Hi bro zeng, 10k km update

Odo: 35,877km
Fuel: Diesel Euro 5
Oil age: 10,081km

Engine still feel & sound smooth as before, fuel economy still the same.


20 minutes


24 hours


48 hours


72 hours

The oil condition

Is it advisable to continue service bro?

Hi Bro,

From your earlier post in April this year, the oil in use is a Shell Helix Protect 0W30 SN+ A3B4


There is absence of darkened or grayed centre zone indicating very low levels of high-density or heavy contaminants like metalic wear.

Aureole zone/perimeter ring is not about to darken/gray yet and there isn't any agglomeration of contaminants/soot of concern which is good news.

Detergency and Dispersancy properties of this used oil seems to be in top shape.

Diffusion zone is very bright 'white' and transparent indicating this 10,081 km diesel blotter has very low levels of light-density carbon soots and combustion contaminants.

There is absence of darkened jagged zig-zag external edge indicating no severe phenomena of water moisture and oil oxidation.

Translucent halo at outermost zone is absent indicating absence of fuel dilution problem in this diesel DI engine.

The blotter indicates a very clean engine internal conditions which is normal in a 36k kms Odo engine.

Overall, I'm of the opinion this Shell Helx Protect 0W30 SN+ A3B4 used oil sample at 10,081 km is holding up very well and it still has plenty of residual life left for further use and continuing service, if you're comfortable with it and mindful of 'loss' of warranty rights probably (Pl clarify with conservative SC).

Just my 2 sen.

Note:
50% tarmac and 50% off-road usage is considered as severe according to 'passenger' car manufacturers. However a Hilux is designed/meant for such use.
At 10k kms usage, this blotter spot test indicates no issue.

This post has been edited by zeng: Dec 22 2021, 07:43 AM

🙏 thanks bro zeng. I've been servicing the car myself since after 2nd service at toyota, so warranty is out of the picture, hahah. It seems that the oil look 'cleaner' at 10k km compare to 5k km, I guess the oil 'cleaned-off' the residue from previous different spec'd oil.

Honda City GM2 year 2009
Current Odo : 152,896KM
Date: 24/12/2021
Blotter time : 8:00am (picture after 72hrs)
oil age : 5,873km
Engine oil used : Shell Helix HX8 X Fully Synthetic 5W30 SN


This post has been edited by 90Boyz: Dec 27 2021, 12:51 PM

Hi Bro,
Thanks for the upload.

The Centre Zone (of about 8-10 mm diameter on physical sample) is clean, light coloured and transparent indicating minimal or absence of high-density and heavier dirt/contaminants, in particular metallic wear particles.

No sign of emerging darkened aureole zone/ perimeter ring indicating minimal or absence of commencement of agglomeration of insolubles/contaminants.

The diffusion zone is clean, light coloured and transparent representing minimal or absence of light-density contaminants/dirt and soots etc.

There is absence of jagged zig-zag annulus at the outermost edge indicating absence of or insignificant oil oxidation and/or moisture content phenomena within this 5873 km blotter spot indicating anti-oxidation property of HX8 X is still intact.

Absence of translucent halo at the outermost zone seems to indicate absence of fuel dilution problem in this 2009 City.

As always, no indication of coolant contamination within oil sample.

Imho, this HX8 X at 5873 km usage is still in top shape with plenty of residual oil life to extend for further use.

Don't play play with the superb performance of this 'super' high spec'ed HX8 X 5W30 often available at low and cheap price of RM100'ish from supermarkets like Giant from time to time.

Just my 2 sen.

Edit: I'm assuming HX8 X 5W30 from Shell Malaysia and HX8 (without X) 5W30 are both having one and the same oil formulations. CMIIMW.

This post has been edited by zeng: Dec 28 2021, 01:45 PM

thanks bro zeng on detail explanations , this hx8x i have mixed with liqui moly ceratec hoping can enhance riding performance

Basing on a VOA of HX8 5W30, a sibling of HX8 X 5W30, I would speculate this HX8 X has a multi-functional Moly element of about 35-40 ppm with near negligible Boron.

Both these two additive elements also serves as friction reducing friction modifier.

