Ferrari F430 using Motul 300V 5w40

[F430]

Hey guys,

I have a 05' F430 with about 15k miles. Recently, friends have suggested Motul 300V and I am seriously thinking about it. I know the factory recommends Shell Helix Ultra 5w40, but the oil foams pretty bad. I put about 2-3k miles per year and drive the car once every or other week. When I do take the car out, I drive it enthusiastically but do not abuse it. I don't track this car. Is this oil safe to use for streets and oil change every year? Thanks.

 

[Alex38]

If the Motul is the correct weight (5w40, etc.) and meets any specs that Ferrari may have for your engine, then go ahead! That car it too valuable to guess though. Only use an oil with the correct specs! Motul does make good stuff though, I've used alot of it in my sportbikes.

 

[Artem]

I don't understand why Ferrari would recommend an oil that supposedly "foams pretty bad" I just don't get it and quite frankly, it sounds like a load of...****

I say you run the Helix some more and pull a sample to send to a lab. IF and i do mean IF the oil isn't looking too good on the report, i'd try something else, like the Motul 300V you mentioned.

What kind of FACTS do your friends have to support the claim that the Motul will perform better then Shell's lube which has been tested and approved by Ferrari.

 

[jtaylor]

Motul 300V is one of THE best oils. Redline is tops too.

 

[engineerscott]

Originally Posted By: F430
Hey guys,

I have a 05' F430 with about 15k miles. Recently, friends have suggested Motul 300V and I am seriously thinking about it. I know the factory recommends Shell Helix Ultra 5w40, but the oil foams pretty bad. I put about 2-3k miles per year and drive the car once every or other week. When I do take the car out, I drive it enthusiastically but do not abuse it. I don't track this car. Is this oil safe to use for streets and oil change every year? Thanks.


That's odd about the Helix foaming. Are you using any sort of oil additive? Perhaps something is amiss with the oil pickup or oil pump and you are getting cavitation. It shouldn't foam.

Like the guy above said, Motul and Redline are both excellent oils.

Congratulations one owning such a fine automobile.

 

[CATERHAM]

Originally Posted By: Artem
I don't understand why Ferrari would recommend an oil that supposedly "foams pretty bad" I just don't get it and quite frankly, it sounds like a load of...****
I say you run the Helix some more and pull a sample to send to a lab. IF and i do mean IF the oil isn't looking too good on the report, i'd try something else, like the Motul 300V you mentioned.
What kind of FACTS do your friends have to support the claim that the Motul will perform better then Shell's lube which has been tested and approved by Ferrari.

+1
For your type of use I'd stick with the Helix 5W-40 or the Pennzoil Euro 5W-40 which may be the same thing. The heavier Motul is unnecessary.
Another option, but only if you aren't loyal to the Ferrari/Shell relationship, is Mobil 1 0W-40. It has a higher HTHS viscosity but also a higher viscosity index so it will pump a bit faster on start-up.

 

[CATERHAM]

Oh, and welcome to BITOG!

 

[m6pwr]

Originally Posted By: Artem
I don't understand why Ferrari would recommend an oil that supposedly "foams pretty bad" I just don't get it and quite frankly, it sounds like a load of...****

I say you run the Helix some more and pull a sample to send to a lab. IF and i do mean IF the oil isn't looking too good on the report, i'd try something else, like the Motul 300V you mentioned.

What kind of FACTS do your friends have to support the claim that the Motul will perform better then Shell's lube which has been tested and approved by Ferrari.


I agree totally with Artem. Unless the Pennzoil site is riddled with lies, the Pennzoil Ultra/Helix Ultra 5w40 has been developed by Shell in partnership with Ferrari specifically for Ferraris using the 5w40 grade. There is a video of Ferrari's Engine Development guy that talks about how the oil was developed to meet the 9000 rpm challenges of the 458. The site says the oil is used "off the shelf" in the 430GT run in the American Le Mans series and at the 24 hrs of Le Mans. All blatant lies? How did you determine the Ultra 5w40 "foams pretty bad"?

 

[Steve S]

Foam? Experience or reading an internet article?

 

[RamFan]

Ferrari isn't going to mess around with any aspect of their vehicles, just use an oil that meets their spec or that is recommended by Ferrari and use with confidence. Just out of curiosity but does Ferrari have an OLM system on their vehicles?

