With global oil and gas prices remaining high, the cost of transportation has also been impacted with increased fuel prices which, in turn, raises the prices of goods and consumables. For Malaysians, these are challenging times and those who own and use motor vehicles would want to minimise running costs as much as possible so that their money can be used for other essentials.
Ravi Tallamraju, Group Chief Technology Officer for PETRONAS Lubricants International (PLI) offers some fuel-saving tips which can help you stretch each litre of fuel:
Ever since the Industrial Revolution began in the 19th century, emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2)have kept increasing in the environment from industrial activities and products. The gas, often referred to as a ‘greenhouse gas’, has been identified as the main contributor to global warming. Although nature has had processes to remove CO2, the increase of the gas has exceeded the capability of natural systems to remove it, leading to accumulation that has reached levels where the climate is being changed.
The warning signs are clear and depending on who you listen to, we could be very close to the tipping point when the change will not be reversible. But regardless of the timeline, it is clear that global warming is occurring and action needs to be taken. Scientists believe that preventing an increase of more than 1.5 degrees C. is crucial for the planet’s future and some 200 countries have given commitments to do their part to achieve this goal.
Industries, most of which generate CO2 through their activities and products, have also made a similar commitment to help prevent climate change. Many have already stated goals to stop generating greenhouse gases – becoming carbon-neutral – in their activities and products during the next couple of decades.
Among these companies is Shell, the global energy company, which has long had activities upstream and downstream as well as products – fuels and lubricants, in particular – which have generated CO2. The company has declared that it will become a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050.
Castrol, an automotive lubricant brand long favoured motorcyclists and motorists, recently commemorated an exciting phase in its history in Malaysia with a street festival. During the public event at Sentul, Kuala Lumpur, an innovative new engine oil for motorcycles was launched – Castrol’s POWER1 ULTIMATE SUPERBIKE 10W-50 engine oil.
The new engine oil is designed to provide powerful performance, smoother rides and ultimately memorable journeys. With a comprehensive 5-in-1 formula, POWER1 ULTIMATE SUPERBIKE 10W-50 provides maximum performance with efficient durability, stable temperature and a cooler oil gallery
The fully-synthetic oil focuses on exceptional performance across 5 key areas: excellent acceleration; excellent protection; smooth riding; and a cooler engine with enduring performance.
The 2-day event at the heart of Sentul also witnessed the launch of an exclusive WhatsApp contest to commemorate the historical Castrol-Premier League partnership with a Grand Prize of a 5D4N trip to the UK to watch a EPL match live.
On the second day, the Castrol POWER1 ULTIMATE SUPERBIKE preview was graced by a convoy of superbikes.
The booths and games simulated the EPL environment in conjunction with Castrol’s partnership with EPL for the year. The games included soccer match table/foosball, carrom football board and ultimate free-kick. Consumers who purchased Castrol products at the event were entitled to participate in the games.
To join the contest, there are three simple steps which can win you amazing prizes. Firstly, purchase any Castrol POWER1/POWER1 ULTIMATE/POWER1 ULTIMATE SUPERBIKE range of products from participating Castrol Bike Point workshops. Then, via WhatsApp, answer a simple question. Finally, submit proof of purchase and required identification details.
From September to December 2022, there will be 88 monthly winners. All submitted entries will qualify for the Grand Prize draw, scheduled to take place at the end of the campaign.
Monthly prizes include Oppo RENO 6 smartphones, Casio G-Shock watches, exclusive merchandise and more. The Grand Prizes include a trip to the UK to watch a live PL match, a Yamaha R15M motorcycle, and an iPhone 13 Pro Max.
“This was an exciting event for Castrol Malaysia as we commemorated two key milestones for the year. With the Castrol POWER1 ULTIMATE SUPERBIKE 10W-50 launch and the commencement of the Castrol-EPL partnership, Castrol is confident to continue creating history and to build on its presence in the advanced superbike oil engineering sector. We’re happy to have met our consumers who have been with us all along and the event also served as an opportunity for us to show our gratitude to them,” said Keow Mei-Shan, Marketing Director of Castrol Malaysia & Singapore.
