ARTICLE: Synthetic oil vs Mineral oil

[RajeswaranK7]

Hi,
My fiesta 1.6 has run more than 10500 kms since it was bought 8 months back. I checked the oil now and it is kind of rusty brown in color and is less viscous. What is the best oil for fiesta? Right now the engine is harsh when accelarting hard in any gear. I drive mostly within the city especially in urban areas where I don't cross 3rd gear mostly.I read this thread and still couldn’t come to a conclusion. Please suggest one good oil that I can switch to.

Regards
Rajeswaran K

[sgiitk]

Any oil API-SL/SM in my view, preferably the latter. See the grade specified. Theoretically using the lightest oil should give you marginally better economy. As for semi- or full- synthetic it is a matter of choice. In any case you must follow the recommendations of the manufacturer otherwise it may affect your warranty.

[nitrous]

Originally Posted by R2D2

I am waiting for Mobil to introduce 5w-40 someday

It's called the Mobil Synt S.
Not a Mobil 1, which is sold only as 0W40 and 5W50.

[jigbarai]

Originally Posted by sgiitk

I have never used synthetic in my Santro. Reason is very simple - I barely do 7000-8000km per annum on it. My standard oil is Castrol Magnatec.

Advantage annual oil change, as against semi-annual with a semi-synth / mineral. Again this car will be doing no more than 8-10k per annum. I agree that cost wise a semi-synth twice a year is cheaper.

I may add that while the Honda is a high revving engine, and may benefit from a synth the Santro engine is a typical mid-to-low spec engine, so mineral or semi-synth is good enough.

Thanks, fair points.
The only thing that keeps me thinking is that the 4 speed AT box behaviour, which is high revving to an extent by default.

It essentially stays in 3rd gear right upto 60+ kmph. Which means the revs (altho there is no Tacho) at this speed on 3rd gear would be upwards of 3000 rpm is what I am guessing, which is higher than what we drive the manual transmission cars at (around 2k).

Hence was wondering if synthetic may be good here. But I guess Castrol M would be good enough for now, not to meantion a whole lot cheaper !

[sgiitk]

I will not bother. I will say a petrol engine is becoming high revving when the redline is 6000 or more. Also, 3000rpm is no big deal.

I recall the good old FIAT 128 in 1976 had a red line at 8300 rpm!

[R2D2]

Originally Posted by nitrous

It's called the Mobil Synt S.
Not a Mobil 1, which is sold only as 0W40 and 5W50.

Yes I am aware...Synt S is a "hydrocracked" synthetic oil and not fully synthetic. It is available at a lower price of course.

Rgds,

[para_7k]

Filled up Castrol EDGE for my i10 today from Ignite. The total cost worked out to 3650/- including the oil filter.

There is a noticeable difference already and the engine seems to be more refined.

I was told I can use it for 10k kms but I might change it by 7k to 8k kms.

[Twiny]

Originally Posted by para_7k

Filled up Castrol EDGE for my i10 today from Ignite. The total cost worked out to 3650/- including the oil filter.

There is a noticeable difference already and the engine seems to be more refined.

I was told I can use it for 10k kms but I might change it by 7k to 8k kms.

10k is otherwise also Hyundai recommended oil change interval for i10.

[petroguzzler]

At the 10000km mark i had used Castrol EDGE 5w-40 syn oil.

For now at 19000, I want to use MOBIL. Experts please suggest the correct grade i should buy ASAP.

The manufacturer recommended ones are,
API-CH4+MB228.3 or higher grade
1. Castrol GTX Diesel
2.HPCL - HP Milcy No.1 TGO
3.Exxon Mobil - Super 100 TM

[khoj]

Originally Posted by para_7k

Filled up Castrol EDGE for my i10 today from Ignite. The total cost worked out to 3650/- including the oil filter.

@para_7k, in case you have retained the can, kindly check and advise the place & date of manufacturing.

[schitre05]

Originally Posted by petroguzzler

At the 10000km mark i had used Castrol EDGE 5w-40 syn oil.

For now at 19000, I want to use MOBIL. Experts please suggest the correct grade i should buy ASAP.

The manufacturer recommended ones are,
API-CH4+MB228.3 or higher grade
1. Castrol GTX Diesel
2.HPCL - HP Milcy No.1 TGO
3.Exxon Mobil - Super 100 TM

I am also going in for my 20k kms service on my vista qdjt and I too wanted opinions regarding which synthetic oil to go in for.
cheers!!

[sgiitk]

For a lower mileage chap - like me just 10,000 or once a year with any good semi-synth should be Ok. Look for API-SM in petrol oils. You can even find this is pure mineral oils! I cannot justify the extra cost of a full synth.

[para_7k]

Originally Posted by khoj

@para_7k, in case you have retained the can, kindly check and advise the place & date of manufacturing.

The can says Manufactured in England, Imported by Castrol India, Kolkata.

The Month of Manufacturing is March 2010. Anything to watch out for ?

[amit_mechengg]

mobil 1 fully synthetic costs just Rs.320(after conversion) per litre in US, Walmart.

i was about to buy but my friend said that petroleum products are not allowed in flight.

why indian people are looted in oils and petrol

[petroguzzler]

I have just filled 4litres of Mobil1 0w-40 for my 19000kms run Vista Quadrajet.

The cost is 4600Rs.-/4litres