[hserus]

Originally Posted by JMaruru

What would be the next best fully synthetic diesel engine oil after 'Mobil Delvac 1' for Swift VDi?

I have 'Mobil Delvac 1' running now and would like to try the next best fully synthetic diesel engine oil for the upcoming service.

Please suggest!

Maruti suggests -

5W/30 (A5/B5)
or
5W/40 (A3/B4)

Both these are "petrol and light diesel service" type oils.

While you can use a diesel specific HDEO (Heavy Duty Engine Oil) like Mobil Delvac 1 or Amsoil 5w40 Turbo Truck, it is a bit of overkill for a relatively smaller engine like the 1.3 DDIS / MJD. So the A5/B5 or A3/B4 manufacturer spec is just fine.

You can try these -

Amsoil Signature 5w30 (ACEA A5/B5)
https://www.amazon.in/5W30-Signature...dp/B00EXBSLBC/

5w40 A3/B4 has a wide variety of oils
Shell Helix Ultra 5w40

Castrol 5w30 A3/B4
https://www.amazon.in/Castrol-06037-...dp/B0161A4D1O/

Amsoil 5w40 A3/B4
https://www.amazon.in/AMSOIL-Europea...dp/B01DETS2WQ/

[chaudh2s]

Originally Posted by R2D2

I have stressed this time and again (on the synthetic oil thread) that diesel vehicle owners MUST use contemporary diesel specific oils. DO NOT blindly use synthetic oils without checking the API Cx grade.

I am using Shell Helix Ultra 5w-40 ACEA A3/B4 in my Grand i10 (D). Hyundai recommends minimum B4 specification oils to be used in this car. Is this oil that am using in my car safe to use or should i switch over to some other oil.

[hserus]

Originally Posted by chaudh2s

I am using Shell Helix Ultra 5w-40 ACEA A3/B4 in my Grand i10 (D). Hyundai recommends minimum B4 specification oils to be used in this car. Is this oil that am using in my car safe to use or should i switch over to some other oil.

It is an OK oil for light duty diesels (smaller engines).

Most small hatch / sedan type cars will use petrol and light duty diesel oils and the dedicated diesel ones are heavy duty, much better suited if you have several thousand km running and/or if you have a big (say 2 liter ++) engine like a SUV.

However the Hyundai engine oil recommendation seems to say API CH4 now so you're ok with a better diesel specific oil.

Mobil Delvac 1, or Amsoil 5w40 Turbo Truck.

VEHICLE ENGINE RECOMMENDED GRADE SPECIFICATION TOTAL QUANTITY
Grand i10 1.1L API CH 4 SAE 15 W40 4.7 L

Check with your local oil shops for Delvac 1, or both that and Amsoil are available on Amazon.

[R2D2]

Originally Posted by chaudh2s

I am using Shell Helix Ultra 5w-40 ACEA A3/B4 in my Grand i10 (D). Hyundai recommends minimum B4 specification oils to be used in this car. Is this oil that am using in my car safe to use or should i switch over to some other oil.

Thing is, Helix Ultra is primarily a petrol engine oil and when it comes to API specs it manages to score a CF. Modern diesels manufactured after 2009 require a better diesel API spec lube. However, if Hyundai says ACEA A3/B4 will suit your engine and Helix Ultra meets that specification then by all means continue to do so.

However, also check if Hyundai mentions an API specification and if required select a more contemporary oil. There are various diesel specific oils out in the market nowadays and IMHO would suit your engine better than SHU. Engine manufacturer's recommendations must always be met or exceeded. It is more important to select the correct viscosity grade first (per the ambient temperature chart) and then the API/ACEA spec. Wrong viscosity can cause issues and even engine damage.

[hserus]

Originally Posted by R2D2

It is more important to select the viscosity grade first and then the API/ACEA spec. Wrong viscosity can cause issues and even engine damage.

http://customercare.hyundai.co.in/su...Diesel-23.aspx

Hyundai seems to have updated its recommendations to ask for a CH4 for their Grand i10 diesel. So a diesel engine oil like Delvac 1 / Amsoil Turbo Truck etc (or the various other CH4 ++ oils on the market) will fit the bill.

