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

Yeah, it's very hectic close to CNY .
I had done 8000 - 10000 km with Petronas CI4 15W40 in Wira .
Notice the hugh capability of this Mannol HDEO in its detergency and dispersancy property in this 11000 km blot spot , in relation to PCMO's generally .

This post has been edited by zeng: Jan 1 2020, 12:14 PM

Checking engine oil condition using Blotter Spot Test method

Russian website English translation .

This post has been edited by zeng: Jan 2 2020, 10:52 AM

Honda City GM2 year 2009
Current Odo : 119,979km
Date: 15/01/2020
Blotter time : 8am (picture after 36hrs)
oil age : 10,094km
Engine oil used :Shell Helix HX8 X 5w30

Wow, clean and transparent blotter at 10094 km with complete absence of shade of grey colour in the centre zone, the perimeter ring and clean and yellowish diffusion zones .
Another achievement is the seeming absence of signs of water moisture , which I consider as exceptional after having gone through numerous blotter spots .
Personally, I would carry on with this oil up to a minimum of 15000 km , probably more .