Shell Helix Ultra 5-40 vs Mobil 1 0-40

Supposely the recommended Quaker oil to use in our Ferraris is the Q Horsepower line up, within this line up there are only 5w30, 10w40, 5w20, 5w50. I don't see a 5w40 range. What the hell???

 

yup, dry sump engines have external pumps, several actually, vs the oild pickup in the oil-pan on wet sump engines. therefore the engine has to be running and warmed up to get a correct reading.
porsche has solved this by havig an electronic readout instead of a dipstick. i think ferrari employs the same method ??

 

Actually the pumps are not external, they are internal within the engine.

Porsche had "real" dry sump all the way up until 1998, beginning with the 996 model the system was changed to a hybrid system for cost saving reasons. At the same time the digital oil level read out was introduced with the 996 model, which will only allow you to read the oil level reading when the engine is off, or immedaitely after filling up the gas tank. The older air cool system were the same as the Ferraris which required the engine to be warmed up and running in order for the oil leve to be read.

 

One of the local Ferrari techs here, Andy Falbo, bought several cases of it through a distributor. I can find out if you're interested. I just had my oil changed by him and he confirmed what many here have said. Quaker State Q horsepower is the same as the Shell Helix.

 

I've just ordered a case of Royal Purple 5W-40 based on the below report....
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I have seen these test results and it is the typical test conducted by Royal Purple. It shows the impact on new oil but it doesn't give you any idea of what happens as the oil get subjected to heat and stress. How does the viscosity change over time? How much does it reduce wear after you have 1000 miles of spirited driving on it?

Why not do a more comprehensive analysis? If there was significant wear reduction you should be able to take two motors and run them with different oils. Then test the oil. You should see a big difference in the oil makeup after the test.

Tests like this always leaves me suspicious of the tester. The test is very contrived and only tests one thing. Yet, miraculously, the company that sponsors the test wins. HUMMM wonder how that happens.

Don't get me wrong. I suspect that Royal Purple is one of the better oils out there. BUT, I remain skeptical of their claim to be THAT much better than everyone else. When a company does this much advertising about a claim but doesn't do a scientific approach, I have to doubt them and the claim. It is like doing business with someone who is not really honest.

 

This was an independent test, published by an International magazine, and was not "skewed" by any of the company's whos products were tested. FWIW, the Royal Purple oil was not declared a/the "winner"

 

Thanks for that information. I did a little more research and read the article on the web. There are several problems with this test. The first two that come to mind are:
1) it was performed at room temp not operating temp
2) it uses different weight oils so they behave differently at the test temp

This test was so flawed that StreedCommodores printed this:
"OILS AIN'T OILS – The post script

If there's one thing we try and do here at Street Commodores, it's give you, our readers un-biased info on which products are good, and which ones suck. There's so much BS marketing guff out there, that it can be tough to nut out which products can walk the walk – so that's where we come in, doing our best to sort the Holdens from the Lada Nivas.

A few months back (issue 108), you might remember we did an oil comparison. At the time, we thought it was a bloody good thing, and we don't mind telling you we were pretty proud to publish an article that basically bagged a heap of big name brands. You see, at Street Commodores, we can't, and won't be bought. We like to play things straight. And in the name of playing things straight, we'd like to tell you what has happened since that story went to print.

Basically, we made a few oil companies very cross, and some others quite happy; but we've also been educated some more on engine oils, and being the type of publication that we are, we wanted to fill you in on it. The information we've learned since then suggests the test we performed may be irrelevant. Some sources have advised us that the test we used would have been better served testing some of our favourite greases rather than the engine oils we commonly use on our street cars. Sure, we did the test with the best intentions, with a level playing field for each oil and no preconceptions as to who would perform better than another, but when, and if, we mess up, we like to think that we're man enough to set the record straight.

So keep an eye out in an upcoming issue real soon for an in-depth look at what makes up the contents of your oil, what to look for when choosing one, why certain ingredients are so important and whether the test we used was irrelevant for testing oils."

 

of course the pumps are internal with the engine, however waht i meant is that its not a pump with a pan oil pick-up. the turbo engines on 997 turbo and gt2 are real dry sump engines.
i guess tha gt3 as well.

i can check my oil with the engine running. it has to be warmed up or no reading.....

 

The info about the oil comparison test is really compelling. I think I might be changing to Penrite or Royal Purple.

Anyone else using these products?

 

I've just switched to RP

 

Has anyone else experienced foaming/bubbles with Helix Ultra (5W-40) and as side result, meaning accurate oil level can't be confirmed?

Just had my Scuderia in for 1,000mile oil change. Checking now, the dipstick is showing bubbles and the reading is about 2.5cms/1" above max.

Wouldn't the bubbles would be a result of overfilling? As you can imagine, I ain't gonna be too happy if this is the case.

 

Don't worry. I had the same problem with my 360. It is almost impossibel to get a good dipstick reading while the engine is running. Turn the engine off and immediately check your engine oil level within 15-20 seconds. And yes, Helix Ultra is foaming very bad. Switch to Mobil, Castrol or any other good syntetic oil.

 

Will do, thanks for the feedback Schumi.

 

You can only get this Q HorsePower at Ferrari/Maserati dealers. I did. About $20 per quart, same as Shell 5w40.

 

what?!!! I just bought Q Horsepower, 5 quart jug at Walmart for $18! Why is the Mafia, oops I mean Ferrari, charging so much?

 

.... it's not 5W-40.......

 

No, it was 5-30 for my more reliable car. They had other weights, but did not notice 5w-40. It's pretty clear the Mafia, I mean Ferrari, is up to its seedy tatics and controlling the mkt. I'm gonna call the anti trust dept!!! )))

 

Ck your label, I bet it is not 5w40. That's why I went with Redline 5w40, it is the correct weight and group V synthetic, much better oil.

 

Mobil-1 destroyed the 360 engine of bill's, I'd be careful
http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=205484

 

I am thinking about using Royal Purple as well. Can you please post your experience with Royal Purple in your car?

I have used Royal Purple in every car during the past 4 years, great experience, but I am not sure about using it in my 360.

 

I read not long ago that Royal purple had to change their ads due to misleading information. It supposedly doesn't provide the heat dissipation that it claim and doesn't perform to levels advertised...


Mi next change I will be using Amsoil or Redline. Maybe even Agip

 

RedLine all the way. Expensive but very good.

 

ditto 5w40 redline.