What do you think ?
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https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthread...s_oil_change_up

A1.1) Round 1: Total Quartz 7000 Energy 10W40 SL/A3B4 in 2005 Avanza 1.3L K3-VE
A1.2) Blotters for :12,238 km ; 13,000 km ;13,673 km ; 14,218 km and 16,593 km
Note:Finally oil change at 16,631 km (10,334 miles) in early May 2017 after 9 months in use.
Fuel in use:
Mostly use : (Brand/RON#)  BHP RON 95 ;
Mixed with : (Brand/RON#)  None

A2.1) Round 2: Total Quartz 7000 Energy semi synthetic 10W40 SL/A3B4 in 2005 Toyota Avanza 1.3L K3-VE
A2.2) Blotters for : 5,087 km; 8,665 km ; 10,616 km ; 13,478 km and 15,000 km
Note:On 31 Jan 2018,after 9 months in use,this oil is replaced by fullsyn Shell Helix Ultra 5W40 MB 229.5

A3.1) Round 3: Shell Helix Ultra Full Synthetic 5W40 A3B4,MB 229.5,LL01,VW 50200 50500 in 2005 Toyota Avanza 1.3L K3-VE
A3.2) Blotters for :5575 km;10099 km;14100 km ;17138 km

E1 )Total Quartz 7000 Energy 10W40 semisyn SL A3B4 :-
a)  16,593 km ODO 247k, in  2005 Avanza 1.3 K3VE MPI ;
b) 15,000 km ODO 262k, -ditto-.

Aisin
5W30a )Aisin FS 5W30 (non-PAO) 13536 km and 14990 km  in 2002 Hyundai Elantra 1.8L G4GB @alphaz;

5W40a )Aisin FS (PAO+Ester) 5w-40 SN 12000 km in Elantra 2.0 NA (G4GC),ODO 194k km @speedy3210
Bardahl
5W40a )Bardahl MXP 5W-40 FS 4322 km, ODO 173k;6829 km, ODO 180k in Nissan Livina 1.6 NA @ putra23

Castrol
10W40a )Castrol Magnatec 10W40 SN 1537 km, ODO 234k km in 1999 Proton Wira 1.3 Fuel Injection ;

Honda
0W30a )Honda HMEO Fully Synthetic 0W30 3000 km;4000 km in 2011 Honda City,ODO 101,000 km @ cempedaklife

0W30b )Honda Fully Synthetic 0W30 3750 km in 2011 Honda City,ODO 107,750 km @ cempedaklife

0W30c )Honda Fully Synthetic 0W30 3222 km; 4622 km in 2010 Honda City L15A7,ODO 103k km @ Thrust;

Mobil
15W40a )HDEO Mobil Delvac mineral MX 15W40 (CJ4) 740 km/20 hours of track time, in KTM RC390 Motorcycle @e-lite;

Pennzoil
5W40a )Pennzoil Platinum Velocity 5W40 100%-synthetics 9900 km ,ODO 69k;17000 km, ODO 86k ;22000 km, ODO 91k in 2014 Myvi 1.3 K3VE EFI @Senscents;

Perodua
5W30a )Perodua SS 5W30 SM gold bottle 5000 km,ODO 133k;7000 km;8000 km in Kenari 1.0L @ahsam1212;

PetroCanada
0W30a )HDEO Petro Canada Duron XL 0w30 (API CH4/SJ) synthetic blend, 12707 km  ODO 283k,  in Nissan AD Resort 1.6L GA16 carburettor @chemistry;
15W40a )HDEO Petro-Canada Duron semi synthetic SHP 15w40 (CK4,E9,ECF-3) 11145 km ODO 295k ;12558 km ODO 297k, in Nissan AD Resort 1.6L GA16 carburettor @chemistry;
Petronas
10W40a )Petronas Syntium 800 SS 10W40 SN 4181 km in Toyota Vios NCP 42, Engine: 1NZ-FE ,ODO 189k km @XinG;
Shell
5W30
a )Formula Shell 5W30 "fullsyn"(?) SN GF5, 8500 km ODO 323k, in 1997 Wira 1.5 auto 4G15 carburrettor @Senscents;

b )Shell Helix Ultra Fully Synthetic 5W30 A3B4 (Made in Hong Kong) 10060 km; 14160 km ;15999 km  in 2002 Hyundai Elantra 1.8L G4GB @alphaz

c )Shell Helix HX7 semi synthetic 5W30 SN A3B4 7400 km ODO 60890 km , in Mazda3 @wkc5657

