Shell's LubeMatch recommendation has changed

[supercity]

I have just noticed Shell's LubeMatch recommendation for one of my cars (1995 Fiat) has changed. I was of course wondering why, and if this is an isolated case or the same across the board.

The handbook specified oil is 10w40. Shell use to recommend Helix Ultra 5w40 as premium and Helix 10w40 as standard. Now there is only the standard recommendation of Helix 10w40. This is pretty odd, not suggesting your premium product.

It got me thinking; like most 40s these days, Helix Ultra is quite a thin 40 with an HTHS of 3.68. Most 10w40s seem to be thicker with an HTHS up around 4. Could this be the reason? How significant is an HTHS of 0.3 anyway?

 

[EddieCairns]

supercity

I think you cannot see these recs as written in stone. I looked at various Shell and Castrol sites throughout Europe, the Americas and Australia and for a certain MX5/Miata they varied between 5w30 and 10w/40.

That in certain cases was between certain Castrol sites.

These sites tell you what oil will work in your engine not that if you uses anything but this exact grade and thickness of oil it will blow up.

I think the only person who is worrying about the removal of a premium grade rec is you and obviously not Shell.

eddie