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-   -   ARTICLE: Synthetic oil vs Mineral oil (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/modifying-car/17917-article-synthetic-oil-vs-mineral-oil-270.html)

I used to drive a Ritz VDi and in the 1.08 lakh kms that I have spent with it I loved and preferred Mobil oils and Shell. No Castrol or Petronas.

I still love Mobil for the diesel engine and Maruti Suzuki recommends Mobil Super MGDO 0W40 or 5W40 fully synthetic oil.

Now since I have bought a New Swift ZDi, awaiting as to what MASS will fill-in. Clicked 10K kms but not finding time to give it for service.

What grade did the oil can have printed on it or can you check the bill please?

Could be a factor of possibility as the volumes used are high so the best margin manufacturer is preferred. Can't blame Tata or any one. :)

Anurag.

My father retired from the lubricating oil industry about 10 Years ago. Synthetic oils were new then and semi synthetics were a premium product.

He rarely talks about today's products as things have changed a lot.
But he recommended a few points which I have always followed.

The thinnest permissible oil for those who have lot of starts and stops, and short runs and whose engine do not warm up. The cars with auto shutdown and start in economy mode should be compulsorily with 5W-40. Low spread between the winter and operational specifications for vehicles which run longer distances and whose cold running is less so Inter city buses and taxis should prefer 15W-40 or even 20W-40 if they have old generation engine.
Old worn engines which have started consuming oil can use thicker oil for a short interval pending overhaul.

HOW Multigrades function.

These oils are actually oils of the lower grade with polymer additives which are coiled up when cold and uncoil when heated. So 15W40 is oil with SAE 15 viscosity and the polymers added in them which re coiled when cold uncoil when heated and increase resistance to flow and indirectly the viscosity.

A trouble giving engine and sometimes even newly rebuilt engines sometimes destroys these polymers due to localized heating or due to very tight clearances in connecting bushes etc. (So truck / bus owners never use synthetic for first fill after a overhaul). Polymer breakdown will cause the oil to function at the winter viscosity level(first No).

So those who have a small car for daily use in city and another larger one for intercity use, can use a 5W-40 synthetic in their city car, and a 15W-40 for the larger car used only for long runs. Old generation cars will be fine even with a 20W-40.

The second no in the viscocity should usually not be changed.

This assumption dose not add up. A new engine always has tight clearances, and needs thin oil, but as it gets older and clearances increase thicker oil may be needed to give adequate oil pressure.

Un necessary use of thick oil makes the oil pump work harder which indirectly loads the engine more causing loss of efficiency.

Rahul

@Rahul_Rao; just an addition with mmWnn mm is only valid with a COLD engine. Then ypu are heading for nn. Also, it is very true, since the so called running-in oil (original charge) used to be a thinner oil.

to be precise it was CASTROL EDGE PROFESSIONAL 5W40

Surprised, my chap uses Honda branded Idemitsu / Savita 0W30.

I have a 2009 Chevrolet Spark which has done 24000 kms. I live in Mumbai and car use is the occasional city outing. Request and appreciate advice on the following :

1. What grade synthetic can I use and how much will I require? Reliable place to buy it?

2. Engine currently has mineral oil. Will I have to flush before filling synthetic? Will I also have to change oil filter, etc?

3. After filling synthetic, would I still have to change oil ever year? Can I delay until I've done 15-20k kms?

Grade - 5W40;

IIRC, 3.2 litres is the engine oil capacity (check your owners manual). When considering the quantity, consider the one including oil filter change.

It is better to flush the engine when changing oil grades i.e., from mineral to synthetic oil.

Yes change the oil filter too.

Depending on the running of your car the draining interval is based:

If,
Mineral oil - 5K kms
Synthetic oil - 10K kms.

Anurag.

An odometer reading of 24000kms since 2009 indicates a sparing use with average driving of about 5000kms a year. Please reconsider spending on expensive synthetic oil for your kind of car usage. I.would suggest sticking to mineral oil and getting that oil changed when you give the car for annual service. I know many people who push their drain intervals to twice the manufacturer recommendation with synthetic oil and their cars are in perfect shape. I use fully synthetic oil too but do not stretch beyond 1.3 to 1.5 times the drain interval. Recommended interval is every 10000kms but I change every 13000 to 15000kms. Oil filter MUST be changed during every oil change process and engine flush may be done while shifting from mineral to synthetic and vice versa.

Guys for my Honda civic cng which would be a better synthetic oil Total 9000 5W 40 or Shell helix ultra 5 w 40 ?

Thanks

Both are excellent brands and should be API-SN. There is more difference between tweedledum and tweedledee. I will prefer a 0W30!

Found this leaflet from the Bosch catalog mentioning the equivalent from the competitors range of lubricants and oils.

06_Lubricants Competition Grade Leaflet_04-03-14.pdf

I plan on moving to fully synthetic oil for my Figo 1.2. I had this plan for a while now but couldn't get the right grade of oil which is 10w30.
The oil used by Ford now is a semi-synthetic one with the same grade. So does the fully synthetic one have to be the same as well or does it differ?
The reason for asking is I have looked around and it doesn't seem there is a 10w30 synthetic oil anywhere.
Ford has agreed to replace the oil if I get them the oil.

You can go for shell helix ultra 5w40.

That oil should be compatible with the Figo 1.2.

Is 5w40 in synthetic equal to 10w30 in semi synthetic?

Synthetic & semisynthetic are as similar or different as chalk from cheese.

Starting from the base molecules to the additives everything is different. There is no question of equality.