What engine oil do you use

[syedmfarooq]

Thanks Ahsan.
300 isn't too much considering it is a good quality filter and in the long run the extra money spent will reap its benefits.
I live in DHA phase 8 so I think Gizri or Punjab Colony is where I'll get my filter from. Korangi industrial is out of way and I have no idea where Pyala Hotel is!
They'll probably have a VIC filter to match the 8th gen Civic but I'm skeptical about getting a match for KIA Spectra and Chery QQ.

[stonedsaint]

I was using honda engine oil for my 06 city, but now thinking of changing it as many info provided by Storm bhai and other ,
I need to know about Catrol Magneto ( or magnatic, not sure abt name ), dont knw abt its specs and all, but many shops/ppl recommending it, is it synthetic or semi synt or mineral ? wats price and ratting recommended for my 06 city, btw my car on petrol, no cng, i regularly change oil + air filter of jap make worthing 475 and 400 Rs respectively at 5000 km run ...... no oil eating, no probs, giving me 18-20 km/liter in winter on highways ...... MASHALLAH !

[Storm]

A hole in the filter element itself! Ouch.

I'll look into Lippon filters and see what the retailers have to say.
I asked about non-OEM filters because i don't trust the OEM products as there is absolutely NO quality control in Pakistan when it comes to cars.

I never knew i had so many questions about my car's engine oils until i started reading this thread.
Here's the last one (hopefully).
You mentioned I can use a local flushing liquid but in 50% mix. What do I mix the flushing liquid with? An imported flushing liquid, lubricating oil, diesel?

Thanks once again.

yup, a hole where the filter doubles back on itself, where it's supposed to seal,.. there was a bend in the material causing it to allow oil to flow right past the filtering element. only reason i've suggested Leppon/lippon (whatever) is that everyone i have spoken to abotu them so far has raved abotu their filtering efficiency (not very technical as i doubt any of them conducted scientific tests).

i'm goin gto be trying VIC filters next and then Leppon/lippon and will get back to you regarding the results as soon as the tests are over.

when i said local flush i meant the 50:50 mix of diesel with old engine oil (about 2 large cap-fulls). the other (real) flushing liquids are to be poured straight into the engine (availble from liquimoly).

please ask what you wish, we'll answer to the best of our knowledge (that what a forum is all about)

[Storm]

If you're talking about oil filters, I've found VIC to be best. Both cost and performance go like VIC Japan>LePPon Malaysia>Guard/Qaim Pakistan. Haven't ever tried Toyota or other OEM oil filters.

The other filters such Osaka etc. are very cheap (Rs. 85/-) and don't have a wastegate (or bypass and maybe @storm is using spring loaded diaphragm for the same thing). Now filters that don't have a bypass must have very very strong filtration element (which you can't expect from dirt cheap stuff) otherwise it would soon tear out and then voila: no filtration! Its no use buying anything cheaper than Guard.

Personal experience: Used VIC, Leppon and Guard filters on CNG vehicle. Now CNG has no soot blow-by, hence oil darkens very less if filtration is proper. Only metal filing is mixed in the oil (OK I agree I'm making it very ideal). Using Guard GDO-158 oil becomes dark after 3000 km, Using Leppon (don't remember model number) it is like 5000 km and using VIC C-932 or VIC C-110 oil remains clean uptil 8000 km. I usually change after 10000 km (not advisable). And the oil colour is on the dipstick, not in the sump. Otherwise on every drain oil is black. Even if you drain after only 100 km.

@storm, have you ever used CAT oil?

I think we should start a topic about air filters too. It is more important than oil filter since it requires more frequent maintenance. Plus pick and consumption depends upon it more than oil filter.

One more thing: you can always choose from filters of multiple sizes. I always buy the smallest one because it saves oil (E.g VIC C-110 is about 1 cm longer than C-932 so I'd prefer C-932 though both cost same). What do you people do/think?

where have you been all my life?? your posts are just he kind of info which has been missing from PW for all these years.

you are 100% correct about the by-pass, people don't know or have never seen the inside workings of an oil filter and don't realize how critical their construction is. as far as size inconcerned, i always go for the largest filter i can fit so that i can get more flow under less pressure ofver a longer period (5000km).

personally i've never used VIC filters but i will be doing so on my next change (next one is due on the VW) since it has given you such good results so far.

