ARTICLE: Synthetic oil vs Mineral oil

tsk1979 · 17th June 2007, 14:19

Shell helix has a diesel range which I had filled once. It was API-CG.
As for 15W50, 20W40 etc., the meaning if it is simple.
An engine oil should be as "fluid" as possible at low temparature and as thick as possible at higher temparature.
So the higher number means what is the max optimum operating temparature. For those in Europe, 0W30 is a good idea, but in Delhi heat 15W50 or 20W50 will be better.
Check out the carbibles engine oil page linked with the original post.

About diesel oils, engine oils which are API-SM(highest grade) for petrol are only API-CF diesel.
So the best way is to use a API-CI oil like castrol GTX diesel.
If you don't mind spending 3500rs there is the Delvac diesel engine synthetic oil which is API-CI

razor4077 · 27th June 2007, 18:56

Nice timing Dippy! I was looking to clarify similar doubts...
Like Rtech said, Mobil1 has become the "xerox" of synthetic eng oils! What other options are there? Went to an engine oil shop... guy said Valvoline, Castrol etc are just as good.
Apparently Mobil1 & Valvoline (and some others) use their own crude oil, while Castrol sources the crude oil from others and does the processing part. Not sure how true (or relevant!) that is...

So the question - could I opt for something other than Mobil1, which is considerably more expensive than its counterparts?
Grade of oil I was thinking of for my 7 yr old (100K+) Lancer : 5W50.

What do u guys think?

yogi1771 · 27th June 2007, 22:42

planning to change to mobil1 for my fiesta1.6,in the manual recommended oil rating is 5w30(semi synthetic),so which one to go for

Sam Kapasi · 27th June 2007, 23:31

Just change to Mobil1,yogi, that's all. Mobil is the company, Mobil1 is one of the oils they manufacture. You don't get different kinds of Mobil1.

Mobil1 is 5W50 and will do perfectly well in your car.

And remember, the same advice that works for your toilet, also works for your oil change from Mineral to synth, Don't forget to flush

swathyd · 28th June 2007, 00:16

I got my car after second service. In 1st service as per the advice of dealership a addictive (oil) was used( as per claims of the company it increases viscosity). A difference was felt like more easy cold starts even after a gap of 4 days. But after 2nd service that easy starts have disappeared, ( started after 6 days though ). We did nt use any addictive on 2nd service.

My car is adventure and oil used is 15 w 40.

28th June 2007, 00:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

Don't forget to flush

But not with water!

Seriously, you need to investigate and choose the product (and its constituents' prperties) before attempting engine cleaning/flush. It is better to not flush instead of using certain products in the market.

tsk1979 · 28th June 2007, 00:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

Just change to Mobil1,yogi, that's all. Mobil is the company, Mobil1 is one of the oils they manufacture. You don't get different kinds of Mobil1.

Mobil1 is 5W50 and will do perfectly well in your car.

And remember, the same advice that works for your toilet, also works for your oil change from Mineral to synth, Don't forget to flush

Ahem, you get different types of mobil 1
There is syn, Mobil 1 EP, Super syn etc.,
API-SL, API-SM grade
0W40, 5W50 15W50..... you name it you have it.
Its another matter your dealer may stock just one version

Sam Kapasi · 28th June 2007, 00:45

Yes but Mobil 1, is mobil 1. Mobil 1 EP is different. lol

tadukuttan · 28th June 2007, 01:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

Yes but Mobil 1, is mobil 1. Mobil 1 EP is different. lol

I would threaten to come over to the ICE section and claim it is all the same. ;)

A few different grades from the US site -

Mobil 1 0W-20
Mobil 1 0W-30
Mobil 1 0W-40
Mobil 1 5W-20
Mobil 1 5W-30
Mobil 1 10W-30
Mobil 1 15W-50

And noticed that the "universal" Mobil 1 5w-50 we use is not listed on the US site. Any idea why? Discontinued there?

Or to get more confused, you can also try this link from the Indian site - Results for '+url:MOBIL +url:Lubes +url:/PDS, +category:Automotive +category:Engine +category:Oils, +country:India, language:english'

tsk1979 · 28th June 2007, 08:38

Bang on target tadu.
You can get different type of mobil 1 depending upon your need, for Bombay the best is 15W50. 0W40 is not needed in plains.

yogi1771 · 28th June 2007, 10:25

@sam i wanted to know which grade oil to go for

@tsk1979 is 15w50 easily available

moralfibre · 28th June 2007, 10:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by yogi1771

@sam i wanted to know which grade oil to go for
@tsk1979 is 15w50 easily available

Yogi, you can safely put Mobil1 5W-50 in your car. It should cost you Rs. 2,500/- for a can of 4 liters in Opera House. I bought mine from City Motors.

tsk1979 · 28th June 2007, 10:37

yes 15W50 is easily available
For hot climates 15W50 makes sense.
5W40 etc., are more for temperate climates.

5W50 is also good enough as the "50" number is for the higher temperatures. The higher this number, means the better the oil performs at higher ambient temperature.

zakaaaaasss · 28th June 2007, 11:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by razor4077

So the question - could I opt for something other than Mobil1, which is considerably more expensive than its counterparts?
Grade of oil I was thinking of for my 7 yr old (100K+) Lancer : 5W50.

What do u guys think?

last time when I went to buy engine oil for my Matiz at oil wholeseller, i had inquired casually whether i should go for Synthetic one....first question the owner asked was, how much is the odo reading on the car? when I said its more than 80K, he said DO NOT use synthetic oil. The synthetic oil removes the carbon deposits inside the engine block which is surely troublesome for engines that have run high kms....nevertheless, he said, you can get the overhaul done (polishing,porting) and then use syn oil...

