Shell’s next generation oil for NZ
Shell Lubricants has launched its next generation motor oil, Shell Helix Ultra with Shell PurePlus Technology – the company’s most advanced motor oil yet, featuring a base oil designed from natural gas.
Pioneering an entirely new way to produce premium motor oils, Shell Helix Ultra uses a revolutionary gas-to-liquid (GTL) process to design pure, synthetic base oil which delivers higher levels of cleansing and protection.
Shell PurePlus Technology converts natural gas into a crystal-clear base oil with virtually none of the impurities found in crude oil for use in premium, synthetic lubricants. Base oils are the main component of finished motor oils, making up on average 75–90 percent of the end product.
This next generation base oil is then enhanced with Shell’s unique additive ingredients to create the company’s most advanced fully synthetic motor oil ever; Shell Helix Ultra with PurePlus Technology.
Shell PurePlus Technology allows Shell to design the molecules that go into the motor oil, using chemical engineering to manufacture long chains of carbon molecules that are the ideal starting point to create pure, clean base oils.
Because the base oil has been produced from natural gas at a molecular level, it is a significantly more stable product than conventional base oils, which gives the finished motor oil lower volatility and better low-temperature flow properties.
Shell PurePlus Technology base oils have consistently lower viscosity at cold temperatures (-25 to -40˚C) so they start lubricating your engine straight away from a cold start. These properties translate into important performance benefits for the engine, including improved cleaning, wear protection, and fuel economy.
“Starting with natural gas, Shell scientists are able to engineer the molecules to create a base oil with specific properties and characteristics. When this base oil is then combined with the carefully crafted additive package, it creates superior motor oils that offer a level of cleaning and protection not possible with lesser base oils,” said Robert Sutherland, Shell Helix global technology manager.
“Shell PurePlus Technology has also paved the way for the next generation of motor oils by offering possibilities for new viscosity grades. So far, this has enabled us to create the Shell Helix Ultra 0W-range, and we are already working on future developments.”
Shell Helix Ultra with PurePlus Technology is designed to meet the needs of the latest engines. The range combines Shell PurePlus Technology with Active Cleansing Technology to deliver higher levels of protection against build-up of engine deposits and unsurpassed sludge protection.
The product also provides superior wear and corrosion protection which can help to extend engine life and reduce maintenance costs. Fuel economy benefits vary with viscosity grade, but certain products within the Shell Helix Ultra with PurePlus Technology range can deliver an improvement of up to three percent in fuel economy
Shell Helix Ultra with PurePlus Technology meets the most modern industry specifications and has received approvals from leading vehicle and engine manufacturers across the world.
Shell PurePlus Technology base oils are produced at the Pearl GTL plant in Qatar; a partnership between Shell and Qatar Petroleum. This facility is the world’s largest gas-toliquids facility, and can produce approximately one million tonnes of base oils per year.
The new Shell Helix Ultra with PurePlus Technology range is shortly to be launched in New Zealand.