ARTICLE: Synthetic oil vs Mineral oil

[tsk1979]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[SuperSyn]

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]

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]

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

[tadukuttan]

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]

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]

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

@tsk1979 is 15w50 easily available

[moralfibre]

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]

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]

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]

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.