Mobil 1 ESP X4 0W-40

[Titan]

What are the chemical differences between the (0,5)W-30 ESP oils vs the X3 vs the X4?
Why is there no 5W40 ESP oil?
So, my understanding is that NOACK is how much of the oil "evaporates", and ash is how much is left after it is burned? Which one do I care more about regarding intake deposits?

Higher NOACK could theoretically lead to more intake valve deposits...as the mist of oil vapors in the crankcase is captured by the PCV system and introduced into the intake tract, this mist can increase the tendency to form deposits on the back side of the intake valves. Port-injected systems have the advantage of cleaners in the fuel contacting the back of the intake valves to help keep them cleaned of these mist-related deposits. DI engines don't have that advantage. Toyota (and I'm sure some others) have a dual-injection system that provides the benefits of cleaning the back side of intake valves as well as the benefits of DI. Other manufacturers tinker with valve timing to allow a little "back-wash" from a rising piston to escape past a closing intake valve...but that loses a bit of efficiency related to compression loss I'd imagine.

 

[Azimuth]

I found it interesting comparing the X3 and X4 webpages for the ESP 0W-40. The X3 page mentions:

Provides outstanding engine cleanliness and sludge control

Whereas the X4 page:

Provides excellent engine cleanliness and sludge control

I'm curious what the ester content of the X4 is, we know that the X3 had esters.

For reference, ESP 0W-30, ESP 5W-30, FS 0W-40.

 

[shortyb]

What are the chemical differences between the (0,5)W-30 ESP oils vs the X3 vs the X4?
Why is there no 5W40 ESP oil?
So, my understanding is that NOACK is how much of the oil "evaporates", and ash is how much is left after it is burned? Which one do I care more about regarding intake deposits?

I am more concerned about Noack as it is the overall vaporation (due to heat, use etc.) of the oil that will precipitate on engine components such as intake valves. Depending on how the oil vapor is handled can determine the deposit probability. On VW direct injection engines, the PCV circuits/breathers/oil separators have gotten better over the years, but are still considered the primary delivery system of the volatized oil vapor that cause the deposits. Ergo: less propensity to vaporize=less chance to make a gummy, crusty mess of the intake valves.

 

[930.engineering]

What are the chemical differences between the (0,5)W-30 ESP oils vs the X3 vs the X4?

Only Mobil knows, we're doomed to speculate.
Basically a 0W-40 will need thinner base oils and a significantly
more amount of VI improvers over some similar quality 5W-30.

Why is there no 5W40 ESP oil?

Mobil's decision. For some reason XOM decided for 0W-40
instead of 5W-40 for their ESP offerings.

So, my understanding is that NOACK is how much of the oil "evaporates", and ash is how much is left after it is burned?

Basically yes. This forum had many discussions about it before.

Btw, Noack please, not "NOACK", since it's the inventer's surname.

Which one do I care more about regarding intake deposits?

In default of faute de mieux I'd look for Noack loss, flashpoint and
reputable approvals like MB 229.5 or 229.51, BMW LL-01 or LL-04,
VW 502 00, 504 00/507 00, 511 00, Porsche C30 or C40 for example.

Don't forget another point: aftermarket tunes overcharge your PCV
with excessive exhaust gases and oil mist. More torque, more power
= more deposits.
.

 

[shortyb]

Btw, Noack please, not "NOACK", since it's the inventer's surname.
.

Had to look it up and stand corrected with my past spellings. Named after Kurt Noack who developed a standardized test for evaporation in high temp service which is now the ASTM D5800. Learn something new everyday.

 

[beanbag137]

Oh, I always thought it was yet another BITOG acronym

 

[Jeffrey Behr]

What goes around comes around.

Olds*: Years ago I bought a used 2019 Porsche Cayenne Turbo and started researching engineoils for it.. Turns out only Mobil 1 ESP X3 met the new European standards and was 'available', but where to find any? Well, over a few months, I ended up with about 40 quarts.. Before that 2019 needed an oilchange, I traded it for my new 2023 Cayenne Turbo.. Sold that before it required an oil change.. Bought and traded away a 2023 Cayman GTS before it needed an oilchange.. Bought and traded away a 2022 911 Carrera S before it needed an oilchange.. Now have 39 quarts as I added one to one of the above.

