Elf Excellium 5w-40 - What base stock is used?

[oilnub]

Just need to find out what base stock is used for Elf excellium 5w-40. If you could also explain where the info comes from that would be great.

As a side point, also would like to know the HTHS, TBN, additive levels etc. I can only find really basic info on this oil so I need help from the gurus!

 

[oilnub]

Seems I cant edit my post.

I believe this oil also goes under the name of Total Quartz 9000 Energy 5W-40(what a mouthful that is). However, the stuff I can get is still labelled Elf 5w-40 NF

Elf data sheet (only basic stats): http://www.lubadmin.com/upload/produit/FichePDF/lang_1/6342.pdf

Total Quartz 9000 data sheet (same specs as above Elf): http://westernstatesoil.com/productsPDF/...artz%209000.pdf


As I said in the first post I want to know if this is 'fake' group 3 'synthetic' or real PAO synthetic base stock. Also need to know HTHS and additive levels, specifically zinc and molyb.

TBN is 10.1 for the Elf/Total vs 11.8 for the Mobil 1 0W-40.

Its interesting it states its Visc @ 100*C is 14.05, as I noticed that when between 100-110*C my oil pressure is a couple of PSI lower than when using Mobil 1 0W-40 which states its visc @ 100*C is 13.5

 

[LoneRanger]

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showpost.php?p=1818649&postcount=22

Not sure if this is the same viscosity, but in the last paragraph he mentions the same NF name.

 

[oilnub]

Thanks. He mentions the HTHS (4.3) which I was after but I really want to see the complete spec sheet. I have searched but have not found it, only anecdotal reports.

I did find this thread where the OP claims to have contacted Elf/Total and they replied that the Total Quartz Energy 9000 products are group IV/V.

Quote:
Reply from Total Lubricants:

Total Quartz Energy 9000 products are fully synthetic based oils which means they are made from Polyalphaolefins (PAO), which is a synthetic hydrocarbon, plus there is probably some diester synthetic included help solubilize the additives. Since PAOs have very low solvency, it is common in the industry to use a small percent of diester for this purpose. I do not know how much diester is in there. PAO is a Group IV base oil. Diester would be Group V.



This is then refuted further down by BITOG members while providing no evidence.

Why is this oil so difficult to find the specs of I wonder.

 

[shpankey]

I don't like the word "probably" in that reply email. It seems like the whole reply is in the definitive, making that word stick out like a sore thumb, making me question everything else.

 

[oilnub]

I don't like it either. However taken another way it also sounds like someone who knows what they're talking about giving little thought to the response. They do say definitively its group IV, then the probably has group V etc statement is vague.

 

[oilnub]

MSDS says 90% mineral oil.........how can Total say it's group IV/V?

Ive emailed them, hopefully i receive a response.

 

[Francis]

I've recently come across this oil.

What's the general view is it something special?

 

[AlienBug]

When I drove a VW TDI, many users used the Total Quartz. I think the general consensus is that it is good, but nothing special. But it is not generally availalble in stores so it has a certain amount of cache. I looked into it then went ahead and used plain old Mobil 1 in either 0w-40 or 5w30 ESP.

My reading of the Total website was that the oil was a group3 base.

 

[Francis]

The local Renault dealer here sells it and markets it as a high grade expensive oil.

The TDS also suggests that it's something of a high performance oil and I guess because ELF is seen as a more exclusive product it adds to the view it's not just a standard product.

I was considering trying it but if it's not going to be anything special then I won't bother.

My view or thoughts have been that typically euro oils have less zinc and phos than those that are locally made, would that be right?