While Castrol is a leading name in the automotive and motorsports world as one of the leading lubricant companies, the brand also has a presence in non-automotive events such as the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship. With its sponsorship of such world-class events, supported by various campaigns and activities, the brand has had exposure globally along with its versatile range of high-performance lubricants.
This year, Castrol’s presence in the football world will grow even further with the signing of an exclusive sponsorship with the English Premier League (EPL) for 2½ years, commencing from January 2022. As the most-watched football league on the planet, the EPL is broadcast in 212 territories to over 543 million homes, with a potential viewership of 4.7 billion.
Through this sponsorship, Castrol aims to showcase its evolving serve and maintenance business and provide an avenue to many customers to engage in two things they are passionate about – automotive and football.
Castrol subsidiaries around the world will also be having activities relating to the EPL sponsorship and in Malaysia, there will be various digital activations for the digital presence of Castrol Malaysia. One such activity will invite Malaysians to share their individual recreations of memorable football moments on social media in the ‘Castrol EPL Original Moment’ contest. There will also be bi-weekly activities for social media users where questions and games related to football matches will be asked. Through these events, football fans will be able to show off their knowledge in an engaging and fun way.
Some of the exclusive merchandise that can be won at booths promoting the Castrol Game Changers Contest.
Throughout the year, there will also be other on-site campaigns which will include the Castrol Game Changers Contest. An exclusive Castrol X EPL Rover will be at key locations nationwide between May and September to promote the contest. At the various venues, members of the public will have a chance to win Castrol X EPL merchandise when they purchase Castrol MAGNATEC or Castrol EDGE engine oils.
Following the Castrol Game Changers Contest, 20 lucky participants (and their partners) will be selected from the entries to take part in a Race Off event. The top 8 teams that win the Race Off will proceed to the next and final level of the contest which will be a 2-on-2 futsal match. There will be two Grand Prizes of 4 tickets to watch an EPL match live in England in 2023.
For Castrol Malaysia, this year is of historic significance and there will be various celebrations throughout the year. One of them which has already been run in March was Castrol Hari Mekanik, which returned in a big way for the fourth consecutive year. Castrol Auto Service (CAS) is also celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and there are great promotions and deals for customers.
This is an exciting era for Castrol Malaysia and Singapore. The EPL sponsorship adds another feat to Castrol’s long list of milestones, particularly in our collaborative efforts with football organisations worldwide. This alliance will further showcase Castrol’s range of products and services to its audience and create a platform for us to engage with them, as well as appreciate them for being with us all this while. We are very excited to kick off the celebrations soon,” said Keow Mei-Shan, Marketing Director of Castrol Malaysia & Singapore.
To know more about Castrol products and services in Malaysia, click here.
PETRONAS Lubricants Marketing Malaysia Sdn. Bhd (PLMMSB), a subsidiary of PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad (PDB) which distributes and markets PETRONAS engine oil, is now further expanding its marketing network through an e-commerce platform.
The engine oils, for 4-wheelers (Syntium) and 2-wheelers (Sprinta) have been on sale on the Shopee platform since the middle of last year at the PETRONAS Official Store. Customers can easily choose from a range of premium products (fully synthetic, semi -synthetic or mineral) by vehicle type and viscosity and place their orders online as well as make payments.
PLMMSB Chief Executive Officer Hardeep Singh said: “This is part of our effort to ensure that customers always get genuine, high quality PETRONAS engine oil. Through the e-commerce platform, customers can now get various PETRONAS engine oils more easily, quickly, and reliably.”
In addition, PETRONAS AutoExpert car service vouchers have also been introduced on the Lazada e-commerce platform. All transactions and appointments are done online and through the official PETRONAS Official Store platform.
Besides affordable prices, customers will also receive exclusive gifts with every purchase of PETRONAS Syntium and PETRONAS Sprinta products, as well as services at PETRONAS AutoExpert.
For those who want to get official PETRONAS items, including PSRT MotoGP and AMG Mercedes F1 team t-Shirts, jackets, hats, and duffel bags, they can also find them at the PETRONAS Official Stores.