News? Have a new-to-me 2019 Cayenne Turbo purchased this week at Porsche Spokane.. Not being able to verify the timing/mileage of the last oilchange, I asked and they performed an oilchange with 9 quarts of MY M1 ESPX3! (Traded my newish Ford Mustang GT Prem. for the PCT.)

YEA! finally used some of my then-hard-to-find engineoil! At my lowish annual mileage, my oilchanges will be annual events, but I intend to live long enough and continue to own this 2019 model to use all my M1 stash.
.

* If new information is 'news', old information is 'olds'..

 

[shortyb]

3 Porsches and a Mustang GT in a few months??!? You, sir, have an entirely bigger problem than oil choice. I wish I had your problem .

 

[buster]

Just realized on the PDS for this oil it states:

 

[Patman]

Interesting find @buster !
I wonder if they use this in the other versions of ESP?

 

[scrllock]

Pardon my ignorance but is X4 an updated version of X3? The latter is no longer listed on the Mobil site.

I didn't think so but I ordered some X4 from Autozone yesterday. I went to pick up the order and the SKU showed up on the receipt as X3 and I received a bottle of X3 mixed in with the X4 I was expecting.

I assumed they weren't entirely interchangeable since X3 says specifically not to use it for Porsche A40 applications, which X4 is explicitly approved for.

 

[chris719]

I didn't think so but I ordered some X4 from Autozone yesterday. I went to pick up the order and the SKU showed up on the receipt as X3 and I received a bottle of X3 mixed in with the X4 I was expecting.

I assumed they weren't entirely interchangeable since X3 says specifically not to use it for Porsche A40 applications, which X4 is explicitly approved for.

It’s the successor to X3. X4 is a C40 oil in reality. Porsche just decided to let it be tested against A40 probably because of dealers and logistics.

 

[scrllock]

It’s the successor to X3. X4 is a C40 oil in reality. Porsche just decided to let it be tested against A40 probably because of dealers and logistics.

yeah, it says C40 on the bottle.

autozone was the only local store carrying it, so the interchangeable SKU was interesting to see.

curious to see how it holds up with ethanol given the ester content, but seems like very good oil for the price with the AZ deal.

 

[chris719]

yeah, it says C40 on the bottle.

autozone was the only local store carrying it, so the interchangeable SKU was interesting to see.

curious to see how it holds up with ethanol given the ester content, but seems like very good oil for the price with the AZ deal.

I agree, what is there not to like about it? It's a 3.8 HTHS 0W-40, meets Porsche/VW/MB specs, has impressive viscosity retention and very modern additive package.

 

[robertcope]

I'd get the x3 as long as it's available, for use in cars with no LSPI concerns.

Interesting. Why would X3 not be good for DI or other engines with LSPI concerns?

 

[john_pifer]

Interesting. Why would X3 not be good for DI or other engines with LSPI concerns?

No LSPI concerns with X3.

 

[chris719]

Interesting. Why would X3 not be good for DI or other engines with LSPI concerns?

It's fine, the X4 has SP and same levels of Ca

 

[Azimuth]

It's fine, the X4 has SP and same levels of Ca

The spectrometer analysis for X3 and X4 are practically identical, I wonder what the difference between the two is. Could it be they just decided to get SP and A40 approvals on X3, and they just released the same oil under a new label?

 

[chris719]

The spectrometer analysis for X3 and X4 are practically identical, I wonder what the difference between the two is. Could it be they just decided to get SP and A40 approvals on X3, and they just released the same oil under a new label?

I'm not sure it's the same oil exactly but certainly it looks extremely similar. Given the X4 approval, one would guess that it could have passed SP but it was released originally before SP and API is probably not a concern for Porsche/VW/MB AMG oil.

 

[scrllock]

The spectrometer analysis for X3 and X4 are practically identical, I wonder what the difference between the two is. Could it be they just decided to get SP and A40 approvals on X3, and they just released the same oil under a new label?

PDS and SDS suggest different ratios of base oils, with more PAO in X4. X3 is essentially unobtainable (besides old warehouse stock apparently) at this point, so it's somewhat moot.