There are so many brands of oils on the domestic market that any motorist can easily get lost in this variety. In Soviet times, only two brands were offered. Therefore, there wasn’t much to choose from, and they simply didn’t know such a problem before. Well, each time has its own.
Today, those who want to have the best product have to search, study and, in the end, make difficult choices.
The article offers a small review of Shell Helix Ultra 5W 40. The reader will have to evaluate the engine oil . Here, only the characteristics declared by the manufacturer are given, as well as pilot tests on the sample of this lubricating fluid, which were carried out by domestic specialists. What conclusion did they make when doing research with Shell Helix 5W 40? Read on.
About company
Brand manufacturer is one of the largest oil and gas companies in the world. Shell Corporation invests heavily in various projects related to innovative technologies, improving the environment, developing traditional and alternative energy sources.
But the product the corporation produces is motor oil for cars. It is of three types:
- mineral;
- semi-synthetic;
- synthetic.
All these types are made at the company's factories. Specialists strive to obtain a new product and are constantly improving the package of additives included in lubricating fluids. They have various functions and are designed to generally improve engine performance. Product advertising is replete with information about the magical effect that innovative molecules have on the motor. During the development, high-tech equipment is used, which ensures the receipt of a product with a high-quality composition at the finish line.
Since 2012, the company's products began to be produced in the Russian Federation. At the same time, a plant in Torzhok was built and commissioned, which has all the technologies that meet international quality standards.
Shell Helix Ultra 5W 40 Oil
This lubricating fluid is positioned by the company as an innovative product of the oil and gas concern. It is developed on the basis of a base that is obtained by synthesizing natural gas rather than oil, unlike most liquids from other manufacturers.
Through the use of this method, the product is guaranteed to be clean. Therefore, the cleanliness of the motor is ensured by neutralizing acids that are too active and are formed during combustion.
The largest dealerships use and promote this particular product.
Shell Helix Diesel Ultra 5W 40
Lubricating fluid has a fully synthetic base. In the manufacture, as in the previous form, a special unique cleaning technology was used, which, according to the manufacturers, guarantees excellent uninterrupted protection for the motor parts of the car.
Shell Helix Diesel Ultra 5W 40 oil retains all its quality characteristics until the next replacement. The engine will not work so noisily with it, and the course of the car as a whole will acquire even greater smoothness.
Lubrication is excellent for turbocharged or direct injection diesel engines.
It also has a low chlorine content and, like all Shell oils, meets all the necessary environmental safety standards.
Hx8
This oil is described as being produced according to traditional technology, which includes highly refining components. This is a synthetics designed for injectors that have an exhaust gas recirculation system.
Oil is considered a high-quality sample, with which, with proper use and timely replacement, the engine will serve for a long time.
This oil is slightly cheaper than the Ultra class.
Hx7
This semi-synthetic oil is in great demand among Russian buyers. Like any semi-synthetic, it is obtained by mixing a synthetic and mineral base using high-tech equipment.
Lubricating fluid has excellent cleaning properties. It removes the current emerging pollution in the engine and prevents their new occurrence. This increases the overall performance of the power unit.
The oil can be used both for gasoline injection engines and for turbocharged diesels with an exhaust gas recirculation system and the absence of soot filtration.
However, those who have tried other types of this brand claim that the product darkens too quickly compared to them. And this is due to the fact that semisynthetics do not clean as impressively as synthetic-based oils do. Therefore, those who previously used synthetics, having tried the considered option, later returned to their original choice.
Russian tests
The experiments were conducted on samples purchased at conventional car dealerships in Moscow. Shell Helix Ultra 5W 40 and 5W30 Ultra class engine oil underwent major testing.
During the tests, the lubricating fluid behaved calmly. That is, no outstanding qualities were found in her. At the same time, experts noted that she also did not show any negative trends.
Of course, Shell Helix Ultra Sae 5W 40 and 5W 30 engine oil were expected to give more impressive results. After all, the manufacturer claimed such outstanding qualities and the highest class. But none of this happened. Compared to other oils, this lubricating fluid is of average quality.
The experimenters did not stop there and tried samples of a whole line of Shell oils. It turned out that the characteristics of extra-class oils practically did not differ from those that cost much cheaper.
findings
These results give reason to conclude that Shell Helix Ultra Sae 5W 40 is a good option for cars. It showed itself well in different situations, but experts cannot confirm that this lubricating fluid belongs to the extra class. According to the test results, they gave the oil a solid rating of "4".
On the one hand, this is a good mark, but taking into account the characteristics that the manufacturer claims, the question arises whether it is worth overpaying if Shell Helix Ultra 5W 40 behaves in the same way during experiments as its cheaper "brethren".
At the same time, the test results are in some contradiction with individual user reviews, which claim that semi-synthetic cheap oil lost its properties faster than synthetics.
To believe in this case, the reader will choose or verify this conclusion on their own. However, as practice shows, many reviews of motorists are purely subjective. After all, the behavior of the lubricating fluid in a particular car can be associated with a number of factors related, rather, to the nature of the engine of a particular car in a given period of time.
At the same time, independent studies are called upon to give an objective assessment based on experimental results.
Reviews
Ordinary motorists speak differently about this oil.
Some are confident in the high quality of the oil and the preservation of all its properties until the end of the period intended for mining. There has also been some fuel economy in use.
Others are dissatisfied with the high price of the product and, having tasted both it and other oils, are sure that Shell Helix Ultra 5W 40 does not have any super-characteristics of the lubricating fluid, either. after refueling, it was necessary to add a lot, while in comparison with some other types of topping, much less was required.
There is no doubt that this lubricating fluid is a good option to fill in the tank and drive quietly those kilometers that it relies on without worrying about the condition of its engine. However, the question of whether it is worth overpaying several times for a lubricant whose characteristics differ little or do not differ in practice from cheaper oils is also logical.