Shell Helix Ultra

[CHEVY_BOY]

Hi guys, just changed oil and am now using SHELL HELIX ULTRA 15W - 50

Is this ok or should I go back to 10w - 40

Car is a VX 2002 V8...?

Thanks.

[VX2VESS]

higher K's and summer that will be ok....

[CHEVY_BOY]

Thanx for your reply - much appreciated.

Any one else have an opinion on this...

[CHEVY_BOY]

I guess no one else has any thoughts...thanks!

[Peter B - CV8]

What prompted you to change oils ???
Nothing wrong with the Helix 15-50 you have chosen. What were you running previously ??

[vschouten]

Would 15-50 give better protection to heavily worked\stressed engine on HOT day?

[Blown 454 AWD]

Would 15-50 give better protection to heavily worked\stressed engine on HOT day?


Yes, without a doubt, film strength reduces wear.





.

[CHEVY_BOY]

[QUOTE=450 kW Adventra;1039589]Yes, without a doubt, film strength reduces wear.




How about in colder weather - would this suit ...


I think magnatec 10w-40 was previous oil.

[Blown 454 AWD]

Check the viscosity @100C not 40C, you will see that the 2 oils are allot closer at running temperature (100C) than the 40C numbers imply.

SAE 10w60 means SAE 10 when cold and SAE 60 when hot.

A SAE 60 oil is about SAE 7 @ 100C, and that's a good one.

It's all to do with the V.I. (Viscosity Index)

SAE 10w60 is fine, no problems at all, this means a 15w50 must be OK too.

Cheers

Steve

[CHEVY_BOY]

Just checked and its actually Shell Helix 'Plus' not Ultra - oh well.

My fuel economy has improved - getting better avg per 100klm :)



How about at start up on cold mornings...would a 10w be better?

[Blown 454 AWD]

Just checked and its actually Shell Helix 'Plus' not Ultra - oh well.

My fuel economy has improved - getting better avg per 100klm :)



How about at start up on cold mornings...would a 10w be better?


The difference between 10w??? and 15w??? is zip in moderate climates, if you lived is sub zero conditions you may notice it for the first 2 minutes on a cold start up, after that the oil temp has risen sufficiently to flow much the same.

Cheers

Steve

[CHEVY_BOY]

The difference between 10w??? and 15w??? is zip in moderate climates, if you lived is sub zero conditions you may notice it for the first 2 minutes on a cold start up, after that the oil temp has risen sufficiently to flow much the same.

Cheers

Steve



Ok thanks mate.

Also, is it normal for fuel economy to be affected in a postive way as my fuel avg has come down?

[Mungrel]

I've never noticed any change in economy and i've used at least 3 different oils i can remember.
Genuine holden 10w30
Mobil Synth S 10w40 (or might have been 15w40)
and im currently using Castrol Magnatec.

Possibly because all are approximately the same grade.

[Blown 454 AWD]

Ok thanks mate.

Also, is it normal for fuel economy to be affected in a positive way as my fuel avg has come down?



In my experiences oil quality has shown a more noticeable impact on reducing fuel consumption slightly than oil thickness (viscosity) has.

I have seen many times where a thicker higher quality lubricant has made an engine allot livelier, more responsive than a lower quality thinner oil. (espeicaly big engines)

The greater film strength of the higher viscosity reduces wear.

When components in an engine push through the oil film and touch, tearing metal off with lighter oils, this often absorbs more power than a thicker viscosity oil that protects better.

Cheers

Steve

[CHEVY_BOY]

In my experiences oil quality has shown a more noticeable impact on reducing fuel consumption slightly than oil thickness (viscosity) has.

I have seen many times where a thicker higher quality lubricant has made an engine allot livelier, more responsive than a lower quality thinner oil. (espeicaly big engines)

The greater film strength of the higher viscosity reduces wear.

When components in an engine push through the oil film and touch, tearing metal off with lighter oils, this often absorbs more power than a thicker viscosity oil that protects better.

Cheers

Steve



From memory the magnatec 10w-40 was less noisy than the shell helix 15w-50 at start up.

When engine has warmed up though it seems to be fine and probably more responsive than the magnatec :)

[karter42]

From memory the magnatec 10w-40 was less noisy than the shell helix 15w-50 at start up.

When engine has warmed up though it seems to be fine and probably more responsive than the magnatec :)

I know this has been covered many times....

My VX runs Magnatec 10-40 and is super quite cold and hot. Penrite, Shell - slight rattle when hot only, so Magnatec is right for it.

My VY however, got a dose of Magnatec and rattled its brains out cold and hot so I changed last night to Shell Helix 15-50. Cold and Hot today, unbeleivable no rattling at all, go figure.....

Dave.