Shell Helix Diesel Plus VA 5W-30

[Trav]

Hello everyone.Maybe someone has thoughts to this question.
I just bought my son a 2000 Ford KA 1.3 Enduratech engine.He lives in Germany full time and i 6 mo during the year so i will be maintaining it.

The engine has flat tappets,cam in block,from what i read this engine has its roots in the old Ford Anglia engine.All iron construction,timing chain,70hp,very old school.I looked for the car based on these engine qualities as well as on condition.

I gave the engine a tune up and used Shell Helix Diesel Plus VA 5W-30 oil.This oil is speced for gas engine use also.
The owners manual specs 5w-30.I could of also used Shell Helix Diesel Plus VA 5W-40 which appears to be the same specs as the U.S. RTS.
These are the specs on this oil.

Shell Helix Diesel Plus VA 5W-30
ACEA A3/B4
API SL/CF
Dichte bei 15°C kg/m³ DIN 51757 855
Flammpunkt nach Cleveland °C DIN ISO 2592 220
Dynamische Viskosität bei –20°C mPa s DIN 51377 3250
Kinematische Viskosität
bei 40°C mm²/s 91
bei 100°C mm²/s 14
DIN 51562
Viskositätsindex (VI) DIN ISO 2906 160
Pourpoint °C DIN ISO 3016 -33

The car will see weekly 5ookm autobahn trips@140-160kmh
The engine has 62k km or 40k mi and has perfect compression.Under the valve cover is spotless.
This oil is listed by law as a semi synthetic,in the U.S. it qualifies as a full synthetic i.e.RTS.
Would the 5w-40 which cost approx the same be better suited to this car?
What would be a safe OCI?I was thinking 7-8k km?

 

[Colt45ws]

ACEA A3, stout oil. Interesting that a oil with diesel in the name is API CF. This spec is really out of date.. Is this a diesel or a gasser? Im unsure because I am not familiar at all with Europe's vehicles.
Wait a tick!
"bei 100°C mm²/s 14"
If I am reading this correctly, and I think I am, this oil is a 5W40! The upper limit of 30 is 12.5cSt@100C and this suggests its 14cSt@100C. Are the viscosity specifications in Europe different from NA? I am quite confused at this data sheet.

 

[Pablo]

Yeah, XW-40. Those precise Germans!

 

[Trav]

This is a gas engine.The specs are for their 5w-30.
Sorry about it being in German there is none in English for this product.
http://www.epc.shell.com/
It can be viewed in English,choose Germany for the spec sheets.

Here is the spec in english for the same oil in 5w-40
Helix Diesel Plus 5W-40
SAE Viscosity grade 5W-40
Kinematic Viscosity ASTM D 445
at 40°C mm2/s 85.1
at 100°C mm2/s 14.4
Viscosity Index ISO 2909 177
Density at 15°C kg/m3 ASTM D 4052 852
Flash Point COC °C ISO 2592 222
Pour Point °C ISO 3016 -30

 

[Colt45ws]

That is only slightly thicker at operation temperature than the 5W30, which is really a 5W40! A whole .4 cSt! It is actually thinner when cold and has a higher Viscosity index. I think in this instance between these two oils the one that is labeled a 5W40 (as opposed to the one that is labeled 5W30, but is actually a 5W40.) would be better, but only because it is a better deal. I wouldnt go out of your way to change it early, however.