What are the types of Shell fully synthetic lubricants?
3 Answers
Shell fully synthetic lubricants include Ultra and HX8. Shell has a classification of five different colored packaging barrels, each representing different uses and grades, and is designed for vehicles of varying levels. These are: Gray Shell, Blue Shell, Yellow Shell, Red Shell, and White Shell. More details are as follows: 1. Gray Shell is divided into Ultra and HX8, both of which are fully synthetic oils; Blue Shell is a semi-synthetic oil, Yellow Shell is divided into HX6 and HX5, where HX6 is a semi-synthetic oil and HX5 is a mineral oil; Red Shell HX3 and White Shell HX2 are mineral oils. 2. HX is the series code for Shell lubricants, and the number following HX indicates the higher the grade of the series. Common HX5 and HX6 are Yellow Helix, also known as Yellow Shell. HX5 is the highest grade of Shell mineral oil, while HX6 is a semi-synthetic oil, albeit the lowest grade among semi-synthetics. 3. HX7 is Blue Shell, commonly used for passenger cars, and is the highest grade among Shell's semi-synthetic oils. A step above is Ultra, also known as Gray Shell or Gray Helix, which is Shell's highest-grade fully synthetic oil, belonging to the hydrogen cracking + hydrogen isomerization-based Group III synthetic category.
I usually pay close attention to engine oil. Shell's full synthetic series mainly includes several product lines. The Ultra series, commonly known as Gray Shell, comes in different viscosities like 5W-30 and 5W-40, suitable for regular family cars with good cleaning performance. The PurePlus series (Gold Shell) offers premium grades like 0W-30 and 0W-40, using pure natural gas synthesis technology – particularly smooth for turbocharged vehicles. There's also the Professional series primarily supplied to repair shops, featuring longer-lasting anti-wear properties. When choosing, always refer to your vehicle's manual for recommended viscosity. German cars or older vehicles typically suggest 5W-40, while Japanese new models often use fuel-efficient 0W-20. Don't just focus on price – engine compatibility matters most. The best deals come during e-commerce promotions; I always stock up during big sales events.
As an average car owner, I've used Shell's Helix Ultra and Helix Ultra Professional. The Helix Ultra commonly comes in 5W-30 and 5W-40 grades, offering good cost performance. My old Tiguan has always used 5W-40. The Helix Ultra Professional is the PurePlus series, available in 0W-30, 0W-40, etc. It's more expensive but provides better cold-start protection. There's also the blue-packaged Helix Ultra E+, which has a more comprehensive viscosity range but is less common in the market. When purchasing, check the bottle labeling - for example, API SP certification is more suitable for new cars. For self-maintenance, I recommend choosing official flagship stores for affordable prices and guaranteed authenticity. Changing oil every 8,000 to 10,000 kilometers works very well, with noticeably reduced engine noise.