Now in the below attached VOA of Liqui Moly Ceratec, it has friction reducing element of:
a )Moly at 5419 ppm (parts per million concentration) and
b )Boron at 359 ppm.

Hence, this campur aduk oil blend of yours currently in your City engine has a high propensity and capacity of friction-reducing property (and thicker minimum oil film thickness for components protection).

Try to feel or monitor by your ownself the increased smoothness and increased power torque delivery of the City engine currently, as opposed to the previous HX8 X without Ceratec, if perceptible.



This post has been edited by zeng: Dec 28 2021, 03:22 PM

Mobil 1 New Life 0W40 (Tesco) MB229.5
Oil Life : 17,080 km
12+ months oil life thus far .
ODO :331,093 km in
Car model: Toyota Avanza 1.3L
Engine: K3VE Multi Port Injection
Added some 100 mL of graphited engine oil in Elf Molygraphite 15W50 .
Make up oil added : Yes, about 500 mL (of Shell HX5 15W40) several days before current blotter date.
Oil level seems to drop by about 500 mL.

96 hour blotters,





Comments to follow, next week.

The Centre Zone is slightly darkened though not fully darkened, quite transparent and yellowish indicating presence of high-density and heavy combustion dirt particles like metal wear etc.

Good news is, there is absence of emergent darked aureole zone/perimeter ring (of about 10 mm diameter on real sample) indicating agglomeration of dirt contaminants has not commenced, if present.

Inner annulus of Diffusion Zone is a bit darkened/grey but remains sort of transparent and not opaque indicating quite substantial levels/amounts of light-density combustion by-products like contaminants and soot.

Outer annulus of Diffusion Zone remains quite clean, light coloured and transparent indicating the used oil sample's capacity to receive or absorb further quantities of light-density dirts.

The outermost jagged zigzag edge of the blotter is quite fully darkened indicating presence of moisture and substantial oil oxidation phenomenon.

Translucent halo at the outermost zone is absent indicating absence of fuel dilution phenomenon in the engine and oil sample.

As usual, engine coolant contamination is absent.

Imho, there is no cause of alarm or caution in immediate terms but it may be time to plan and schedule the next oil change with this 17,080 km used oil, before or immediately after coming CNY (falling on 1 Feb 2022).

Happy New Year 2022 and CNY in advance, btw.

This post has been edited by zeng: Jan 5 2022, 05:01 AM

Parallel imports of HX8 and SHU currently at RM99 Giant USJ1.
Both oils carry MB 229.5 approvals.


This post has been edited by zeng: Jan 6 2022, 08:38 PM

99 still not cheap enough. Hopefully got rm89 soon

Yes bro, RM89 is sometimes offered too. RM99 is not their cheapest.

thanks bro zeng.
so the 5w30 hx8 is still with SL spec, which is the same that i saw from the giant branch near my house.
i thought there is another version that other giant branches bring in with SN spec.

Oops, didn't realise this HX8 is SL.
Having said that, MB 229.5 approval was obtained by HX8 (according to Bevo site) surely not more than 2 years ago where basic API SN was required.
Prior to securing MB 229.5 approval recently, HX8 5W30 used to have in hand a MB 229.3 approval.
A PDS dated April 2015 attached below indicates HX8 5W30 was already an MB 229.3 with SN then.

 201504_HELIX_HX8_SYNTHETIC_5W_30_SN_A3B4_VW_50200_50500_MB_229.3__.pdf ( 37.83k ) Number of downloads: 21

The SL label we see here is imo, doubtful.

This post has been edited by zeng: Jan 6 2022, 11:10 PM

It's weird on how Shell UK can get their labelling wrong? SL ... SN...

Shell spent millions in marketing and they can't get their printing materials right?

according to this shit, its still SL, but you are right, its with MB229.3 approval.
btw, í'm using this too now for my city 2011, bought it from giant as well. i googled SL and was a bit shocked as its recommended for car older



but fortunately, i looked into the car manual and it says can accept SL and above.
in any case, i bought aisin for my next oil change.

