How is shell full synthetic motor oil

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Originally Posted By: tigerclaws
Especially for

- Honda Accord K24A4 engine

I am currently using Amsoil 5w-30 XL oil currently but with the number of miles I drive (42k last year), its hurting on the pocket. I recently got the BJ's membership and i saw this oil for a decent price.

Appreciate your feedback.


nice iron..call 911 for that burn in your pocket. Is your car ferocious as a Tiger now after using Amsoil? salah kagdah (crow)
 
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Originally Posted By: tigerclaws
Especially for

- Honda Accord K24A4 engine

I am currently using Amsoil 5w-30 XL oil currently but with the number of miles I drive (42k last year), its hurting on the pocket. I recently got the BJ's membership and i saw this oil for a decent price.

Appreciate your feedback.

Couple thoughts. First, you do not need a synthetic oil to get first-rate results. Wear will be controlled equally well with any good SM-rated conventional. The main advantage of synthetic is to allow longer drain intervals. If money is an issue I would use any SM oil purchased on sale and change it at (not before) the manufacturer's specified interval.

If you feel you must use synthetic, I'm not particularly familiar with the Shell, but from what I've seen most of the commonly available "synthetics," such as Quaker State, Pennzoil Platinum, Valvoline, and almost certainly the rest of them as well, will give very good results even over extended drains.

Mobil 1 has its proponents, as does Amsoil, but if money is an issue I do not see the cost/benefit case for using either.

Finally, you've probably spent something like $5500 in gas over that 42k miles, compared to which the price of any oil doesn't seem all that significant. Maybe you could diminish your driving just the slightest bit and pay for any oil you want out of the savings.
 
Hi,
tigerclaws - Glenn said this:
"Couple thoughts. First, you do not need a synthetic oil to get first-rate results."

This is correct

Shell synthetic lubricants have always been excellent products. You can use the correct viscosity Shell synthetic with great confidence. It will perform at least as well as a comparable Amsoil product
 
That's true with a lot of lubriants these days, Doug. I think the gap with Conventional and Synthetic has gotten smaller over the years.
But, you knew that
thumbsup2.gif
 
Originally Posted By: Drivebelt
What length of oil change do you do with synthetic or conventional?


Hi,

I typically go around 8-9k between oil changes. I have used 5w-30 Amsoil as against 5w-20 recommended by Honda. I usually don't do my own oil changes and go to the dealer and use the Honda filter.

I know the conventional oil will be "good enough" but I want my car to run a bit more than the average car + I want to stick to one or two brands if possible (for consistency purpose).

I also have an OB on which I use the Amsoil 5w-30 weight.
 
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Amsoil 5w-30 XL oil is not a "full" synthetic oil anyway.

You have to get into the ASL for it to be "full".

It does NOT matter. But if you are going to stay with 8-9k OCI I'd stick what with your doing since we do not know how long it takes you to make the 8-9k.

Oops, you do 42k in a year!
06.gif


I'd say you could prob run anything and be ok.

Ever do a UOA? I would then adjust from there.

welcome2.gif


Bill
 
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I wouldn't mind doing the UOA but how do I interpret the result. Most results that I see on the site appear to be not make sense to me.

Yes, I do about 10k a quarter. My daily commute is about 150 miles give or take and you know how the winters in New England can be.
 
Originally Posted By: tigerclaws
I know the conventional oil will be "good enough" but I want my car to run a bit more than the average car...

A very common sentiment.

However, I did not mean and it is not merely the case that the conventional oil will be "good enough." I meant that the conventional oil will be "just as good" as the synthetic - as in, "every bit as good." The advantages of synthetics do not appear to apply to the rate of engine wear if the oil is changed at appropriate intervals. The cost difference, however, is still quite significant.
 
Originally Posted By: glennc

A very common sentiment.

However, I did not mean and it is not merely the case that the conventional oil will be "good enough." I meant that the conventional oil will be "just as good" as the synthetic - as in, "every bit as good." The advantages of synthetics do not appear to apply to the rate of engine wear if the oil is changed at appropriate intervals. The cost difference, however, is still quite significant.


Where would the advantages of synthetic oil apply (if not on engine wear)? I know cold start would be one for instance but would it not indirectly impact engine wear?
 
In the length of service. They perform better in and endure more severe conditions ..but you don't see much of that with your annual mileage.

I think your normal oil change interval is 10k.

You get plenty of snow in NooWingland ..but the temp isn't all that cold. Especially in Bahston
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If you're willing to extend drains to 4,5,6 months, then seek out an extended drain synthetic.

The number$ have to work ..or it just doesn't work
21.gif
 
I think the Shell synthetic is a good product, although I think the Amsoil XL is probably better. According to the spec. sheets (the Shell synthetic here in Canada is the same as Petro-canada synthetic), the Shell syn has a TBN of 7.6, Amsoil XL is 9.0. So, based on that, the Amsoil would likely have a longer drain capability. That being said, for your driving habits (lots of miles in a short period) and drain interval, I think the Shell synthetic will do fine.

Modern conventional oils are made from ~ 99% pure synthetic-like Group II base oils. They will put up just as good wear numbers and engine cleanliness for 5-6k miles as synthetics in the majority of applications. They're not generally formulated for very long drain intervals (low cost solution), but at reasonable oil change intervals conventionals will provide exceptional performance these days.

Given you are running your synthetic's a decent oil change interval length (and not running synthetics at some short interval like 3-4k miles), I think you are getting good value out of running synthetic. This is why I asked what interval you were changing the oil out. We get some people here that change synthetics out every 3k miles, which is generally a waste when conventional oils will go that far easily and perform just as well.
 
Considering how much you drive, I would personally go with Amsoil's ASL 5W-30 and change it every 6 months, using an EaO oil filter. I wouldn't hesitate to use Shell Synthetic either, but I don't think I'd be brave enough to push it as far as I would Amsoil.
 
"Where would the advantages of synthetic oil apply (if not on engine wear)? I know cold start would be one for instance but would it not indirectly impact engine wear? "
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Racing applications.
 
I like using a quality synthetic oil keeps the engine cleaner on long term engine deposits. If your driving 42K/yearly this sure isn't normal as 12K/yearly is the norm. I would be thinking on that term on engine longevity.
 
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