10W40
a )Formula Shell 10W40 mineral SN ,5466 km ODO 395k km, in 1999 Wira 1.6 MPI @speedy3210;

ATF Blotters
Toyota Type IV 32138 km in 2005 Toyota Avanza 1.3 automatic transmission;

UOA/VOA:
VOA Shell Helix Ultra 5W40 (Russia)
Z) Further readings:

On Site Oil & Fluid Analysis
Blotter Spot Test Helps Improve Engine Reliability
Sample Preparation and Test Procedure: A Quick Guide
Evaluating Lubricant Dispersancy
Chromatogram Patterns
Motor Oil Testing On The Cheap
ASTM D7899
Condition-based Lubricating Oil Change
One Drop Instant Lubricant Test

Where do u buy the chromatographic paper n how much bro ? Been using look at color n sediment in oil for oil changes....  

@zeng, What is your take on the limitation of the oil filter?

Say, the manufacturer allows for 10,000km, oil and filter change.

However, based on your expertise, the oil can go further, e.g. 15,000km.

Any change to the oil filter? would that then limit the extension of oil change interval?

Hi Jamespaul,
During 1970/80's , local OEM SC's had been recommending oil filter life of 10,000 km (i.e 2 oil changes @ 5000 km) till todate with use of API SE/SF oils and obsolete manufacturing technology such as 'metal finishing' on contacting components like crankshafts, camshafts, piston rings and piston liners.

As I understand it some (not sure if it's all) Europe VW and MB recommends 30,000 km oil change with Long Life oils like VW 50400 50700, MB 229.5, MB 229.51 etc but not sure about filter change intervals unless some readers can confirm it.

There maybe a 'progressive' OEM SC in KL recommending 15,000 km filter change coinciding with oil change,I don't know and I would like to know if there is any local OEM SC recommending 2X10,000 km or 2X15,000 km filter change.

I'd personally extended filter change to  17,138 km as per my blotter spot tests here with 280k ODO and I strongly believe my blotter is 'clean' enough for extending further filter change interval.

Instead of theorising and speculating on this one may spend chunks of money on UOA and Particle Counts or a  cheapo blotter spot test for better 'feel' .

Edit:With my limited knowledge on how oil filter works in our cars, I don't buy the concept of extending oil change interval by replacing oil filter  mid way of OCI.
I wouldn't be surprised if 30,000 km filter change interval is recommended in Europe, IDK.

From what I understand, European cars with extended OCI are using Fleece filter, which lasts up to 40,000km. So, they are fine for 15k to 25k km OCI

I understand that Japanese makers are using cellulose or paper, so hence, I was clarifying with you on if this could be the limitation.
Thanks!

I wouldn't be surprised if 30,000 km filter change interval is recommended in Europe, IDK.

Hi Jamespaul,
During 1970/80's , local OEM SC's had been recommending oil filter life of 10,000 km (i.e 2 oil changes @ 5000 km) till todate with use of API SE/SF oils and obsolete manufacturing technology such as 'metal finishing' on contacting components like crankshafts, camshafts, piston rings and piston liners.

As I understand it some (not sure if it's all) Europe VW and MB recommends 30,000 km oil change with Long Life oils like VW 50400 50700, MB 229.5, MB 229.51 etc but not sure about filter change intervals unless some readers can confirm it.

There maybe a 'progressive' OEM SC in KL recommending 15,000 km filter change coinciding with oil change,I don't know and I would like to know if there is any local OEM SC recommending 2X10,000 km or 2X15,000 km filter change.

