TBN Comparitor?

[frenchian]

Hi,
it's time again to change the oil on my Unimog - as I'm using it in Africa (currently Tanzania/Kenya)with high sulphur fuels), I'm always interested in the TBN of the oils I can find.
As oil supply here is sometimes "difficult" (you may find one product in one town, but not in the next, some products are simply unobtainable etc), I often just have to "go look see what they have". In this case it'd be great to have information on hand as to what the particular oils TBNs are - apart from having to go to the manufacturers websites, is there a resource that anyone knows of that gives this type of comparative information? (the dealers never even know what TBN refers to)

Thanks, Ian

 

[Rolla07]

http://www.pqiamerica.com/March2013PCMO/Marchsyntheticsallfinal.html

Pqiamerica.com is a great resource..but not sure it will represent the oil available where u are...

 

[Rollins]

Hi,

I would google for TDS some of 10w-40 out of the MB 228.5 list.

http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com/bevolisten...mp;suchbegriff=

This approval requires TBN>=12mgKOH/g and many of the oils listed are around 16mgKOH/g(with the resp.high sulphated ash levels).
I would expect major brands to be easily obtainable..if so Delvac XHP Extra or Shell Rimula R5M or R6M ...BP Vanellus ; Texaco Ursa ; Castrol Enduron are good candidates for the job.
These use Gr.III oils in the formulation and prices are often >double the MB 228.3 Gr.I and II based oils with TBN of around 10...

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: Rolla07
http://www.pqiamerica.com/March2013PCMO/Marchsyntheticsallfinal.html

Pqiamerica.com is a great resource..but not sure it will represent the oil available where u are...

In addition, our own VOA section has some of this info, but same concern - not sure we have tested all the oils that are available over there in Africa.

 

[frenchian]

I got lucky, a guy has literally just set up shop in town here representing Shell and he had Rimula R3X in stock (I think I bought his entire stock!).
It may not have the highest TBN rating, but it's a lot better than the "no-name" stuff or standard BP oils everyone else here carries!

 

[m37charlie]

Too bad you couldn't have him order Rimula R5M or R6M. Both have TBNs ~16 and are on the 228.5 list. R3X has a TBN of 10.8.
Good but not great for high sulfur fuels.

Charlie