This Noack 6.0% can't be a semi synthetic oil , IMO.
I believe it is a full synthetic oils.
It would be wise to sapu these fully synthetics paying for semi synthetic price.
Alas, I have already a huge stash of fully synthetics in stock awaiting to be used .

This post has been edited by zeng: Oct 4 2019, 10:33 PM

the only way is do another voa on it

Well,SL version of Helix HX7 5W30 has a VOA Noack of 7.4 % ; whilst
Shell Helix HX8 5W30 SN MB229.3 has a VOA Noack of 6.6 % .

There is no doubt on my part on the base oils quality of these three Shell oils here.

maybe Shell has perfected the GTL processes to a degree that its yield is so high that they can just pass it off as semi-syn, and play around the additive level as differentiation with fully-syn.

then again, as per those voa sheets in oilclub.ru, hx7 has (almost) identical additive level as SHU, making these 2 almost indistinguishable to the consumers apart from the appearance of the containers.

Shell Formula 5W30 is sometimes called Conventional, and other times called Full synthetic, granted its VI of about 160 or so.

However, the 2011 PQIA voa sample shows a very high Noack of 14.9 % and also generally much higher content of Sulphur at 3471 ppm .



It's said to be composed of Shell Very High VI (VHVI) base oil, of which I am a bit doubtful of its quality in relation to other name brand's (say, Mobil 1) or Shell GTL base oil quality .

So, be cautious with Shell oils though .

But with VOA's or UOA's(Refer to post#1) and blotter spot test performance, I feel assured about the base oil quality of the 3 Shell oils mentioned above.

This post has been edited by zeng: Oct 6 2019, 09:26 PM

Dear @zeng
Would you be willing to review this 48hr blotter spot ? Thanks in advance.



Car make: Nissan AD Resort 1.6L Manual (Carburetor)
Odometer: 307030 km
EO in use: Mannol Diesel Extra 10w40 API CH-4/SL
EO mileage: 9771 km
Traffic conditions: 95% stop-go in town

Hi Chemistry ,
There is absence of darkened or black perimeter ring or rim surrounding the centre/deposit zone , indicating absence of or negligible amounts of insolubles or semi-solubles ,or coagulation of contaminants and pollutants within the oil eco system , that has been properly and successfully dispersed away from metal contacting surfaces as represented by the transparent and light-coloured centre zone area and its absence of opaquecity .

Taking Russian site formula for Coefficient of Dispersancy CD = 1 - ( d*d/D*D ) , where
d = outer diameter of 'gray perimeter ring,per se' inclusive of centre zone and/or part of diffussion zone , 45 mm in your picture ; and
D = outer diameter of diffussion zone (just within translucent ,fuel zone if any), being 95 mm here ,
Your CD is 0.77 which is well above the arbitrarily set oil change limit of 0.3 .

IMHO, this 9771 km used CH4/SL Mannol oil is good to carry on in service , if you so wish or comfortable .

Yes, you have some fuel dilution problem which I feel is academic and of no issue in the oil's continuing service ,yet .

Note:95% stop-go in town is classified by OEM as severe service implying oil change intervals is to be halved . However , in the absence of UOA, your blotter spot indicates the oil condition and its detergency/dispersancy capabilities is in good shape , IMO .

This post has been edited by zeng: Oct 24 2019, 11:56 AM

Thank you so much for your detailed evaluation.
I shall extend oil change for another 1month or two.

An 'ugly' 15600 km blotter spot from Russia ,
do you think it is good to go on ??

Hope you can share with us here the end of life blotter spot , as part of learning .

No problem . Will do.

Honda City Gm2 year 2009
Current Odo : 116,164
Date: 13/10/2019
Blotter time : 7:30pm (picture after 48hrs)
oil age : 6,279km
Engine oil used :Shell Helix HX8 X 5w30

at 6279km color of the engine oil looks clear. this EO not bad leh

Hi,
As someone commented above , this blotter spot is very clean and clear .
There is absence of dark centre zone and perimeter ring .
Very little combustion contaminants and dirt .
No sign of fuel dilution and water moisture .
IMHO, this HX8 is good to go on further .

Thanks Sir
shall come back when hitting 8k mileage on the result

Honda City Gm2 year 2009
Current Odo : 118,053
Date: 23/12/2019
Blotter time : 7pm (picture after 24hrs)
oil age : 8,168km
Engine oil used :Shell Helix HX8 X 5w30

Hi,my comments on 6279 km blotter generally still applies in this 8168 km HX8 5W30 .
Total absence of dark coloured perimeter ring and centre spot/zone .
Duffusion zone has not a shade of grey colour , indicating very very low levels of contaminants and dirt .
I think your engine is super clean to begin with , meaning you had previously very short oil change intervals and consistently well maintained by you .
You may compare this clean 8168 km blotter against other 8000 - 10000 km blotters on post #1, and I would be personally confident to go on for many more thousands of km .

This post has been edited by zeng: Dec 27 2019, 10:41 AM

Hi bro @zeng,
I have stretched another 1000km since last blotter spot.
Could you take a look at this latest blotter spot? Thanks in advance.

Car make: Nissan AD Resort 1.6L Manual (Carburetor)
Odometer: 308250 km
EO in use: Mannol Diesel Extra 10w40 API CH-4/SL
EO mileage: 11,000 km
Traffic conditions: 95% stop-go in town

Hi Chemistry,
Wow , fuel dilution seems indetectable this time round compared to previous 9771 blot which is good news with this carburrettor engine .
Yes, the shade of gray colour diffusion zone is slightly darker than before but it remains harmless IMO , because of the absence of darkened and opaque centre zone and absence of darkened perimeter ring .
Generally the contaminants (though slightly higher than 9771 km) has not coagulated into insolubles or semi-solubles and it is well dispersed .
Slight moisture is present , which does not render this used oil unfit .
IMO, this semi synthetic Mannol is still serviceable at 11000 km for further use .

thanks bro @zeng for evaluation. I'm glad to know how far this Mannol Diesel Extra can go.
By the way, I think it's about time to drain before this CNY.
p/s: the oil has been in service since Sep-2018