 

[Steve S]

There are many good oils. Use an oil that meets or exceeds the factory recommendations ,especially one recommended by the MFG . Usually the proper choice of motor oil will not be the cause of the engines death. Ferrari parts are very pricy.

 

[vinu_neuro]

The OEM Helix oil is well documented to have foaming issues on ferrarichat. Use Pennzoil Ultra 5W-40 (the new OEM Ferrari oil) or Mobil 1 0W-40.

 

[marco246]

I'm on Ferrari-chat and can assure you there are as many uninformed opinions there as here regarding motor oil in general and Shell Ultra foaming in particular. I put these claims in the same category as the old canard about QS sludging.

I think one could run just about any name-brand 5W-40 in a Ferrari and be perfectly safe. Having said that, I'd use the Shell Ultra or Pennzoil Euro (which is the same thing), simply because that's what Ferrari recommends.

As I am unable to get either of these oils here on my island, I've fallen back on the tried and true Shell Rotella T6 for my older Ferrari. No issues.

 

[Artem]

I personally wouldn't stick to just Shell's oil.

Shell is a sponsor, so of course Ferrari has no choice but to "recommend" the oil. Had Walmart signed up with Ferrari, they would be recommending Super tech.

I say use any brand that meets the specs and call it a day.

 

[tonycarguy]

Pennzoil 5w40 or AGIP 5w40 are good choices. By the way, how do you know your oil is foaming? You can't tell simply by looking into the oil tank because dry sump systems tend to foam a little in the oil tank since the oil is pumped in from the top. It's worse if your oil level is low, too.

 

[Audioquest]

Ferrari and Agip had a sponsor-based relationship before Shell entered the picture in the mid 90s. Ferrari's oil recommendations are based on whoever is sponsoring the F1 team at the time.

American Agip

 

[F430]

The car has a dry sump system and to check oil, the car has to be at operating temp with car idling. I usually check the level after drive. The dip stick on the F430 is flat & wide and foams are visible on the stick when checking oil level. Referring to my owner's manual, ALL of the lubrications (trans, F1, power steering, diff, ect) recommended for the car are ALL Shell products including coolants and brake fluids.

If Shell has products made just for Ferrari cars, I would following their recommendations strictly. Shell Helix/ Pennzoil Ultra seems to be just like Mobil 1 and are group III (maybe some group 4) based stock oils marketed to every car and everywhere.

Has anyone tried Motul 300V with good results over other top grade oils? Thanks.

 

[dparm]

The foam thing was an old problem on the original Helix Ultra. The new Helix Ultra, which we know as Pennzoil Ultra, doesn't suffer from that as much.


And yes, I run Motul 300V in my daily driven (and raced) Audi S4 without any problems. Outstanding oil. My analyses have shown it to hold up to abuse very well.

 

[m6pwr]

According to the Shell MSDS, Pennzoil Ultra 5w40 is PAO (Grp IV) base stock -
http://www.epc.shell.com/Docs/GSAP_msds_00061424.PDF.

I searched on ferrarichat forum and could find only a couple of threads re foaming. Other oils beside Pennzoil/Shell Ultra also exhibited bubbles on the dip stick. Consensus of the long-time owners was that its not a problem. The most plausible explanation above is that the oil becomes aerated a bit when its dumped into the catch tank.

I've got nothing against Motul 300V. I did a VOA (posted on BITOG) in anticipation of using it. Many people on BITOG run it on the street, even for extended OCIs. In terms of application and standards, Motul doesn't stoop to OEM certificates. Their Technical Data Sheet says (archly), "Above existing standards". You can't get more universal than that.

Actually I know a tribilogist who seems familiar with the formulations of various oils and who thinks that when it comes to ester-based lubes that Fuchs Silkolene Pro S 5w40 is the best; puts even Motul and Redline in the shade, and it carries some OEM approvals. You can't get the auto version in the U.S., but you can get the same oil in the bike formulation (its called Pro 4 Plus). I found a sport bike shop that will source it for $20/litre. If price is any indication of quality, then its the tops.

 

[F430]

Thank you all for your suggestions. I just ordered 12 liters of the Motul (really curious about this oil) and after that, give the Pennzoil Ultra Euro a try. From the tech sheet that m6pwr provided, it is group 4. I remember reviewing the tech sheet for Shell Helix Ultra 5w40 a few months back, and the oil used group 3 based stocks. Good to know they upgraded/ updated the oils for these cars.