Mobil 1 ESP/ X3 vs FS 0w-40

Really?completely? Not even similar?
anyway my comment relates to the needs of my humble car As well as trying out a low sap oil

Totally different specifications.

Also, your car absolutely does not need a low SAPS oil. It won't hurt it. But don't waste your money.
 
Really?completely? Not even similar?
anyway my comment relates to the needs of my humble car As well as trying out a low sap oil
Yes it is completely. We are not talking the difference between Nestle milk chocolate and dark chocolate.
What YOU want to do is different. You could also try sunflower cooking oil.
 
My car (2003) recommend API SL for engine oil. I assume the engine is pre GPF.
I have been using Mob 1 0w-40 fully synthetic since new. I have looked at the ESP range because of the slightly different viscocities and availability.

I understand that the API hierarchy means that an SN rated oil meets all it's predecessors specifications like (SJ, SL, SM ...) +additional newer onces.

So I contacted mobil (UK) about suitability of the ESP & EXP X3 for my car compared to FS (full SAP). Theu guy gave me helpful information relating to GPF oil requirement and so on but the outcome was that ESP/ X3, do not meet the SL standard and that I should not use them.

Could it be that full SAP oil is a better lubricant so better for engines without GPF?

So a little confused here. Perhaps our expert members can shine some light on this for my benefit?
Any modern oil with any certification will work in your old car that calls for the long-outdated API SL certification. Use whatever is cheaply available.
 
My thinking too.
ESP 0w30 now purchased, similar price to FS 0w40. I was very very lucky to find very good prices at the time.
BTW over the last 6 months prices have gone through the roof and product avalability down the sink.
 
Not to scare the op or spoil the party but iirc, SonOfJoe said API SL is not as harsh on seals i.e. it's more seal friendly!

I kind of remember that because at the time, I was considering some 0W-30s (Castrol?) but it was API SL (i.e. old classification). He talked about it being Full-SAPS ... and also more seal friendly!
Not sure if I asked or can't remember how API ratings can have an impact on seals ... maybe due to chemical compound amounts, limits, or lack thereof. I assume they all should pass some sort of seal compatibility test(s) but some may do better!
If I can find the discussion, I will attach the link.

Having said that, I read that API ratings are backward compatible and maybe hard(er) to find API SL ... so theoretically, op should not worry! :)
 
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Not to scare the op or spoil the party but iirc, SonOfJoe said API SL is not as harsh on seals i.e. it's more seal friendly!

I kind of remember that because at the time, I was considering some 0W-30s (Castrol?) but it was API SL (i.e. old classification). He talked about it being Full-SAPS ... and also more seal friendly!
Not sure if I asked or can't remember how API ratings can have an impact on seals ... maybe due to chemical compound amounts, limits, or lack thereof. I assume they all should pass some sort of seal compatibility test(s) but some may do better!
If I can find the discussion, I will attach the link.

Having said that, I read that API ratings are backward compatible and maybe hard(er) to find API SL ... so theoretically, op should not worry! :)
Elastomer compatibility test I think is what you are referring to.
Screen Shot 2022-02-16 at 7.09.12 PM.png


It looks like the diesel oils are a bit stricter, here's CJ-4 (same test number, but amusingly, they change the name):
Screen Shot 2022-02-23 at 1.49.42 PM.png

And CK-4:
Screen Shot 2022-02-23 at 1.49.21 PM.png
 
For oils SAE40 and higher, for example, phosphorus is not limited in the API. Not everything is identical to the viscosities up to sae 30.
 
However, your overview is only valid from 0W20 to 10W30. Unfortunately, what applies to the viscosities about it is not listed.
The footnotes indicate what categories are excepted from non-RC SP/non-ILSAC grades (2)(4).

So, for example, under phosphorous, it notes footnote 4: No maximum for API SP or SN Non-ILSAC viscosity grades.

There is no footnote for elastomer compatibility (the post you quoted), so the limits apply to anything carrying API SP.
 
apologize for reopening an old thread, just want to know, is this Mobil ESP X3 belonging to Group IV or group III oils?
(I know that it has been superseded by the newer ESP X4, but I still have several quarters of it..)
I've looked Mobil website for its spec, but couldn't find no more than a generic "advanced synthetic technology engine oil" mention...
 
apologize for reopening an old thread, just want to know, is this Mobil ESP X3 belonging to Group IV or group III oils?
(I know that it has been superseded by the newer ESP X4, but I still have several quarters of it..)
I've looked Mobil website for its spec, but couldn't find no more than a generic "advanced synthetic technology engine oil" mention...
Here are the Specifications, direct from their website:

Specifications and Approvals


This product has the following approvals:
PORSCHE C40
MB-Approval 229.51
MB-Approval 229.52
GM dexos2

This product meets or exceeds the requirements of:
FIAT 9.55535-S2
API SN PLUS
API SN
ACEA C3
 
I think that knowing if an oil is 100% synth, could be for some a buying decision factor, and several oil brands clearly mention this on the product info sheet (i.e. https://www.ravenol.de/en/product/motorenoel/pkw-motorenoel/ravenol-vsi-sae-5w-40).
If anyknow knows to which group Mobil ESP X3 belongs to, I would be grateful
Outside of Germany there's no advertising rule which defines 100% synthetic. Besides, the majority of modern oils are a blend of various base stocks. There's no such thing as 100% PAO (Gr4) oil because it must be blended with an Ester or AN (Gr5) to insure seal compatibility and additive solubility. This is in addition to the carrier oil for the additive package. Some Gr3 (ex, Shell-GTL) oils also require Gr5 because they behave a lot like PAO.

As for your specific question about M1 ESP X3, I can reasonably guess that all of their ESP X3 oil was advertised as "Synthese-Technologie-Motorenöl". I can't think of one oil M1 has sold in almost 20 yrs which met the German advertising rule for "synthetic".

All of M1 FS products are sold as "SHC-Synthese-Technologie™"
 
If anyknow knows to which group Mobil ESP X3 belongs to, I would be grateful
Did you look at the SDS? No on here (and really no one else) will be able to or will provide that to you. ExxonMobil does not outwardly disclose the base stock composition of their products. They are, however, one of the most transparent about which approvals a product has or does not have.

The oil carries the approvals, licenses and ACEA sequences that are listed on the container. A fully-formulated motor oil isn’t defined by one attribute. As much as you seem to wish to do so there’s no real indication that this oil is any better, or worse than the Ravenol product.
 
Another reason why manufacturers don’t disclose the makeup of their base oils is because they are often changing them from one batch to another. So even if you did find out what a particular oil was made up of today, doesn’t mean that it will be the same way the next time you buy it. You just need to trust that if an oil has a good amount of manufacturers approvals on it that they know what they’re doing and you will continue to get a quality product.
 
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