There are many brands of engine oil in the market and all the reputable ones can do a good job of lubricating and protecting the engine. With Genuine Oils, however, the specifications and formulation of the oils are specially tailored for the carmaker’s vehicles and therefore should provide optimum performance. Each manufacturer can claim that their Genuine Oil offers the best performance and this may be true too because the engineers who may have worked on the engines know exactly what is needed.
Proton has just launched a new range of Genuine Oils (PGO) which have been developed in collaboration with its technical partner, Petronas. The oils meet the most recent standards specified by the American Petroleum Institute (API), which motorists would be familiar with. The top fully synthetic grade meets the latest API SP standard (5-litre pack only), while the others meet API SN.
In terms of viscosity, the fully synthetic PGO has a viscosity of SAE 5W-30 and 10W-30, the latter meeting the API SN service standard and available only in a 4-litre pack. Then there is a semi-synthetic grade which has passed the API SN standard and has a 10W-30 viscosity, while the mineral oil is 15W-40 and also meets the API SN standard.
The new Genuine Oils are available at all authorised Proton service centres and will also be available from parts stockists. However, for the time being, the parts stockists will carry only the semi-synthetic and mineral PGO.
“The launch of PGO lubricants is another step in Proton’s journey to being a premium Malaysian automotive brand. We worked closely with our partners on the formulation to ensure it met our exacting requirements and offers our customers the engine protection their Proton models deserve at an affordable price. By having a full list of products, we are also able to cover our entire model range including the latest TGDI engines used by our SUVs,” said Roslan Abdullah, CEO of Proton Edar.
The advantage of Genuine Oils
Many authorised service centres of the various brands have a policy that the only oil that can be used is what they supply, which is often a Genuine Oil of the brand or one approved by the carmaker. Customers might not be allowed to bring their own oil to use. Furthermore, warranty conditions may also force owners to use the oil supplied by the service centre and could become void if an ‘unauthorised’ oil is used.
Understandably, this is something that not all owners may agree with. They may feel it is their right to choose their own oil, and they might even be able to buy it for less and save money. However, there are also valid reasons why service centres insist on their oil being used and why the warranty can be at risk if another oil is used.
Firstly, the oil supplied will be the one that meets the requirements of the manufacturer, especially if it is a genuine oil. These requirements, in simplified form, are usually found in the Owner’s Manual and focus on two things – the API standard and the viscosity. If the customer can meet both requirements, there shouldn’t be an issue.
But then there is the question of quality of the oil brought in by the customer. Some may unknowingly buy recycled oil or oil that is of a poor quality but sold as if it meets all the standards. They may not be aware and think that they are saving money. If this inferior oil goes into their engine because they insist on using it, who will be responsible if the engine has problems or even gets damaged? Would it be fair on the manufacturer to accept responsibility when the oil used was not one they were assured of quality?
For this reason, manufacturers want to have control on the products used and if something does go wrong, then they can justifiably provide compensation. Many consumers may not understand this point but it is one of the reasons why, during the warranty period, you need to comply with the requirements.
Once the warranty period is over, then you are free to use whatever oil you wish and go to whichever service centre you to go to. So it is best to be patient and abide by the requirements. Besides, many authorised service centres today have amenities for owners, like complimentary food and drink, so you can have a good ownership experience.
Engine technology is constantly advancing and improving, not just as an ‘evolutionary’ process but also to meet consumer demands and also increasingly strict regulations. Consumers want to have better economy and better performance, while regulators want to reduce pollution and set tougher exhaust emission standards. As engines become more advanced, the oil for lubrication also needs to make technological advancements and reformulated to ensure that the new targets are met.
The petroleum companies are therefore constantly conducting R&D to improve their products and they are guided by the various standards that technical organizations like the American Petroleum Institute (API) set. These standards or service ratings are developed in consultation with engine makers (usually the carmakers) to determine what the oil needs to do for the improvements or changes.
Boustead Petroleum Marketing, which has been marketing BHPetrol fuel and lubricants since 2006, is also constantly monitoring the changes in the industry. It ensures that its products are up to date technically and meet the latest standards in the industry. Last year, the API upgraded its familiar service classification to the new ‘SP’ designation and BHPetrol quickly began to discuss with its additive supplier overseas on upgrading the formulation for its SynGard engine oil for passenger vehicles. This led to the new fully synthetic Syngard 8000 Eco that is now available which meets the new API SP standard.
