Oil this old chesnut

lozcb

lozcb

Member
Messages
12,545
Collecting bits at the moment ready for a major service on the GS , up here in MK ive had real problems getting hold of Shell helix 5w-40 in quantity 4/5 litre cans i can only buy it from shell garages at £16.99 a litre ( yeah like i would part with that kind of money )

Anyway , thought i would give Opie oils a ring , really helpful but they dont stock it , they presented me several options from £24.99 per 5 ltr to £50 per 5 ltr i asked them what was the equiverlant to shell helix thinking it had to be up their with the best , and he said well to be honest shell helix is pretty average , my view was to go for something better to stay on the safe side of caution , so he quoted me Fuchs supersyn which is fully a fully synthetic 5w-40 oil any one else used this or thoughts to using it its priced on offer at the moment aswell 10Trs for £48.00 so i'll have a couple over as spare for the boot


Thoughts please


regards loz
 
Last edited:
Parisien

Parisien

Moderator
Messages
34,927
Yeah, I had emailed these guys before about equivalencies, and the majority of oils made by the big names are in their opinion....VERY average........but this was debated before on the board with no name and there were a few strident opinions as regards only using the recommended oil.....ie Shell helix 5-40....I think Nigelo was the main proponent of same....maybe he will pass by and give us his considered opinion!

Even the class leader, Mobil 1 fully synthetic got slated, they have a web site I think with lots of info on same......!


P
 
conaero

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,631
...you just never know.....if one day your engine goes pop, you will look back and think **** it, I wish I had stuck with the Shell...probably not going to happen, but sods law and all that.

Matt
 
lozcb

lozcb

Member
Messages
12,545
bigbob said:
MP Supercars put Millers 5W40 in mine and they seem to know what they are doing.
Click to expand...


Cheers ,Thats good then bigbob , Millers is just a tad £3 more expensive than fuchs normal price , but it means they have moved away from oem recommended


regards loz
 
B

bigbob

Member
Messages
8,972
I think there is a lot of hype surrounding oil. Do Ferrari say that your car will not work if you use BP Ultimate rather than Shell V Power?

PS Assuming you put petrol in in each case!
 
N

Nigelo

New Member
Messages
25
Before Parisien gets carried away with what I may have said "over the road", do remember that it was Selenia Racing 10w60 specifically for the 3200 that I was writing about and NOT 5w40 for the 4200 engine derivatives. Although there is a big differnece between engine oil in a turbo charged vs normally aspirated, much of what I said is applicable to all engines whatever the application. You must follow the Manufacturers specifications. I am not saying you cannot or should not use alternatives. Provided they are truly equivalent of the OEM spec. of course you can but you really need to be sure. With the recommended oil you know there is no problem - at all. With alternatives, be very careful with the specs and pay zero attention to "sales" advice.

As for Oil Majors selling "very average" oil, with the greatest of respect, that is simplistic and misrepresents the situation. If oils are made to a particular specification, of course they are "very average" and that is precisely what we want - Consistent, precise and repeatable.

hope this helps
 
N

nigw

Member
Messages
904
lozcb said:
Cheers Rob been having all sorts of probs from MK factors getting Shell helix and buggered if im gonna pay £17 a litre , i'll ring them tomorrow

regards loz
Click to expand...

Loz, I did a quick Google search on Shell Helix Ultra 5w/40 and you can get it for about £6.25/litre (delivered) here: www.zoomcarcare.co.uk

Never used them, but it seems a good price! Various other retailers at about £8/litre delivered.
 
lozcb

lozcb

Member
Messages
12,545
nigw said:
Loz, I did a quick Google search on Shell Helix Ultra 5w/40 and you can get it for about £6.25/litre (delivered) here: www.zoomcarcare.co.uk

Never used them, but it seems a good price! Various other retailers at about £8/litre delivered.
Click to expand...

Cheers Nigel i'll be on it tomorrow rather stay recommended if i can, just so used to finding stuff locally jumping in the car and going to pick it up any excuse to drive the car really

regards loz
 
Last edited:
N

nfm

Member
Messages
856
To add to BigBobs post MP Supercars advised me that they had all the main oil companies present to them and Millers had the most compelling product; I seem to recall an article in Auto Italia where Millers explained how their oil was special (they would day that etc...).

I would normally have defaulted to Helix but the MP guys were convinced and I don't think they would have been persuaded that easily.

Cheers
 
chippiepilot

chippiepilot

Junior Member
Messages
437
Nigel (nfm) my local garage stock Millers if the price is right for you I can pick up a litre top up for you
 
N

nfm

Member
Messages
856
Thanks Andrew, very helpful. Alas, you forget that the 4200 doesn't really use oil; I did not need to top up in the 4k I did from June to January before it was serviceed.

Famous last words mind you, must check the level again.

Cheers
 
chippiepilot

chippiepilot

Junior Member
Messages
437
ah no worries I have to admit my 3200 hardly uses any only had to put a smidge in it recently before heading on down south with her
 
conaero

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,631
My old 3200 used to drink the stuff, and I know this was considered normal. It did not leak, I have been told that its the turbos that shred it....Chippie, you need to give it some more gas!
 
chippiepilot

chippiepilot

Junior Member
Messages
437
so it seems -Ill go for an extra long blatt after work (once ive changed the winter set of rubber over to my summer set) or tomorrow if I don't fly
 
cowsurgeon

cowsurgeon

Junior Member
Messages
354
Sorry if this is posted elsewhere Chippiepilot, but just out of interest what tyres are you running in the winter? and summer?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.