Originally Posted By: SR5
Hey B320i
I always thought that in Australia, Shell gave you the best bang for your buck. About a month ago they had the semi-synthetic Shell Helix HX7 10W-40 (SN, A3/B4, MB 229.3, VW 502/505, RN 700/710) on sale at $20 for 5L. That is a LOT of oil for your money, especially given that GTX 15W-40 mineral has a regular price of $36 for 5L.
Shell also make a full synthetic HX8 5W-30 (SN, A3/B4, etc) that is probably the least expensive full synthetic (Grp III) oil on the Australian market. Nothing came close until the full synthetic Castrol Magnatec appeared, but the HX8 still beats it by a few dollars on most days.
Then you have the GTL Shell Helix Ultra 5W-40 (SN, A3/B4, MB 229.5, BMW LL-01, Porsche A40) it's the least expensive oil with all these specs in Australia. You can pick this up for $65 or less (I got some for $40) when the roughly equivalent M1 0W-40 is more than $100 even on sale.
As the others above have said, logically all you need is HX5 15W-40 mineral, HX7 10W-40 semi-synthetic, HX8 5W-30 synthetic or Ultra 5W-40 GTL and you have pretty much covered most people with a quality product at the best local price. The rest is just playing around, more of a hobby for me.
I agree - the value seems very good for the Shell oils, and these oils look more than capable of going the distance. So it seems my concerns of quality are unfounded, and the oils will perform to expectation.
As I said, I'm practically 'done' with the fully-synthetic oils/LongLife approval nonsense, hurts the old wallet far too much. Fact is, the car is from 1993 and suggested API SG / CCMC-G5 oils for the factory interval of about 12,000km. Doing 6000-7000km intervals, I don't have much to worry about.
Just looking now, the Helix HX5 15w-40 is going at around $30 for 5L, with the Castrol GTX equivalent at about $35-$36 as you say. The HX7 10w-40 is at just $32 at Kmart, not bad.
The simple product variety is a nice breath of fresh air.
Always seems pointless to me having 0/5/10/15w-30/40 etc., when one or two of each meeting the appropriate specification does the job just fine. I guess its for different tastes and price ranges.
I'm going to suggest a "watch this space," once the car is due an oil change, looks like Shell Helix 15w-40 or 10w-40 is going to be "it." Will hopefully remember to do a UOA and/or VOA, too.
Thanks for the neat little breakdown, SR5.
Originally Posted By: Popsy
I ran HX7 in my diesel for years (and HX5 sometimes too), it was the best semi-synth I tried regarding smoothness and keeping engine noise low throughout the OCI (also the only semi-synth I tried with MB 229.3).
Very interesting. Aside from Rotella T6, which I sourced on eBay (being in Australia: good price for a synth, by the way!), my experiences thus far with Penrite and Mobil aren't great for noise levels.
The Rotella really did hush things up nicely, although the lifter were still noticeable. My aim is to do some shorter intervals to try and clean things a bit, and hopefully a good -40 may be an improvement over the -50 in there at present. So no need for a synthetic at $88 + $10 shipping.
Originally Posted By: Shannow
he engineer in me knows that the Helix, GTX, and XLD 15W40s would be everything I ever need, and can often be bought for sub $20 for 5 litres.
But I just can't stop doing what I'm doing with synthetics and THEIR specials.
I understand the temptation to try different oils, especially if the price is right. As I've come to understand, those oils are really all most people need. Simple, good prices and meet the latest API certifications, and in some cases, ACEA A3/B4 too.
In my searches here on BITOG, there has been mention of the XHVI or "Slack Wax" that Shell and others were using in many of their conventional oils. It is supposedly superior to your typical Group 3/Hydrocracked Synthetic. Has the use of this product decreased with the new GTL base-stocks now in use?