This post has been edited by cempedaklife: Jan 7 2022, 09:58 AM

There is a lowyat query on the rather substantial difference in prices between HX8 5W30 open market (or probably HX8 X for Malaysian market) and Helix Ultra 5W40, should not their oil formulations and quality differ as well?

Please note that we are speaking in the context that all three oil formulations i.e:
1) HX8 5W30,
2) HX8 X 5W30 and
3) SHU 5W40)
are all MB 229.5 approved oils.

First off from my limited research, HX8 and HX8 X 5W30 (MB229.5 and SN) are of similar oil formulations in terms of similar base oil (as both being Shell GTL/XHVI base oils) and similar additive package (and supplier) if I may speculate.

My basis is by looking at their respective Viscosity Indices, Flash Points and Pour Points namely:

HX8* 5W30 VI(163) FP(244°C) and PP (-48°C)

*Note:Basing on HX8 MB229.3 as HX8 MB229.5 PDS somehow not available online.

vs
HX8 X 5W30 VI(177) FP(230°C) and PP (-45°C)


From the above, it appears to me both their base oils quite similar in being Shell GTL (Group 3+) mixing with very little if any, Shell XVHI (Group 3) base oils.

Contrast the above 2 HX8's with:
SHU 5W40 VI(168) FP(242°C) and PP (-45°C),


which I understand it to be 100% GTL (of thicker viscosity vs that of HX8 5W30 base oils) and free from Shell XHVI base oil.

Now, could the two HX8's with MB 229.5 approval contains zero or no XHVI Group 3 base oil, but of thinner viscosity vs that of SHU 5W40 ?

IDK but it is possible if I may speculate.

One thing is certain, 5W30 and 5W40 base oil resultant viscosities are different.

This post has been edited by zeng: Jan 8 2022, 05:50 PM

Shell did not make a mistake. It is common to label API SL or CI-4 instead of API SN/SP or CJ-4/CK-4 on modern engine oils that cannot meet the sulfur/phosphorus/sulfated ash limit (catalytic converter). This also affects TEOST test (direct injection & turbo)

See the Shell API SL label again, it said it meets all API SN engine tests

I don't believe this has any impact on the performance of the engine oil.

On the viscosity side, Shell's 5W-30 and 5W-40 are so close to each other

Thank you bro for uploading this chronology of API Sx specfications launching year (shall link it to Post #1) from:
19xx - API SA
1930 - API SB
...
...
2001 - SL
2004 - SM
2011 - SN
2017*- SN+ and
2020*- SP




Note*: Correct me if I'm wrong.

This post has been edited by zeng: Jan 10 2022, 01:08 PM

Mobil 1 New Life 0W40 (Tesco) MB229.5
Oil Life : 17,834 km
13 months oil life.
ODO :331,847 km in
Car model: Toyota Avanza 1.3L
Engine: K3VE Multi Port Injection
Added some 100 mL of graphited engine oil in Elf Molygraphite 15W50 .
Make up oil added : Yes, about 500 mL (of Shell HX5 15W40) mid December 2021.
Oil level seems to drop by about 500 mL.

72 hour blotters,





Current oil is replaced with another 6+ year old pack Mobil 1 New Life 0W40 (Tesco)

Comments to follow, next week.

Ok, following is my observations and comments:

The centre zone is not blackish or darkish but a bit greyish and not so transparent....
indicating presence of a certain level of heavy or high-density contaminants in the form of metal wear particles which I believe is harmless for now.

There is absence or non-emergence of darkened aureole zone/perimeter ring indicating no agglomeration of dirt particles has commenced.

It also points to detergency and dispersancy properties of used oil is still on top of situations and remains effective.

The diffusion zone is a bit yellowish and generally is not opague indicating a certain levels of light and low-density contaminants and combustion by-products are floating within this 17834 km blotter sample, still with residual life remaining.

The outermost edge of brownish jagged zig-zag indicating the phenomenon of oil oxidation and moisture being present.

There seems to be no sign of translucent halo at the outermost zone pointing to absence of fuel dilution within the used oil.

As usual, there is no signs of water coolant contamination within this M1 0W40 used oil sample.

This oil is replaced in conjunction with valve cover gasket replacement.

This post has been edited by zeng: Jan 19 2022, 01:22 PM