ARTICLE: Synthetic oil vs Mineral oil

[SunnyBoi]

Originally Posted by chandrda

I have a Fiat Palio 1.6 GTX 2003 which has run 86000 KMS. I am planning to switch to Mobil 1 Fully Synthetic Oil from Shell Semi Synthetic Oil. I am not very happy with the Shell Oil as the engine becomes very noisy and rough at around 4000 KMS after oil change.

Before the switch, I am also planning to do a engine flush using Bardhal Engine Flush and then fill Mobil 1.

Here are my concerns -

1. I am getting mixed feedback for engine flush on an old engine which has run 86000 KMS. Will it damage the seals and cause irreversible damage to engine.
2. Should I use a new semi synthetic oil for 500 KMS and change to Mobil 1 without engine flush

Regards

I always ran Full Synthetic oil in my palios. I have tried Shell Helix Ultra, Mobil 1, Motul 8100 X-Cess and Valvoline Synpower. Out of all these, Motul was by far the best followed by the cheap yet very good Valvoline.

I have flushed the engine on both my cars before putting in full Synthetic and I haven't seen any adverse effects. There is day and night difference between Mineral and Full Synthetic oils on the 1.6, the improvement is well worth the additional cost of the oil.

[sgiitk]

Originally Posted by mxh

What they filled at the service station last time was 5W-30, and is mentioned as mineral oil in the invoice. I believe it's actually a blend since mineral oil generally is like 20W-40 etc. Is the 0W-30 you mention fully synthetic oil?

0W<anything> will be a full synthetic. You are right 5W30 should actually be a semi-synth. Once you are out of warranty and doing less that 12,000km a year then switching to an annual change is fine. I am on annual changes in my Civic (synth), Brio (semi-) as is my son on his City (about 12,000km pa, now synth), and his wife's Amaze (under 8,000 pa).

[Gansan]

I am on an annual oil change for my Alto which does just about 5k KM a year. That is the only reason which keeps me away from fully synthetic oils. And the fact that a litre of synthetic oil costs the same as three litres of semi synthetic HX-7 which I buy. If my car did 10k a year, I would have used Ultra, or at least tried it a couple of times.

BTW the semi synthetic HX 7 is now API-SN, I heard.

[straight6]

Shell has line of diesel only oils called Rimula. I wonder why most people don't consider this. Generally Diesel and Petrol oils have different specifications and ratings.

[Rahul Rao]

My VW Polo TDI no 55000 km run will be out of waranty within next next 6 months, I currently use the recommended Castrol OE 5W-40, but was planning to go in for higher grade from the 60000 km service.
While studying oil grades I realised that the Highest grade AP CJ-4 will not be able to sustain the sulfur in our diesel, it will be better to stick to a API Grade of CI-4 or CI-4+ until sulfur quantities are lowered further as planned in 2019 for Euro-6 introduction.

Rahul

[Sridhar K]

Originally Posted by R2D2

b) The 1.6 GTX is a petrol engine so the 'CF' rating does not matter. That rating for 'compression' ignition i.e. diesels. Petrol cars are 'S' i.e spark ignition.

My bad and apologies. My points were for a diesel engine and just missed the "G"TX part.

[kabir3551]

Hi R2D2. I just searched for Shell Helix Ultra Diesel on net and it is easily available on Amazon. Is it ok to buy from amazon?? Whats your take on it.

[sgiitk]

@kabir3551; Just one point, it is a liquid in a carboy. Even if the stuff is kosher (look at the vendors rating), transportation is always iffy.

[comfortablynumb]

Originally Posted by kabir3551

Hi R2D2. I just searched for Shell Helix Ultra Diesel on net and it is easily available on Amazon. Is it ok to buy from amazon?? Whats your take on it.

Sorry for butting in. If there's a Shell pump near your residence, please buy it from there, so that you are guaranteed of the oil being genuine.

Cheers,
Vikram

[kabir3551]

@sgiitk; thankyou. @comfortablynumb; yeah I have Shell pump near by. As per my calculations I will going in for synthetic oil probably by April end. As I am likely to surpass 10k kms by April end. Right now it is 7800kms.

[adg_andy]

Apologies for cross posting in different forums

Guys, I am thinking of going the fully synthetic engine oil way for my Beat petrol as I am easily doing 2 thousand kilometers every month now.However, I find that shell helix ultra is available at 5W40 and not 5W30 as advised for Beat. Suggestions?
Also, it is available at amazon for 3500 whereas shell petrol pumps offer it at 5000 , but they were saying about a discount of Rs 3/litre of petrol.

[sgiitk]

@adg_andy; 5W40 in place of 5W30 is fine, except you may have a 2-5% fuel consumption penalty.

[kabir3551]

@sgiitk; which grade of synthetic oil should be used for toyota innova. I mean 5w30 or 5w40

[sgiitk]

Originally Posted by kabir3551

@sgiitk; which grade of synthetic oil should be used for toyota innova. I mean 5w30 or 5w40

Make sure it is a diesel oil. Look at the owners handbook, and get the thinnest oil which meets the specs.

[Rahul Rao]

Originally Posted by kabir3551

@sgiitk; which grade of synthetic oil should be used for toyota innova. I mean 5w30 or 5w40

I used the recommended semi synthetic 10W-30 in my Innova till I sold it at 1.9 Lakh km. Same with second Innova sold at 1.64Lakh km, the purchaser of second innova was our driver who re registered as a taxi and used till 4.5 Lakh km, it was only at 4.0 lakh km or so that engine started drawing oil and change from 10W-30 to 10W-40 controlled it to less than 1/2 Lit /10,000 km.
So if you are going in for synthetic stick to 5W-30, and dont use the thicker 5W-40.

Rahul