Also i have never tried CAT oil. i've infact never heard of it being available in ISB or RWP.

Please start the air filter thread (if you havn't already) and i'll add what little i can to it as well.

[Storm]

I was using honda engine oil for my 06 city, but now thinking of changing it as many info provided by Storm bhai and other ,
I need to know about Catrol Magneto ( or magnatic, not sure abt name ), dont knw abt its specs and all, but many shops/ppl recommending it, is it synthetic or semi synt or mineral ? wats price and ratting recommended for my 06 city, btw my car on petrol, no cng, i regularly change oil + air filter of jap make worthing 475 and 400 Rs respectively at 5000 km run ...... no oil eating, no probs, giving me 18-20 km/liter in winter on highways ...... MASHALLAH !

castrol Magnatec (worldwide) now carries SM certification (API), but i'm not sure about PK at the moment as it has been a while since i have used it in any application. as far as i know it is a mineral oil as it does NOT say synthetic anywhere on the can, but it is advertized as "synthetically engineered oil" which is very confusing. it comes in 5W30, 10W40, 10W40 diesel and 15W40, again, not sure about the PK spec stuff.

however good or bad it may be is entirely up to you. the shopkeeper will sell you whatever you want (as long as he makes a sale) and like mitsu_man said in the other oil thread, it's possible best to do your own research too. I say that magnatec was good when i last used it (ok it was in my office generator) and it offered excellent running but ws a little expensive when compared to other oils in that market segment.

i'll look into magnatec this week and let you know what/if i find anything additional to this utterly vague and useless info i have just posted here. more info available here: http://www.castrol.com/castrol/datasheetsearch.do

[bnasir]

@ SPECTRA " For diesels, i have used all known brands and found out that shell is a big no"

why is shell oil bad?

[ahsan1702]

Zic A+ on the Honda City 2001
Zic A on the Charade GTti 1987 (which is for sale btw)

Excellent oils.

Ive noticed a change in fuel average on both cars with the 'thinner' oils. GTti now does an easy 11-12km/l ... while the City does the same with A/C

With a 20w50 oil in the GTti, I never got anything above 10km/l

VIC oil filters all the time. No skimping on oil related stuff ... EVER!

[spectra]

@ SPECTRA " For diesels, i have used all known brands and found out that shell is a big no"

why is shell oil bad?

Diesels are very responsive to any change in maintenance you do, some signal of anything going wrong. With shell Rimula i had experience of oil getting so thick after 1500 kms t hat engine refused to turn over at cold start.

Changed to Delo withs ame filter for a while just to see what hapened, and it was all fine again with same tired battery. Used top of the line Rimula X as well but it gave up after 2500 kms. bubbles on dipstick and viscosity was non existant.

I think shell use a lot of recycled oil which they collect from the suction machines at pumps. They were the first ones to introduce that method of oil change and i am damn sure that oil collected is recycled, Have heard of some factory near multan where all this is done.

Also, most shell pumps are contract operated, not company operated and temepring is very common so i do not take rsik. Its been 12 years now that i havent used any shell lubruicant. Caltex, ZIC, Total and now Petromin.

[Storm]

Its been 12 years now that i havent used any shell lubruicant. Caltex, ZIC, Total and now Petromin.

your stock is always on standby at my office (can also be delivered if needed)

[spectra]

Got busy with office stuff. Now another trip to lahore on sunday and oil change will be due

[imranbhatti]

I have seriuosly faced perfomance realted issues while using Shell & Total oils & personaly observe that Caltex & even Castrol is far better than shell & Total.

I happen to use Delo gold in my Diesel Car for 5000Km run, couples of time i tried Rimula but response was not at par with Delo & even after ~2500 Km drive engines starts shouting & giving bad response during cold start which wasnt the case wid Delo upto 5000Km running.

In Petrol engines I have used Total, Helix, Castrol, & Havoline in my Small as well as big bikes response of Havoline SF/SG/SM grades is superb Castrol GTX & ActiveX with SG grades are also good but wen ever i tried Hellix or Total response was relatively poor & as far the issue of recylcling of oil is concern i have serious doubt like @spectra do on Shell or on their distribution chanel.
Coz last year i bought Helix from Shell Fuel station in Rawalpindi & after pouring it into my bike i feel bad response & hardly after 50 Km run the bike engine was about to sieze so i stopped the bike on high way & get relaced oil again with Havoline. Though after oil change bike starts performing relatively better but its engine got ruined during next run of ~1000 Km :(.

