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

Btw, this time my mechanic took the trouble to caution me on his doubt about the quality or genuineness of my bottle of Mobil 1 New Life 0W40 (Tesco)



Note: This new Tesco 0W40 was 7.5 year old and bottled on 29 July 2014!

He explains that this Mobil 1 New Life 0W40 of mine is very dark brownish/amber in colour , comparing against side by side the very light clear yellowish M1 Advance Full Synthetic 0W40 (supplied by him) shown below:




This post has been edited by zeng: Jan 19 2022, 01:52 PM

sealed oil got how long on the shelf life ?
maybe the 2014 oil already started to oxidize hence the oil color start to change into darker color ?

This post has been edited by 90Boyz: Jan 19 2022, 04:21 PM

Mobil has randomly mentioned shelf life of sealed oil in proper storage conditions (like in shade within warehouse free from direct sunlight) is good for a duration of up to 5 years.

I haven't personally encounter online suggesting sealed oil shelf life of 7 years or 10 as being acceptable or fine either. CMIIMW.

You have a basis in suggesting this 7.5 yo M1 has commenced oxidation before use, and 'this' oxidation may have made my M1 New Life looks brownish/amberish in relation to my mechanic's current stock of M1 Adv Full Synthetic.

However, I had come across a small number of UOAs' (used oil analyses) of oils with shelf life exceeding 7 or 10 years being put into engines' usage/operation at reasonable mileage and all had returned with reasonably good or acceptable metal wear rates in the final analysis.

Hence, pre-use longer term storage 'oxidation' phenomenon...... I'm not worried base on above scenario.

Evidence and facts? I must confess I don't have one off-hand ATM.

You may also wish to take note that both the M1s' above has MB 229.5 - approval (over and above API SN specs) that OEM recommends 30,000 km oil change intervals .....
to which I am not intending to stretch that far.

Incidentally, all my 3-4 previous packs of M1s' in use are probably around the same age as this sample (with several more 4L packs in my store room waiting to be put into use in several years to come) and I'm of the opinion that their blotter spot tests at up to 15-20k kms, thus far, seems to hold up fine in my 'biased' opinion.

Also note the following points in the context of development and production of Toyota/Daihatsu K3 series engine in relation to launch dates of API SJ/SL/SM/SN (of which New Life is one):







This post has been edited by zeng: Jan 20 2022, 11:08 AM

Hello bro zeng, I'm the one with Hilux Revo 2019 & Helix Protect 0W-30 A3/B4, can't quote your reply for unknown reason..

I'm thinking of using Shell Helix Ultra ECT C2/C3 0W-30 for my next oil change, out of curiosity to compare it with my current Helix Protect 0W-30 A3/B4.

My manual recommends 5W-30, 10W-30, 15W-40, 20W-50, API CF/CF-4 or B1, B2, B3, B4, B5; oil change interval is 5,000km.

The above recommendation is for Euro II, 500ppm sulfur diesel fuel. For Euro IV, 50ppm sulfur, the oil change interval is 10,000km.

Currently, I only pump Shell's Euro 5 diesel fuel, 10ppm sulfur, thus explains my current 10,000km oil change interval using A3/B4 oil.

In the manual, particularly for Japan & Europe, with Euro 5 & 6 diesel fuel, 10ppm & lower sulfur content, the oil recommendation is 0W-30 C2, 10,000km oil change interval.

The recommendation above for Euro 5 & 6 diesel fuel sparks my interest in using C2 grade engine oil, as I currently using Shell's Euro 5, 10ppm sulfur diesel fuel.

What's your opinion on this bro?