High Milage oils in Australia

[hpb]

SR5, that's a great answer. Expanding on the subject a little, Europe, also with no CAFE, has even higher fuel prices than Australia, so I suppose the encouragement to be green is even more pronounced there - yet they also seem to favour the thicker oils. So I'm with you in thinking that the thin oil ratings in the US are driven by the accountants rather than the engineers.

Jake777, our use of xw30, xw40 and xw50 certainly doesn't seem to hurt the engines. Cars generally don't rust out in Oz, in fact it's quite common to see 70's, 80's and 90's cars as daily drivers, and they go huge mileages without issue. Then again, there seem to be plenty of US vehicles that go to the moon and back on xw20...so, maybe, when it's all said and done, viscosity really doesn't matter that much?

 

[Shannow]

hpb,
I've tried explaining on this forum before that 1L in 5,000km (near enough to a quart in 3,000 miles) would traditionally have an Aussie complaining of an oil burner needing a rebuild.

US, the OEMs consider 1 qt/800-1,000 miles to be "normal" for a new engine.

If things are that disparate from the initial starting point, it's obvious that there's a significant difference in starting point.

And in terms of how engines are used, this is from a Honda Paper, and shows how the US "typically" use their vehicles versus Europe, and race tracks.

 

[Silk]

Originally Posted By: SR5
GTX 15W40 is 50% off at Repco.


Just got 6 litres of Penrite 20-50 for the bike from Repco for $35....4 litres of GTX 20-50 was $36. I was going to give the 20-60 a go, but the 20-50 was a bargain...and you don't get many bargains at Repco. I've used 40-70 before in a couple of oil burners, pulled them apart for a re ring later and they were perfect inside...run on 15-40 after the ring job.

 

[Garak]

Shannow, when I had my oil burning LTD, a litre in 5000 km would have been a dream.

 

[SR5]

Originally Posted By: Silk
Originally Posted By: SR5
GTX 15W40 is 50% off at Repco.


Just got 6 litres of Penrite 20-50 for the bike from Repco for $35....4 litres of GTX 20-50 was $36. I was going to give the 20-60 a go, but the 20-50 was a bargain...and you don't get many bargains at Repco. I've used 40-70 before in a couple of oil burners, pulled them apart for a re ring later and they were perfect inside...run on 15-40 after the ring job.


Well done Silk, you got more Penrite oil for less money than the GTX. I assume the GTX was 5L (not 4) as this is the standard size. It's good how many (not all) Penrite oils come standard in 6L containers, makes them a even better deal.

GTX is good, but even if the GTX and the Penrite was the same volume and the same price, I would still buy the Penrire. I think Penrite is a better oil with a better add pack, usually lots more zinc.

If you ever see a good deal on the HPR 30, high zinc 20W-60 mineral oil, give it a go. I think your older air-cooled motorcycles will love it.

 

[Silk]

The GTX was 4L, the bike takes 2.5 litres, so a 5 litre pack gives me 2 oil changes....6 litres means I can top up my daughters Laser Lynx when she comes down for Xmas, it'll need it. I did actually get the 20W-60, it was down to $48, but when I picked it up, it was back to $61...Ripco! The full zinc, is 0.13%, plain 20W50 0.1%, so not a lot more...but my current oil has 0.2%, so halving my zinc content.

 

[TFB1]

Originally Posted By: FordCapriDriver
I'm pretty sure in Oz you can buy Shell Helix 3 25w60 which is for engines with very loose tolerances

Tolerances have ZERO to do with what oil can be used... Now if you mean clearances, you'd be correct...

 

[SR5]

Wow GTX in a 4L container, what a rip-off, I just checked mine and it's 5L (GTX 15W-40).

I was looking a GTX 20W-50 PDS sheets last week, and they don't list zinc anymore. But the TBN (~6.5) and sulfated ash ( < 1.0) struck me as on the low side, so I would be concerned that the GTX 20W50 was only something like 0.8 % Zinc. A typical value today with many lighted SN oils.

I don't know for sure, because there are a few different castrol spec sheets floating around, and they don't always agree and they don't tell too much to begin with.

Anyway both Penrite racing oils and Valvoline VR-1 racing oil tend to mostly have about 1400 ppm (1.4 %) zinc, so I use this as my bench mark.

I'm sure it's not that simple anyway, as there are different types of zinc additives. Probably why I stick to name brands, I trust them more to not cut corners.