Mobil has just introduced their new "european "spec Mobil one synthetic oil.
The viscosity is 0W-40W.
It is "approved" (on the label) by top Euro auto makers ( BMW, Audi, Merc,VW etc Jag not mentioned)
Any opinions on this new synthetic?

My 2003 X308 XJR supercharged has 40,127 miles on it . It runs like a clock.
It is stored indoors from Nov to April here in Boston and is never started during that 5 month period ( battery removed at storage) . I only drive about 1800 miles per summer. So I change oil only once a year ( Oct) before it goes in to storage.

The oil in it now is Mobil one 10W 40W which I'm about to change ( wow ..talk about over kill as it looks like honey) but on a near mint car like this one, who cares . Oil Change cost is not a consideration .

Any and all comments on the new "European Formula" from Mobil would be greatly appreciated




I c

 

Is it for sale: your car?

 

1800 miles a year? You could use concentrated maiden's water for oil and still be OK.

Your car doesn't require synthetic of any type nor is it of benefit when changed so frequently. I'm not sure that 0W40 is an acceptable viscosity for your engine.

Oil companies are not much different than breweries- always putting a new spin on an old product hoping to sway more buyers.

 

The first question that comes to mind is whether Mobil 1 is actually touting this oil as a special formula for European cars in Europe, or are they only marketing it that way in North America. If it's the latter, I'd suspect it's just a marketing gimmick.

It does cause one to wonder what European engines might have in common with one another but not with engines made in Asia, the Americas, Australia, etc. Even if you only look at BMW, Mercedes, Audi and VW, there are significant differences among their engines, which run the gamut: I-3, I-4, I-5, I-6, V6, V8, V10, V12, W12 and W16, not to mention normally aspirated, turbocharged and supercharged versions. What's the common thread???

Cheers,

Don

 

Some cars spec a 0W40 oil. My a8 does. I use this exact oil in it. I use 5W30 in the Jaguars.

 

Use it if it makes you feel good, so long as it meets jag's spec. You're just being conned out of a little $$$ as any other oil that meets the spec will do.

 

Interesting comments from all.
To me, 5W 30W seems to be an appropriate viscosity for engines driven year round in England, It being rather "chilly" year round. Here in the North East USA the temperatures are much more extreme (winters as low as 0- 10 degrees F and summers 80 to 90 F) As said earlier, my mint 2003 X308 XJR is in storage and never runs from Nov to April so it never sees the need for a low viscosity oil. When the warm, often hot weather ( 90 F) of summer comes ( the only time the car is driven ) then I believe the engine benefits from a little higher viscosity oil ( 40W vs 30W ) oil . My only concern with the 0W -40W new Mobil "European" Mobil One oil is that the oil might be too thin (0W) for the 5 months of storage indoors unheated. Any comments ?

 

a mint 2003 XJR

 

I noticed Mobil confusingly changed the labeling (and product range) on their Mobil 1 product in the UK a while back to Mobil 1 New Life with a gold label and Mobil 1 ESP with a green label. The hype (technical data sheet) reads much the same on both but the ESP range is higher cost.

As I recall, it comes down to what is "synthetic" oil and there's two categories:

1. Synthetic Blend Oil: a mix of conventional motor oils and synthetic base stocks.

2. Full Synthetic Oil: a synthetic base stock mixed with a variety of additives that boost the performance of the oil.

As I understand it, manufacturers can market either type as "synthetic" in the UK but not in the US unless it is (2). Perhaps the "European" label is a clever way of getting round this?

Graham

 

Spending extra money on oil that you change every 1800 miles is worth it since it makes you feel good! And feeling good is always worth it!

 

You can spend extra money and feel good at the same time?

 

From what I can tell, it's not that it's anything "new", just probably new branding/marketing on their 0w-40 Full Synthetic that is approved for most foreign manufacturers (BMW LL01, etc). The only difference between it and the "non-euro" version, is the viscosity. Personally, since it's no cheaper to buy that than it was to buy the actual BMW 5W-30 oil for my 328i, I used the factory stuff.

Here's the product page (you'll note that the picture doesn't show the euro label - but if you go check the descriptions for each visc at the bottom, you'll see the approved-by mfr list)

https://mobiloil.com/en/motor-oils/mobil-1/mobil-1

 

If the engine is not being started, the oil is just sitting there. Why would viscosity matter?

If it was being started, thin oils are essential for quick circulation throughout the system during start up.

 

Here are the viscosity specs for Mobil 1 :

Mobil 1 0W-40 Value
Viscosity, cSt (ASTM D445)
@ 40º C 75
@ 100º C 13.5

Mobil 1 5W-30
SAE Grade 5W-30
Viscosity @ 100ºC, cSt (ASTM D445) 11.0
Viscosity, @ 40ºC, cSt (ASTM D445) 61.7

As you can see, there is no evidence to support the assertion that it is too thin, or thinner than 5w30, across the normal temperature range when running.

Maybe at 0C it might be a bit thinner than 5w30, but still many times more viscose than when hot. If a viscosity of 13.5 is sufficient when the engine is hot, how can a viscosity of >75, more than 5 times as thick, be insufficient when the engine is cold?

 

The Mobil 1 0W-40 has been around for over 15 years .. my 01 Porsche used it. From what I understand the ESP has a different additive pac. Most german cars have FSS systems and they use/ need the correct additives for the system to gauge the condition of the oil -- that's why most use Mobil 1-- they developed the technology.

If you go to the MB dealer for a change -- the use the ESP.

Jaguar specifies 5W-30 -- That is what I would use. I normally use synthetic oil in those cars that don't get driven very often -- most don't get changed for two years. Porsche recommends 1 year for reg and 2 year for synthetic. I always use an OE filter -- the cheap ones can fall apart before the two years.

I always use M1 in the those cars driven many miles when M1 is specified and I am using the FSS -- the MB's go out past 13k often past 15k with the new formula. I have 160k on one of my wagons using the FSS -- no oil needed between changes.

 

I did not say it makes me feel good! But lots of folks apparently feel good when spending extra money on oil, tire nitrogen, seafoam, dealer parts.....

 

If you change the oil once a year, like me (I do about 3K miles per year in the Jag), the difference in price between normal oil, and synthetic, at Walmart is insignificant.

I just used Shell Rotella T6 5w40, $19.57 a gallon. Two gallons leaves me enough for a year's topping off.

 

The "0W" winter viscosity testing is done at -20°F, and at that temperature, even a 0W rated oil will be 100 times as thick as a straight 40 weight oil would be at full operating temperature. Multi-viscosity oils don't get thinner with decreasing temperature, they just thicken less than a straight weight oil would.

Any weight oil will be sufficient for an engine that is being stored and isn't operating.

 

You should use 5W-30 as specified -- thats the viscosity specified biased on the engine design. Jaguar did not even specify synthetic oil.

The fact the Mobil calls this oil "european" and the Jaguar is from the other side of the pond does not equate to it being made or suitable for the car.

Don't overthink this.

The 0W will not be too thin in an engine never operated .. but the 0W-40 is not the correct oil for your climate.

I would also not use a "high mile" oil unless you have a leak.

 

I ran German made Castrol Syntec 0w30 (green color made in Germany) in my 96 Z28 1LE for 150K miles in northeast as daily driver for years with no ill effects.


When I installed 1.8 roller rockers at around 100K, LT1 was pristine inside.