turbo petrol BTW.

 

[DVSLUX]

Unless more oil came out than you put in I wouldnt be too worried. Was the oil changed while the engine was hot and you normally do it cold? the oil will be thinner hot than cold.

 

[Rob]

I always change the oil when the engine is hot. Volvo sold now so not really worried.

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