The new standard is in response to the new generation of engines and technologies and help the carmakers to meet tougher environmental standards. There was the issue of Low Speed Pre-Ignition (LSPI) that can occur in turbocharged petrol engines with direct fuel injection technology. Such engine technology is adopted as it allows for an engine with a smaller displacement – and the industry has been downsizing – to develop roughly the same output as a larger one.
Engine with direct injection fuel delivery.
However, these engines can have LSPI which is abnormal combustion. LSPI occurs when the engine is under high load but driven slowly. In such a condition, the spray of fuel from the nozzles can lose its atomization and the petrol will enter as a large droplet rather than a fine mist. These droplets will then ignite at the wrong time and the effect can become damaging over time. In extreme cases, connecting rods and pistons can be severely damaged. Specialized additives, used in Syngard 8000 Eco, can prevent LSPI and prevent shortening of engine life.
The other issue in many modern engines is due to the use of Start/Stop Engine Technology. This technology allows the engine to stop automatically when idling is long and then start again automatically when it is time to move off. The aim is to reduce idling which is one of the periods when fuel consumption is at its highest because the engine is burning fuel but the car standing still.
The constant starting and stopping, especially in today’s congested traffic conditions, can lead to increased sludge formation and varnish deposits. Both of these are not good for the engine and another group of additives help to control this, along with better oxidation stability.
Each new API standard has provided improved protection and reduced wear of parts. One area that received much attention for API SP was the timing chain. Carmakers are shifting towards the use of timing chains instead of timing belts as the chains, which are of metal, are more durable. However, they tend to wear out too and stretch over time, affecting the precise timing of valve opening and closing. The new standard requires the engine oils to minimize timing chain elongation.
Timing chain in a Toyota VVT-i engine
Companies which market their products stating that they meet API standards are required to have their performance verified by the organization which will then licence them to use the API markings and wording. Besides the usual tests for certification, the API added 7 new tests for this more stringent new standard – all of which the new Syngard 8000 Eco have passed.
After studying the Malaysian market, BHPetrol chose the 0W-20 viscosity for its new SynGard product. This is a viscosity that will be suitable for many modern engines, as specified by carmakers. The new SynGard 8000 Eco has a recommended price of RM196.
Although the new SynGard 8000 Eco is ‘backward compatible’ and can be used for engines that require API SN oil, there may be engines that cannot due to the viscosity issue. In this case, BHPetrol has Syngard 8000 which is also a fully synthetic oil with a viscosity of 5W-40. This meets the API SN Plus standard which is an enhanced SN standard to provide better performance with turbocharged engines and also address the LSPI issue. Another alternative of equally high quality is semi-synthetic Syngard 6000 Eco oil which meets the API SN standard.
Along with other BHPetrol lubricants and ancillary products, both the new Syngard 8000 Eco and Syngard 6000 Eco can be purchased from BHPetromarts, selected workshops and spare parts shops. The engine oils are also available at selected shops in East Malaysia.
For more information on BHPetrol lubricants and fuels, visit www.bhpetrol.com.my.
Ever since Petron took over ExxonMobil’s retail business in Malaysia, Mobil engine lubricants have dropped out of the public eye. They are still available but not at stations. Besides being sold at supermarkets and by online retailers, there are also official distributors for the lubricants which supply them to workshops as well, so you still can get products like the well known Mobil 1 from such places.
While Mobil 1, which introduced Malaysian motorists to synthetic engine oil in the mid-1980s, remains as a high-performance product, ExxonMobil Asia Pacific also offers other products to cover a broad range of motorists. The latest is the Mobil Super 3000 All-in-One Protection series, an addition to the existing Mobil Super 1000 and 2000 range in the market.
Two viscosities available
Two viscosities are available – 0W-20 (1 litre and 3.5 litre packs) for Japanese hybrid and other newer Japanese ECO petrol engines, and 5W-30 (1 litre and 4 litre packs) for most of the latest Japanese models. Official retail prices are not known but would probably be above RM200 for the larger packs.