[R2D2]

Originally Posted by hserus

Hyundai seems to have updated its recommendations to ask for a CH4 for their Grand i10 diesel. So a diesel engine oil like Delvac 1 / Amsoil Turbo Truck etc (or the various other CH4 ++ oils on the market) will fit the bill.

Then I think it's better @chaudh2s were to opt for Delvac 1 or the Amsoil diesel as you and others did. Heck, I know these may be overkill for a small diesel car but when it comes to an engine oil it's better to be safe than sorry IMO. The only thing is for him to check if they meet engine viscosity requirements.

[hserus]

Originally Posted by R2D2

Then I think it's better @chaudh2s were to opt for Delvac 1 or the Amsoil diesel as you and others did. Heck, I know these may be overkill for a small diesel car but when it comes to an engine oil it's better to be safe than sorry IMO. The only thing is for him to check if they meet engine viscosity requirements.

Yup. BTW to continue our earlier discussion over PM I'm sticking with ACEA A5/B5 rather than a pure diesel oil, but getting Amsoil 5w30 Signature for my Fiesta.

[chaudh2s]

Originally Posted by R2D2

Then I think it's better @chaudh2s were to opt for Delvac 1 or the Amsoil diesel as you and others did. Heck, I know these may be overkill for a small diesel car but when it comes to an engine oil it's better to be safe than sorry IMO. The only thing is for him to check if they meet engine viscosity requirements.

CH-4 is not something new that they have added. It was there in the manual since the beginning. But, the point is they don't just say API-CH4 alone, but ACEA B4 also. I read somewhere that ACEA is more stringent as compared to API. Why this fascination with everything American. Everybody seem to talk about API, whether the oil conforms to API or not. Why not talk about ACEA? If the oil is meeting ACEA spec, then what is the problem? ACEA is European, API is American. Shell lubricants are more ACEA complaint since it's European brand, and Mobil lubricants are more API complaint since it's American company. To me it just seems to be a ploy by Mobil, to extract more money out of the pockets of customers, by manipulating specs and branding on their products, and selling at inflated prices, and we Mobil fanboys are biting the bait.

[hserus]

No need of this conspiracy theory please. ACEA specifications are detailed here and they are pretty broad, there is a certain amount of intersection between their spec and the API spec, though ACEA has some features targeted at European norms such as emissions control, for some of their variants.

https://www.oilspecifications.org/acea.php

Get an API CH4 ++ oil and you should be fine with ACEA B4

Originally Posted by chaudh2s

CH-4 is not something new that they have added. It was there in the manual since the beginning. But, the point is they don't just say API-CH4 alone, but ACEA B4 also. I read somewhere that ACEA is more stringent as compared to API. Why this fascination with everything American. Everybody seem to talk about API, whether the oil conforms to API or not. Why not talk about ACEA? If the oil is meeting ACEA spec, then what is the problem? ACEA is European, API is American. Shell lubricants are more ACEA complaint since it's European brand, and Mobil lubricants are more API complaint since it's American company. To me it just seems to be a ploy by Mobil, to extract more money out of the pockets of customers, by manipulating specs and branding on their products, and selling at inflated prices, and we Mobil fanboys are biting the bait.

[chaudh2s]

No i do not concur. My advice to fellow enthusiasts would be, not to waste your money looking for just API compatibility. If your car manual specifies an equivalent ACEA spec, do keep that in mind while scouting for engine oils. ACEA people are not stupid. Also ensure the oil that you are buying, is suitable for the ambient temperature range your vehicle would be subjected to, and you would be good. Putting a Mobil Delvac or other heavy duty engine oils, made for heavy duty cycles like for trucks, buses, and spending big bucks on that, is like buying trekking shoes for going for a walk in the kitchen garden. I know love is blind, but do not be brain dead while showering your love on your cars.

[R2D2]

Originally Posted by chaudh2s

CH-4 is not something new that they have added. It was there in the manual since the beginning. But, the point is they don't just say API-CH4 alone, but ACEA B4 also. I read somewhere that ACEA is more stringent as compared to API. Why this fascination with everything American. Everybody seem to talk about API, whether the oil conforms to API or not. Why not talk about ACEA? If the oil is meeting ACEA spec, then what is the problem?

Absolutely no issues matching using oils meeting API or ACEA norms as specified by your engine manufacturer. But more importantly please make sure the viscosity meets requirements.

