At 395k km, your engine appears very good shape by looking at your blotter spot.

Now, your mineral Formula Shell 10W40 has a VI of 154 :



Compare this against Senscents' so called fully synthetic FS 5W30 (which at times claim mineral ) , also has a VI of 157 :

My interpretation of Formula Shell 5W30 SN is also a mineral oil, not quite a fully synthetics as occassionally claimed.

I really like to see your FS 10W40 at 8000 - 10000 km blotter spot and see how it fares.

This post has been edited by zeng: Dec 30 2018, 12:17 AM

I think the correct PDS for Formula Shell 5W30 Synthetic is as below..... it has obviously higher VI than the mineral version.

Hi Zeng,
Below is my Wira 1999, 1.3 engine oil. Please give me a reading. EO used at 1537km. Thanks.



This post has been edited by BravoZeroTwo: Jan 1 2019, 05:22 PM

Hi BZT,
Absence of centre zone perimeter ring, which is good news and quite expected for a 1500 km oil.
There is a lot of life left, and may be take another blotter spot test at 3000 - 5000 km from now and evaluate.
Btw, what's the oil type and viscosity grade ?

This post has been edited by zeng: Jan 1 2019, 07:59 PM

HI Zeng,
Am using Caltex Magnatec 10W-40. Mileage is 234131km.

14100 km blotter spot at 72 hrs, Shell Helix Ultra 5W40 (bought from Giant).

Absence of centre zone perimeter ring, and going ......




This post has been edited by zeng: Jan 8 2019, 11:15 PM

Thanks, BZT.
This is probably SN only.
Magnatec 10W40 with SL and A3B4 used to be available from Tesco/Aeon Big, but no more now.

Hi Zeng,
Which is a better EO to use for my ride ? Is SL higher than SN ? My EO I got it from the workshop and it is locally made. Thanks in advance.

BZT,

Firstly, I would speculate your 1999 Wira manual calls for API SJ or SH/SG and these are difficult to get in the market today.

In itself , SL spec is inferior than SN which supercedes SM and SL etc.
However, an API SL with ACEA say, A3B4 specification is stronger or better than a sole rated API SL specification in respect of :
a) Better base oil quality is required to pass the more stringent A3B4 spcifications, and
b) Better or higher quality additive package is required to pass the more stringent A3B4 specs, among others.

Is API SL with A3B4 specification exceeds or surpass an API SN specification in (a) and (b) above ?
This answer is not straight forward in general terms as there are different test sequences for each of them above.

Having said this an API SN with A3B4 specification is stronger than sole rated API SN specification in (a) and/or (b) above.

But please bear in mind that when it comes to specific or individual products , I wouldn't say for certainty every single SN/A3B4 product in our market is surpassing or superior than ALL SN products, if you understand what I mean.

As oil companies are withholding 'proprietary' performance parameters from consumers,IMHO it's prudent and proper to make purchase decisions base on API/ACEA specifications and standards, whilst allowing for unknowns in individual variations between products.

In gist , my oil selection methodology follows a certain sequence like;
1) First, look for OEM approvals in VW, MB , BMW, Porsche etc then, >>>>>>
2) ACEA specifications like C3,C2, A3B4, A5B5 etc then lastly , >>>>>>
3) API SN/SM/SL etc , whilst taking note of price/ value for money and whether it's fully synthetic or semi synthetics or minerals.
Note:In practice, I ignored totally API SN/SM/SL ratings for its irrelevance in my oil selection.

In other words, I would pick a mineral SM/A3B4 over another semi synthetic SN for its technical specifications.

This post has been edited by zeng: Jan 9 2019, 10:54 PM

Thanks, Zeng for your time.

Aeon Big Subang Jaya:
Magnatec SN 10W40 (Made in Thailand/Malaysia) , 4L for RM159 list price.


Total Quartz 7000 Energy SN A3B4 10W40 (Made in EU/France) , 5L for RM129 list price.
Note:In post #1,I used SL version.


This post has been edited by zeng: Jan 13 2019, 02:10 PM

HI, Zeng,
I previously used Total but can't find them in Tesco anymore which I used them for a year plus without any oil change. As for Castrol, workshop sold me for RM145.

This post has been edited by BravoZeroTwo: Jan 14 2019, 10:15 AM

Zeng, your view is that oil only follow mileage but not time right?

Say, if I only do 5k km a year, I should change my fully synthetic oil every 2 years?

In your case , follow mileage will do , not time as we always heard as Malaysia never had winter or for that matter spring/autumn where cold temperature promotes corrosion.

You may consider using a cheaper semi synthetic for 2 years of 10,000 km usage, IMO.

Note: Our minimum ambient temperature is 24*C, vs gwailous winter temperature up to -40*C or lower , go figure.

Note2: I had seen a few UOA's of 4-7 year old used engine oils on Bitog that demonstrates tip top condition.

This post has been edited by zeng: Jan 14 2019, 03:24 PM

Tesco sold me Total SL A3B4 10W40 in 2015 .
For past 2 years or so, I couldn't get from Tesco /Aeon Big and Giant.
Surprised that Total SN A3B4 10W40 5L pack could be found today in Aeon Big (Subang Jaya) for RM 129 list.
Btw, Giant has promotion for fully synthetic Helix Ultra 5W40 SN A3B4 vw ,MB for RM 99 often times.

This post has been edited by zeng: Jan 14 2019, 03:22 PM

17138 km blotter at 50 hrs.

Shell Helix Ultra 5W40 (from Giant)




Still absence of centre zone perimeter ring .

Oil changed for CNY.

This post has been edited by zeng: Jan 15 2019, 01:46 PM

Really good value for money!

Remember both SHU 5W40 and 5W30 have powerful OEM approvals in MB 229.5; BMW LL01; Porsche A40; VW 502 505; A3B4 etc.

VOA Shell Helix Ultra 5W40 (Russia)

A good reference, but not necessarily same as the formulation we get here. At least speaks volumes that they can produce damn good oils also.

Too bad no 5w30 version to reference, interested to know the noack on this viscosity.