Oil refresh: Anyone used Shell Helix Ultra?

Pauwl · Pauwl's Garage

I'm going to replace my oil next weekend.
As I live in the back of beyond, I'm going to buy my oil in Holland.

I know the Mobil 1 stuff is recommended, but have heard som enegative things about it as well.

Shell recommend HELIX ULTRA 5W-40 for the 928.

Has anyone had experience with the Shell oil?

thanks,

Pauwl

MarkRobinson · 12-15-2007, 11:29 AM

I'm switching to Brad Penn oil, after reviewing the in-depth discussions on the 914 BBS: intersting stuff & good reading.

Mark

mattwrigg · 12-15-2007, 12:08 PM

As you know I've just bought a 1985 S2 Auto. It came with Shell Helix 10-40 (part synthetic) in it (fresh oil and filter), and with this oil the engine became very tappety when warm, which was attributed to the oil being too thin and leaking out of the hydraulic tappets. I have since changed to a basic Halfords brand standard mineral oil 15-40, and it isn't tappety anymore. Next oil change I may change to a better brand but keep the same weight. The workshop manuals I have even recomend a 20-50 weight in warmer climes. I would have thought going to 5-40 would make the problem worse, well with my 165k mileage engine anyway.

My old Land Rover TD5 used 5-30 oil which was extremely thin, but that engine was a late 90's design, and I'm sure a lot more advanced than the Porsche V8. I can't see why such a thin oil is recommended for such an old engine design? (Don't flame me anyone, thats just my thoughts and experience).

Matt

Danglerb · 12-15-2007, 01:29 PM

Oil is like politics, many views, few facts, and what you have in Europe is kinda different from what they sell in the USA.

I was a long time Mobil 1 user, switched all cars this year to Shell Rotella synthetic. Some who have done this report lower oil pressure readings especially at hot idle, mine are somewhat lower as well, but still within the normal range.

928s · 12-16-2007, 01:34 AM

Guys 20w 50 is what is recommended for the 928, look in your owner's book. That grade of Shell oil has never been recommended, ask Shell to show you where Porsche says that that grade of oil is O.K? Unless you are below freezing you will be better off with 20w 50, you will always get better protection with a thicker oil especially since it is the recommended grade. It is only when the oil cannot get into small openings in the lifters for example that you will get a problem. Look at what Mercedes Benz did in the 90s, they then switched back to the thicker oils as the tiny improvement in fuel economy was not worth the extra wear.

Pauwl · Pauwl's Garage

I ran Mobil 1 in Oman (middle east) once. I had oil pressure at idle when warm of <2 on the gauge.

The Shell guys advised 0W as they reckon the 928 is better off having oil flow everywhere sooner. I suppose it's also driving styles, as you could just lay off the accelerator until the oil is warm. But how do you tell when this is? Is it sufficient to say that when the motor is sufficiently warm the oil probably is as well?

Here in France it was -10 degrees centigrade yesterday. It can get to +40 degrees centigrade in summer, and I am looking for an all-year oil (although with the km's I do I should change 2x per year at least).

hacker-pschorr · 12-16-2007, 06:01 AM

Helix Ultra 5w-40 is the recommend oil for the Ferrari F355. Since it's hard to find over here ($15 per quart if you do find it) I've been doing some research on alternatives.

In the Ferrari crowd, Royal Purple and Redline are very popular with a few people trying AMSOIL. Some are even considering the new QuakerState Q-Power oil. Since Shell owns QS & they claim Ferrari recommends the Q-Power in their cars now (over the Helix) in US cars.

So for her first spring oil change I'm picking up some RP for my fathers car. Like Dangle said, since you are in Europe, RP, Redline, and AMSOIL are not exactly easy to come by. Neither is the QS Q-Power.

Herr-Kuhn · 12-16-2007, 06:07 AM

I run the Royal Purple and go 7K miles between changes, even on the turbocharged cars. Also I have run Mobil 1 on the same change intervals without issue. Any of the oils today are pretty darned good. If you buy synthetic you should run it longer to get your money's worth out of it.

ROG100 · 12-16-2007, 07:01 AM

I run Mobil 1 15W 50 in all my 928's.
I changed my GTS to Mobil Delvac 5W 40 recently and saw decreases in pressure at high ambient temperatures 100F at idle. Others also experianced this as well.
Now that Mobil 1 has replaced the Zinc addative I will stick with Mobil 1.

You need to choose the weight of oil suitable for the operating ambient temps in your area/region.

MarkRobinson · 12-17-2007, 10:21 AM

My buddy's Ferrari F355 takes Mobil 1 0W10 if memory serves...the recommended weight in Mobil 1 oil by fellow F-car owners. Crazy thin: pours like water.

rhjames · rhjames's Garage

Mark---

10w10 is way too light, no matter what those Italians say.

it doesn't get to over 100 F and 95% humidity in the summer (over there) like it does here......

Even though Ferrari recommends that grade, I want to see what happens the first time one of those cars gets run hard in August between Houston and San Antonio.......

It will be one cooked pizza......

--Russ

icemang17 · 12-17-2007, 05:12 PM

This topic will never die..... The way I look at it, you should use what the engine builders designed the car to run on...which is 20-50 for 928's, unless you live in very cold climates, then there is a graph in the manual to figure it out....several guys have ran lighter oil and lighter synthetic oil with mixed results.....My new Acura runs on 5-20W...damm thats some thin stuff....but its what they recommend for that engine.....

Some new Porsches with variable cam timing require lighter oil to allow oil flow through the passages that control the timing....but the rest of the engine was designed for it too

MarkRobinson · 12-18-2007, 04:56 AM

Pretty much all the DYI Ferrari guys in town use the 0W10 Mobil 1 & have for years.

I'd never go that light: 20w50 or 15W50 is in all my Porsches.

mattwrigg · 12-19-2007, 12:36 PM

Well I think I'll leave the 15-40 in for the winter, then change to 20-50 in the spring ready for the 6 month long hot english summers we always have over here.

I wouldn't go near a 5 or 10 weight oil without the handbook saying very loudly thats what it needs.

Matt

MarkRobinson · 12-19-2007, 12:44 PM

Of course! I was merely relaying something that leaves me scratching my head...

Mark.

Pauwl · Pauwl's Garage

Had a looooong chat with a Porsche guy in holland this week.
He currently has a new GT3RS, Boxter and really old 911 (and Ferarri etc.).

He recommended the Mobil1 0W40 for the 928, says the 5W40 Mobil1 he has he sells only to the very old cars that have problems getting the oil pressure up.

Given the fact that he's highly talked of by the locals here, I'm going with his advice, and will change the oil out for Mobil1 0W40.

Remember, this is Western Europe, winter, so -5 degrees (centigrade) in the mornings at the moment.

My oil pressure is currently 5 at start, 2-3 at idle when warm.
I'll keep you all posted on any knocking noises or other strange stuff if it occurs.

Anyone know below which oil pressure I need to get scared? (Running Mobil1 in 50 degrees centigrade saw my oil pressure drop below 2 when idle).

mattwrigg · 12-20-2007, 04:01 AM

My oil pressure is 4 minimum when hot.

tshih · tshih's Garage

Oil pressures are engine dependent as well as oil viscuosity dependent. In the 928 engines which are not dry sump lubricated like the 911 (pre-996) I would expect minimum pressure to be at least 2 bar at higher revs than 2000 rpm. The oil pressure gauge reads in bars not psi if I'm not mistaken. Each bar is about 15psi.