Story & photos by Randy S. Peregrino
MOTORISTS who own and still drive old cars will surely be delighted as Pilipinas Shell recently introduced their new motor oil designed to fight engine aging. Because let’s face it, there are still many of us who are not willing to give up yet on our old cars. For some, it may be of sentimental value, while others, simply for practical reason. But for the most part, it’s that kind of attachment we’ve established over the years of trouble-free partnership going through the daily grind and weekend getaways. And in all those years, we’ve been waiting for a lubricant that would shed light to the endless contemplations when it comes to what’s best for our aging engines. Finally, it all boils down to this—the new Shell Helix High Mileage oil intended for vehicles with over 100,000 kilometers total mileage.
“We at Shell understand that every customer’s journey is different, so we come up with products that cater to their changing needs,” Pilipinas Shell Lubricants General Manager Dennis Javier said. “The development of Shell Helix High Mileage is meant to help customers with older vehicles to prolong the life of their vehicle, so that they can enjoy more memories with their trusted partner through the years,” he added. But, of course, more than this new oil’s promise of better performance, is a kind of formulation the petroleum company developed to help keep your older vehicles going.
Truth be told, motor oil is the lifeblood of every engine and most of us take this very seriously. With this new Helix, synthetic technology were utilized for maximum shield. More so, you’ll get 40 percent better wear protection—compared to mineral grade lubricants—to aid in preventing sludge and other damaging deposits. Shell Helix High Mileage also helps reduce oil burns for fewer top-ups. No other than Shell Helix Brand Manager Anthony Wee explained all these in a nutshell. “Our formulation gives you all this features and benefits to help further prolong your engine and your car’s life. So it has 40 percent better wear protection, it has active cleansing technology to help out clean all these deposits and sludge that has potentially built-up inside the engine all these years and from all those mileages.”
Perhaps the catchiest among these benefits is the new lubricant’s ability to actively condition the engine’s rubber seals, which, in turn, would prevent leaks. Because no matter how excellent the internal engine components are, seals will eventually lose its reliability. But with the new reconditioning formula, it may very well extend the life of the rubber, hence, less cost of maintenance. Furthermore, the new Shell Helix High Mileage is also fortified with Flexi-molecule technology as added shield for high-pressure states. The way it works is that it constantly adapts to boost the level of protection for internal parts where your motor needed it the most, particularly during situations where intense heat and pressure is extant. Likewise, it reduces the formation of oil oxidation.
In order to validate Shell’s claims, motoring journalists were invited to bring along their high-mileage vehicles to experience the new Helix lubricant firsthand. And as promised, the immediate effect was felt upon the initial start-up after the oil change. The motor not only idles smoother but also remarkably quieter. When we further inquired about change cycles, Wee was confident to let us know that it’s going to be extended. “Since it utilizes synthetic technology, the recommended total range would be at 7,000 kilometers,” he explained. “Overall, as you keep on using the product, it will help you prolong the life of the engine. We are confident in terms of the strength and capability of the oil, to be consistent, and fully capable to do its job,” he added. As for the car, it now runs even better during optimum temperature and revs are never been torquier.
Whether you drive a petrol or a diesel-powered vehicle, Shell has two variants to fit your need. There’s the Shell Helix High Mileage 10W-40 for the petrol-powered and the Shell Helix High Mileage 15W-50 for light-duty diesel-fed motors, which comes in a thicker viscosity. Both variants are now available in all Shell stations nationwide, selected independent workshops, and authorized dealers.
Image credits: Randy S. Peregrino