I'd personally extended filter change to  17,138 km as per my blotter spot tests here with 280k ODO and I strongly believe my blotter is 'clean' enough for extending further filter change interval.

Instead of theorising and speculating on this one may spend chunks of money on UOA and Particle Counts or a  cheapo blotter spot test for better 'feel' .

Edit:With my limited knowledge on how oil filter works in our cars, I don't buy the concept of extending oil change interval by replacing oil filter  mid way of OCI.
I wouldn't be surprised if 30,000 km filter change interval is recommended in Europe, IDK.

You have to take into account that Europe's fuel and engines are designed for Euro 6 already with less sulphur in the fuel. Their oils also call for low ash formulation.

For our Malaysian roads, most of the time our driving falls under "severe" category due to heat and stop & go traffic.

I find that the higher the mileage, the less obvious the center ring is on mobil 1 oil. Does that mean the oil detergent works harder at higher mileage? Anyone could enlighten me?

I lost the blotter test sample at mileage below 2000km but I can assure that the center ring was very obvious at lower mileage.

It may be true at times that a higher mileage oil has less obvious centre ring than a lower mileage oil, whether or not it's a Mobil 1.
It appears to me mileage is not the one and only one factor that affects the 'shape' of a blotter spot test, though it's likely the primary one when we look at an oil's 'trending' in a blotter spot test .
Other factors like oil temperature , engine components temperature etc may 'shape' a blotter spot test centre ring other than lighting etc.

Edit:The 7000 km Mobil 1 ESP has indications of fuel dilution phenomenon, is the engine a Turbo direct injection type ?

Thanks for the reply. That has been very helpful.

Yes. The mobil 1 ESP 5W30 is on turbo gasoline direct injection engine. Is that normal to have dilution on this type of engine? The sample was taken when the engine is hot after about 1 hour travel.

Gasoline Direct Injection is more prone to fuel dilution problem.
If yours is a certain Japanese or American GDI, I would think it could be 'normal' as some OEM's seems helpless in preempting this problem for some SC's are clueless about the problem and its solution .
European OEM's seems to do better in this .

Anyway looking at your 7000 km blotter and strong specs of M1 ESP 5W30,


I would hazard a guess that it does no harm to the engine at 7000 km, and the oil is still serviceable IMHO.

Edit:BTW, this engine oil spec is recommended for 30,000 km OCI by European MB/VW.

Edit2: Since this 7000 km blotter was taken hot after an hour of travel, it's clear to me the outermost zone points 'solely' to fuel dilution phenomenon.
Most likely it's attributed to being a Gasoline Direct Injection rather than out-of-tune fuel system.

Hi Guys,

One thing i do not understand that Shell Helix Ultra 5W-40 vs Shell Helix HX8 5W-40. Both are full sync. But why price wise different by so much? Around RM100 per bottle. Any diff? Are they both giving the same performance?

Hi Guys,

One thing i do not understand that Shell Helix Ultra 5W-40 vs Shell Helix HX8 5W-40. Both are full sync. But why price wise different by so much? Around RM100 per bottle. Any diff? Are they both giving the same performance?

my guess its different quality for application

Imagine, Nippon paint having indoor paint and outdoor paint.

both made my Nippon, one is suitable for outdoor (helix Ultra), one is suitable for indoor (HX8)

Both are good quality paints

Ultra meets more stringent specs.

Their qualities are different.
Ultra 5W40 specs are higher, with BMW LL01, MB 229.5, Porsche A40 etc requiring higher grade base oil (GTL ?) AND higher quality additives package etc.
For applications that did not call for above OEM approvals AND oil change interval < 10,000 km say, they are the same.
For OCI > say 15,000 km , they may not be the same IDK.
In Europe Mercedes, Ultra 5W40 may be spec'ed for 30,000 km OCI. Helix 8 doesn't meet the requirements.

Thanks for the info. Is the label MB stand for Mercedes Benz? Correct me if im wrong.
Anyway, just change to Shell Helix Ultra 5w-40 and hope my old engine wont take a sip or two of Shell when coming next service.