Shell Helix HX8 VS ULTRA

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Quicks

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Servicing my vehicle over the weekend and went to buy some parts and notice shell has 2 different fully synthetic oils.

HX8
www.shell.co.za

Shell Helix HX8 Synthetic 5W-40 | Shell South Africa

Fully synthetic motor oil - Relentless performance, cleansing and protection
www.shell.co.za www.shell.co.za

Ultra
www.shell.co.za

Shell Helix Ultra 5W-40 | Shell South Africa

Fully synthetic motor oil – Shell’s most advanced formulation for high-performance engines.
www.shell.co.za www.shell.co.za

I bought the ultra and was wondering why they have these two fully synthetic oils asked the guy at Midas and he was also confused and could not tell me why. He says they normally only sell the Shell helix Ultra.

When I did some googling not much info available in the HX8, only that it is new and affordable with Flexi Molecules adapts to how you drive.

Thought I will asked My Broadband users if they have more info as I am sure I can still exchange the one for the other if the one is more recommended?
 
Quicks said:
New and affordable with Flexi Molecules adapts to how you drive.
Click to expand...

How the shell engineers and tribologists must hate the marketing department.

They are both full synthetics (probably from different base stocks) and are more than sufficient for a road car. I would get the cheaper one.
 
brought the HX8 one a few months ago when I did my service,

was actually told for my car its a waste and its not even the right one,
although my owners manual says always use Shell Helix.

so who the F knows anyway.
oil is oil,
all comes from the same barrel probably and just put into different boxes to make more money.

I mean has anybody tested these oils side by side? like they do to olive oil?
 
The correct thing to do is to drain the oil from the sump (and the oil filter as well, as that should also be changed at the same time) into a drip tray, then use a funnel to pour the used oil back into the plastic container after you've replenished the engine with the new oil, then take the container with the used oil to a service station or car service centre, so it can be disposed of properly.

It should NEVER be poured down a drainage or sewer pipe, contaminating those systems, or just thrown away with the weekly garbage & ending up in a landfill, where it can leak out and leach into the surrounding environment & water table.
 
I take used oil to my local BP garage. They have two collections a month and it goes back to the refinery

I use Total synthetic 5w-40, changing every 10000km along with the oil and air filter. Masterparts in Kenilworth supply it
 
I have used Petronas (Engen) Xtreme 5W40 semi-synthetic oil in my car for each yearly service interval (75,000 / 90,000 & 105,000 kms) when I was in Gauteng, as I used to get it from the local Checlers Hyper near me, but I relocated to East London in April last year and when my car needed to go in for its 120,000 km service in July, all I could source was Total Quartz 9000 5W40 semi synthetic oil (which is around the same price), so I used that instead.
 
Oil is not oil, I have a 2013 Volvo truck(I used Liqui Moly 10w50), with 950k km, I’ve ran full synthetic oil for last 7yrs,
 
Quicks said:
Servicing my vehicle over the weekend and went to buy some parts and notice shell has 2 different fully synthetic oils.

HX8
www.shell.co.za

Shell Helix HX8 Synthetic 5W-40 | Shell South Africa

Fully synthetic motor oil - Relentless performance, cleansing and protection
www.shell.co.za www.shell.co.za

Ultra
www.shell.co.za

Shell Helix Ultra 5W-40 | Shell South Africa

Fully synthetic motor oil – Shell’s most advanced formulation for high-performance engines.
www.shell.co.za www.shell.co.za

I bought the ultra and was wondering why they have these two fully synthetic oils asked the guy at Midas and he was also confused and could not tell me why. He says they normally only sell the Shell helix Ultra.

When I did some googling not much info available in the HX8, only that it is new and affordable with Flexi Molecules adapts to how you drive.

Thought I will asked My Broadband users if they have more info as I am sure I can still exchange the one for the other if the one is more recommended?
Click to expand...
Did the same last week, but picked up 2 cans of hx8 instead of the ultra. The hx8 says made in sa. Not sure if that contributes to the lower price. Its also doesn't have the ferrari approval or the bmw ll04 approval iirc.

I did read up somewhere on another forum where I think someone explained the difference. Will check if I can dig it up.
 
rodga said:
Did the same last week, but picked up 2 cans of hx8 instead of the ultra. The hx8 says made in sa. Not sure if that contributes to the lower price. Its also doesn't have the ferrari approval or the bmw ll04 approval iirc.

I did read up somewhere on another forum where I think someone explained the difference. Will check if I can dig it up.
Click to expand...
They haven't got the 'approvals' because it is a new product. Also you car is not a ferrari. Also the hx8 would more than meet the ferrari spec. Don't get sucked in by marketing.
 
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asshat99 said:
They haven't for got the 'approvals' because it is a new product. Also you car is not a ferrari. Also the hx8 would more than meet the ferrari spec. Don't get sucked in by marketing.
Click to expand...
It's only new for SA. It's been available in other territories since at least 2015. Also why wouldn't a new product get all the approvals it possibly can?
 
rodga said:
It's only new for SA. It's been available in other territories since at least 2015. Also why wouldn't a new product get all the approvals it possibly can?
Click to expand...
There are many many versions of hx8 in different markets. Marketing BS costs money and time. Maybe they keep that for the more expensive one to differentiate it in some way at least. Hx8 has the 'more affordable driving style adaptive molecules' after all.

I wouldn't read anything into the lack of ferrari endorsement. Also ferrari would not be selling cars that use 5W40 anyway.
 
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asshat99 said:
Is ferarri selling 2015 cars now? Is ferrari selling 458s? You know 2015 was half a decade ago now? 2010 was a decade ago. Time to move on buddy.
Click to expand...

The point was that there are Ferrari cars that do indeed use 5W-40, you didn't specify only current models in your blanket denial.

But just to please you.

Ferrari 488 (2015- )

EDGE 5W-40 A3/B4
Click to expand...

asshat99 said:
Is castrol oil recommender the same as ferrari now?
Click to expand...

Yes, obviously it would be the same, or do you think the giant multinational oil company makes up oil specs for the sh*ts and giggles?


asshat99 said:
Clown
Click to expand...

Yes, you really are...
 
chrisc said:
I take used oil to my local BP garage. They have two collections a month and it goes back to the refinery

I use Total synthetic 5w-40, changing every 10000km along with the oil and air filter. Masterparts in Kenilworth supply it
Click to expand...

Thank you for this info as i have old old that i need to get rid off.
Will check my local garages to dispose it.
 
unobeat said:
Thank you for this info as i have old old that i need to get rid off.
Will check my local garages to dispose it.
Click to expand...
It goes back to oil recyclers who use it to make greases and chain and bar lube. Or to be burnt in for kilns and furnaces. Not the refinery to make oil. Maybe the depot near the refinery. You aren't going to waste time pouring a few barrels of old contaminated oil mixed with antifreeze (from a leaking head gasket) and other service fluids and metal filings into a refinery. Simply not worth the pay off. Despite what the marketing department will tell you.
 
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Did anyone ever work out the physical differences between HX8 and Ultra 5W40?
 
If i remember correctly, the difference is basically base oil used. The Ultra uses a gas to liquid process for the base oil while the HX8 is made the more orthodox way with crude oil for the base oil.

That being said, the HX8 is arguably the best oil you can get in terms of value for money here in SA. Goldwagen sells them at like R400ish for a 5L which for a fully synthetic 5W40 oil is a bargain
 
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