The “W” in Shell W100 and W100 Plus does not mean “winter”
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The recent and interesting article about oil in the October 2024 Newsletter prompted me to highlight something I learned relatively recently. It may have been durr-obvious to everyone else and I may well be a slow learner, but…
Shell W100 and W100 Plus are not suitable for use below about 15 degrees C. Those oils have the temperature limitations of SAE 50 grade oils.
The temperature on many mornings for a few months in parts of southern Australia is below 15 C. Where I’ve been based for a long time – YSCB / YCTM – the morning temperatures are occasionally below – well below – 0 degrees C. At that temperature W100 is nearly as thick as molasses.
Although it’s right there on the packet, I had assumed – bad idea I know – that W100 / W100 Plus were the ‘latest and greatest’ development in engine lubrication. No doubt they perform very well in the temperature range for which they were formulated. But that range doesn’t include the temperature on many mornings down here. The 20W-50 oil I now use is more suited to the cold months here and has solved my cold start problems.
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