The new Mobil product is a premium, fully synthetic oil formulated with Heat Activated Anti-Wear Molecule to protect the engine from high temperature wear while keeping the engine clean. Resisting deterioration and maintaining protection at extreme temperatures is a major strength of full synthetic oils so they are especially good for turbocharged engines.
The oil meets the latest API SP and ILSAC GF-6A SAE standards, enhancing fuel economy with its friction-reducing properties, and providing good protection as well as keeping the engine clean to enable it to run optimally.
Oil change intervals
When Mobil 1 was first introduced, a very long oil change interval was mentioned as one of the benefits of synthetic oil. However, the carmakers were uncomfortable with such a recommendation which was much longer than their own intervals, so Mobil has since recommended that the recommendations in the vehicle’s Owner’s Manual should be followed, especially if the vehicle is under warranty.
“To drivers, Mobil Super means care: for themselves, for their families and for their vehicles. We want to inspire people to live life to the fullest while Mobil protects what they love. Our latest addition, Mobil Supe 3000 All-in-One Protection, offers the best, affordable protection for things most important to you, because we care,” said Teh Sze Min, General Manager of Business Development at ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Private Limited.
Most motorists will leave it to the authorised service centres maintain their vehicles to provide the right engine oil specified and approved by the manufacturer. Some of these engine oils have specific formulations with high quality components and additives that enable the engines to run at their best.
For those who are no longer bound by warranty conditions of the manufacturer which usually require them to use the engine oil supplied by the authorised service centre, Shell Malaysia offers a premium quality oil with proven performance – the new Shell Helix Professional range.
For demanding requirements
While the existing Shell Helix Ultra range caters to the wide and varied needs of the mainstream consumer market, Helix Professional is specially tailored to meet the demanding requirements and specifications of a select group of car engine manufacturers.
According to Shell Lubricants General Manager for Malaysia and Singapore, Nyon Kam Yew, the new Shell Helix Professional range enables the car manufacturers’ official service centres and specialist workshops to deliver more value via customised service packages to benefit their customers.
“This is yet another innovative solution from Shell, the top lubricant supplier in the world for the past 13 consecutive years and the largest provider of finished lubricants to automakers. With the new Shell Helix Professional range, these businesses can now incorporate a genuine, premium quality engine oil with proven performance from a trusted brand in special value service packages,” he said.
Two grades, fully synthetic
The Helix Professional range is available with two grades – Helix Ultra Professional ABB 5W-40 and Helix HX7 Professional SN 5W-30. Developed for high performance petrol and diesel engines, the fully synthetic Helix Ultra Professional ABB 5W-40 is formulated with Shell’s proprietary PurePlus Technology that uses a 99.5% pure base oil made from natural gas.
Both engine oils also have Shell’s Active Cleansing Technology to keep the engine close to factory-cleanliness. This technology provides resistance to physical and chemical degradation and prevents build-up of performance-robbing deposits. The wear and corrosion protection is also superior, even in extreme operating conditions.
Besides maintaining performance at high level, the engine oils provide enhanced fuel economy as well as superior sludge and wear protection to keep maintenance costs low.
BMW Malaysia today, in collaboration with Shell Malaysia, has introduced new engine oil service and maintenance parts programme for its long-term owners. The new programme offers two packages – the BMW Oil Service Package and the BMW Service Value Package.
The BMW Oil Service package, priced at RM500, available at authorised BMW service centres will use Shell Helix Ultra Professional ABB engine oil with a 5W-40 viscosity. The fully synthetic oil which meets BMW’s requirements is formulated with Shell’s PurePlus Technology. This technology uses a clear base oil made from natural gas with virtually no impurities.
Additionally, Shell’s Active Cleansing Technology helps to protect engines from power and performance-robbing deposits. On top of this, the low-evaporation formulation reduces the need for oil top-ups, and has superior resistance to oil degradation.
With the purchase of two BMW Oil Service packages (which include original oil filters), owners will also receive a complimentary Limited-Edition BMW M4 Motorsport Collectible Remote Car worth RM250 (while stocks last).
Meanwhile, the BMW Service Value package offers vehicle owners a programme which gets them up to 30% off retail prices for Original BMW maintenance parts. The parts include brakes, wipers, spark plugs, as well as micro filters and air filters.