[Vajih102]

nanaji's driver also uses Delo for his `79 merc.

[mani1]

Just bought Mobil 1 5W-50 for my Altis Cruisetronic. Current mileage is 5000km and is due for oil change + filter change. Shell Helix Plus was used for 2500km change. Will change oil and filter again after 5000kms

@Storm & others

What do you guys think? A wise choice ignoring cost?

[Faisal_RX8]

Whats the price of 1L mobil1 pack?

[mani1]

PKR 1,000 for 1 ltr
PKR 4,000 for 4 ltr

[autobanda]

@Storm

Absolutely impressed by your knowledge of all that lubricates :).

I have been using Zic A+ in my Cultus Efi for past 50k Kilometers, since I got it from the Dlr. The issue with me is, whenever anything becomes too popular here in Pakistan, it kind of worries me and that is exactly the case with Zic Oils. They are like everywhere Lahore and no stockist has any other Brand. Seems like shopkeepers have nothing else to sell.
Which in turn goes to show the Dlrs and shopkeepers are getting a good margin of profit on the sales they make. Another issue which makes one think twice before purchasing Zic is how they have been increasing the prices for the past few years. There is another company which is trying to follow in the path of Zic and their oils have flooded the market in Lahore and they sell their product with the Brand name of Micking.
Coming to your advice regarding Fuchs or Petromin oils, I have been to all main Oil Shops but none of them stock these oils. Do you know where I can find the aforementioned Oils here in Lahore, and which would be the best and most compatible oil for the said G10B Efi engine, and would the shift from Zic A+ Fully Synthetic to the Oil you suggest cause any issues? What i would like is for you to suggest an oil which i can get consistently and not once in a while, because when i choose I product and want its purchase to be a no brainer.

BTW judging by the amount of background knowledge you have, i believe you are involved in the Petroleum sector somehow, am i right?

Kindly reply ASAP, as my baby is due for an oil change over the weekend.

[Storm]

Just bought Mobil 1 5W-50 for my Altis Cruisetronic. Current mileage is 5000km and is due for oil change + filter change. Shell Helix Plus was used for 2500km change. Will change oil and filter again after 5000kms

@Storm & others

What do you guys think? A wise choice ignoring cost?

If cost is not a factor then it is exceptional oil.

[Storm]

@Storm

BTW judging by the amount of background knowledge you have, i believe you are involved in the Petroleum sector somehow, am i right?

Kindly reply ASAP, as my baby is due for an oil change over the weekend.

yup, i'm a gas analizer specialist for the oil & gas industry and as of last month the company i work for has gotten exclusive rights to petromin oils in ISB & RWP. Petromin hasn't officially launched in LHR but i'm arranging for some cases of oil to be sent there tomorrow hopfully so that "our man in lahore" can start going to the shops and start selling it there too. i'll leave it to him to tell you where you can get it (or i'll ask him and post it here as soon as possible). Petromin is here to stay and if needed i'll personally send you oil to LHR from ISB if you can't find it there (if you decide to switch and can't find it).

i know what you mean about ZIC, many people have been upset with the steady price rise and have switched to other oils but the bottom line is that if price is NOT a facto then ZIc A+ is a good oil,.. i just believe in value for money. Fuchs (Hascol) has a main dealer in LHR, i'll check for you where it is if you wish, i haev no issues as their super GT is also a very good oil (i believe in healthy competition so that the customers get the maximum value for money so i honestly don't mind if you use our competitors too).

for more info on petromin oils: CLICK HERE

[autobanda]

@storm

Do Petromin have any Synthetic oils. Read a previous post of yours which states that Ultra 7 is a mineral oil, and would also like to hear your opinion about Guard Filters.........

[Storm]

they do, but we decided not to start with it since it's more expensive and offers less value for money than Ultra7 & fleetmaster LD at 5000km oil-change intervals.

personally i'd rather not use Guard filters as the construction is not too good,.. but even worse than that is that almost every guard filter on the market is a fake.