ACEA is European, API is American. Shell lubricants are more ACEA complaint since it's European brand, and Mobil lubricants are more API complaint since it's American company. To me it just seems to be a ploy by Mobil, to extract more money out of the pockets of customers, by manipulating specs and branding on their products, and selling at inflated prices, and we Mobil fanboys are biting the bait.

Car manufacturers specify viscosity and types of oil meeting different standards including API, ACEA, ILSAC etc. What they specify depends on the type of engine, its service duty cycles, expected ambient temperatures the geographic area of sale etc.

I don't there's any conspiracy on the part of Mobil to manipulate customers. If you don't like Mobil or their pricing for any reason do consider other brands. We are all free to make our own choices in aftermarket oils once the car is out of warranty. Many of us have used multiple brands of oils in the past including Castrol, Amsoil, Shell, Elf, Motul, Idemitsu and Mobil to name just a few. It's up to you which brand and oil to use as long as it meets the requirements specified in the manual. Please note, API CF is a redundant spec used for engines manufactured before 2009. So the answer to your query about SHU is this - if you go by API it does not meet Hyundai's requirements. If you consider ACEA it does. IMO the oil should meet at least one or more category requirement. But more importantly it should meet viscosity specs. If your car can take 5W-40 continue with SHU, if it doesn't check for another brand and viscosity of oil that does.

[hserus]

ACEA A and B series specs are for light duty petrol and diesel engines and is a generic enough spec that it works fine for petrol as well as diesel vehicles that don't require a heavy duty oil.

For sedans and hatchbacks with normal levels of use you should be fine with such an oil.

If you have severe driving conditions such as long hours in city traffic or regular highway drives you can consider a specialist diesel oil. Such will have an ACEA E series spec such as E9/E7 rather than a B5 spec.

[chaudh2s]

Originally Posted by R2D2

So the answer to your query about SHU is this - if you go by API it does not meet Hyundai's requirements. If you consider ACEA it does. IMO the oil should meet at least one or more category requirement. But more importantly it should meet viscosity specs. If your car can take 5W-40 continue with SHU, if it doesn't check for another brand and viscosity of oil that does.

Thanks R2D2! Viscosity and at least 1 of the category requirements. Rightly said!

Replying to Hserus: Regarding ACEA E spec or other heavy duty API spec oils like Delvac, all i can say after reading ACEA specs is that they are designed for very extreme duty cycles wherein drain intervals goes upto 1 Lakh Km's. For our regular cars/SUV's these oils are an overkill. Most of us will sell our cars/SUV's after 2-3 Lakh Km's of use. Thereafter the new owner will get the engine overhauled anyways, that's the service life of light duty vehicles. The heavy duty vehicles cover 2-3 Lakh Km's in 3 months. Trains, Ships, Trucks drink this sort of stuff. That sort of service is exactly for which, heavy duty oils are designed for. Not for cars/SUV's driving in the city, deserts, doing offroading, etc. as you pointed out. Do you still want to waste your money on it? Go for it, it's your money.

[hserus]

Originally Posted by chaudh2s

Thereafter the new owner will get the engine overhauled anyways, that's the service life of light duty vehicles. The heavy duty vehicles cover 2-3 Lakh Km's in 3 months. Trains, Ships, Trucks drink this sort of stuff. That sort of service is exactly for which, heavy duty oils are designed for. Not for cars/SUV's driving in the city, deserts, doing offroading, etc. as you pointed out. Do you still want to waste your money on it? Go for it, it's your money.

Waste money on what? What does it cost you to fill Mobil Delvac 1 or Amsoil versus Shell Helix Ultra? The cans are comparably priced.

Do note that severe service for diesels is not just driving in all weathers carrying and towing loads. Just the usual stop start half clutch and/or frequent gear shift city traffic counts as severe for a diesel.

[chaudh2s]

Don't know about the rate at which Delvac is available at brick and mortar stores but on Amazon, 5L 5W-40 is available for 5K. Helix Ultra 5W-40 5L is available for 3K. Why waste 2K for a technology designed for trucks, construction machinery, farm equipment, and not specified for light duty cars/SUV's. If i go solely by ACEA specs, you can even say it is not allowed in light duty vehicles. A simple comparison of specs between Delvac and Helix Ultra, reveals why light duty engine oils are preferred over heavy duty oils for our cars/SUV's.