Sam Kapasi · 28th June 2007, 11:52

Be careful while changing to Castrol fully synthetic. There is some funny clause in the report, i read.
I read that Castrol Edge begins it's life with the characteristics of a Mineral oil, but later, with use develops the charcater of a full synth. Thanks but all this sounds wishy washy to me.

AFAIK, Mobil 1 is merely a standard. One of the dependable Full synths. I have no doubt in my mind that brands like OWS and Shell Helix are just as good. From what Rtech says, Motul is better, I can assure you, it's hard to find.
I have a friend who used Fuchs (It's foooks) Synth and swears by it. Of course, I heard the company has packed up and gone back home.

17th June 2007, 14:19	#331
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,697 Thanked: 23,487 Times View My Garage	Shell helix has a diesel range which I had filled once. It was API-CG. As for 15W50, 20W40 etc., the meaning if it is simple. An engine oil should be as "fluid" as possible at low temparature and as thick as possible at higher temparature. So the higher number means what is the max optimum operating temparature. For those in Europe, 0W30 is a good idea, but in Delhi heat 15W50 or 20W50 will be better. Check out the carbibles engine oil page linked with the original post. About diesel oils, engine oils which are API-SM(highest grade) for petrol are only API-CF diesel. So the best way is to use a API-CI oil like castrol GTX diesel. If you don't mind spending 3500rs there is the Delvac diesel engine synthetic oil which is API-CI
	() Thanks

27th June 2007, 18:56	#332
razor4077 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,881 Thanked: 300 Times View My Garage	Nice timing Dippy! I was looking to clarify similar doubts... Like Rtech said, Mobil1 has become the "xerox" of synthetic eng oils! What other options are there? Went to an engine oil shop... guy said Valvoline, Castrol etc are just as good. Apparently Mobil1 & Valvoline (and some others) use their own crude oil, while Castrol sources the crude oil from others and does the processing part. Not sure how true (or relevant!) that is... So the question - could I opt for something other than Mobil1, which is considerably more expensive than its counterparts? Grade of oil I was thinking of for my 7 yr old (100K+) Lancer : 5W50. What do u guys think?
	(1) Thanks

27th June 2007, 22:42	#333
yogi1771 BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: mumbai Posts: 697 Thanked: 16 Times	planning to change to mobil1 for my fiesta1.6,in the manual recommended oil rating is 5w30(semi synthetic),so which one to go for
	() Thanks

27th June 2007, 23:31	#334
Sam Kapasi Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mumbai (but wat Posts: 6,939 Thanked: 2,479 Times View My Garage	Just change to Mobil1,yogi, that's all. Mobil is the company, Mobil1 is one of the oils they manufacture. You don't get different kinds of Mobil1. Mobil1 is 5W50 and will do perfectly well in your car. And remember, the same advice that works for your toilet, also works for your oil change from Mineral to synth, Don't forget to flush Last edited by Sam Kapasi : 27th June 2007 at 23:34.
	() Thanks

28th June 2007, 00:16	#335
swathyd BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: thiruvananthapuram Posts: 774 Thanked: 26 Times	I got my car after second service. In 1st service as per the advice of dealership a addictive (oil) was used( as per claims of the company it increases viscosity). A difference was felt like more easy cold starts even after a gap of 4 days. But after 2nd service that easy starts have disappeared, ( started after 6 days though ). We did nt use any addictive on 2nd service. My car is adventure and oil used is 15 w 40.
	() Thanks

28th June 2007, 00:45	#338
Sam Kapasi Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mumbai (but wat Posts: 6,939 Thanked: 2,479 Times View My Garage	Yes but Mobil 1, is mobil 1. Mobil 1 EP is different. lol
	() Thanks

28th June 2007, 08:38	#340
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,697 Thanked: 23,487 Times View My Garage	Bang on target tadu. You can get different type of mobil 1 depending upon your need, for Bombay the best is 15W50. 0W40 is not needed in plains.
	() Thanks

28th June 2007, 10:25	#341
yogi1771 BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: mumbai Posts: 697 Thanked: 16 Times	@sam i wanted to know which grade oil to go for @tsk1979 is 15w50 easily available
	() Thanks

28th June 2007, 10:37	#343
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,697 Thanked: 23,487 Times View My Garage	yes 15W50 is easily available For hot climates 15W50 makes sense. 5W40 etc., are more for temperate climates. 5W50 is also good enough as the "50" number is for the higher temperatures. The higher this number, means the better the oil performs at higher ambient temperature. Last edited by tsk1979 : 28th June 2007 at 10:39.
	() Thanks

28th June 2007, 11:52	#345
Sam Kapasi Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mumbai (but wat Posts: 6,939 Thanked: 2,479 Times View My Garage	Be careful while changing to Castrol fully synthetic. There is some funny clause in the report, i read. I read that Castrol Edge begins it's life with the characteristics of a Mineral oil, but later, with use develops the charcater of a full synth. Thanks but all this sounds wishy washy to me. AFAIK, Mobil 1 is merely a standard. One of the dependable Full synths. I have no doubt in my mind that brands like OWS and Shell Helix are just as good. From what Rtech says, Motul is better, I can assure you, it's hard to find. I have a friend who used Fuchs (It's foooks) Synth and swears by it. Of course, I heard the company has packed up and gone back home.
	() Thanks