What is the difference between Shell's Advance and Ultra?

[VanHaven]

Shell's Advance focuses on energy saving and emission reduction, while Ultra focuses on high cleanliness. Introduction to Shell Advance: Advance Helix adopts Shell's PurePlus technology to produce high-purity base oil, and also has an environmentally friendly formula with low sulfur, low phosphorus, and low ash content, which can save energy and reduce emissions, and enhance the power of engine protection. It has the function of saving energy and reducing consumption, improving fuel economy; it can help suppress low-speed pre-ignition and resist knocking; it can resist oil degradation and provide long-lasting protection for the engine; it improves anti-wear performance and provides comprehensive protection for the engine. Introduction to Shell Ultra: Shell Ultra can maintain stronger performance under extreme high temperatures, providing continuous lubrication and protection for the engine. It offers outstanding resistance to oil degradation, 32% higher than the latest industry standards. Thanks to its excellent low-temperature performance, Shell Ultra with PurePlus technology can achieve up to three times faster oil flow at temperatures as low as -40°C, facilitating engine start-up and faster warm-up. It helps high-performance engines prevent the formation of harmful deposits that can affect their power and performance, reducing evaporation loss by up to 50% compared to inferior oils. With reduced friction between engine components, the parts can work and operate more easily, consuming less fuel. Shell Ultra has a low-viscosity, low-friction formula, saving up to 3% in fuel.

[DeKylie]

I've specifically researched the differences between these two engine oils. The Pioneer series is primarily positioned for daily family car maintenance, belonging to an entry-level full synthetic oil with a balanced and cost-effective formula. In contrast, the Ultra Clean series is clearly more advanced, utilizing Shell's exclusive PurePlus gas-to-liquid technology with base oil purity approaching 99.5% and more stable molecular structure. In terms of high-temperature shear resistance, Ultra Clean significantly outperforms Pioneer, making it particularly suitable for turbocharged models. I've tested it during aggressive driving, and Ultra Clean's oil temperature control is indeed superior. However, for daily commuting, Pioneer is completely sufficient, especially considering the substantial price difference.

[VonCourtney]

My family has used both of these oils in our two cars. Pioneer offers a variety of viscosity options, with an oil change interval of around 8,000 kilometers, and it performs well in noise control during driving. The most noticeable difference with Ultimate Clean is its excellent cold-start protection—the engine RPM stabilizes instantly after ignition in winter. It contains more anti-wear additives, resulting in significantly less piston carbon buildup over long-term use. Last time, I compared with an endoscope: after running 10,000 kilometers, the engine interior with Ultimate Clean was visibly cleaner than with Pioneer. But honestly, for city commuting, Pioneer is cost-effective enough unless you frequently drive on highways or own an older car requiring extra protection.

[LeAdam]

The key to evaluating engine oil performance lies in its certification standards. Pioneer commonly meets the SN-grade certification, using Group III hydrocracked base oil. Ultra-Clean mostly achieves the latest SP-grade certification, employing Group IV base oil refined through gas-to-liquid conversion technology with minimal impurities. During high-speed driving, Ultra-Clean demonstrates superior high-temperature stability, maintaining oil film integrity even under aggressive driving conditions. In my previous high-RPM test, Pioneer showed noticeable oil degradation approximately 500 kilometers earlier. However, Pioneer works perfectly fine for regular naturally aspirated engines, unless you frequently carry heavy loads or drive on mountainous roads.