Acknowledging that its heavy-duty lubrication product line was too “congested,” Shell Lubricants last week announced it will consolidate all of its products into an easy-to-understand “ladder of protection” schematic that will help fleets and drivers easily select the proper engine oils, coolants and lubricants to meet their specific business needs and driving conditions.
The restructuring affects Shell Rimula, Pennzoil Long Life and Quaker State HDX products – all of which will be rolled into the Shell Rotella Energized Protection portfolio of products in the first quarter of 2010. These products meet the requirements of both on- and off-highway equipment, as well as vehicles outfitted with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) emissions technology mandated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for 2010. In addition, Shell Rotella synthetic products will move strictly to API CJ-4 offerings.
The Energized Protection concept is highlighted by the introduction of two new heavy-duty motor oils, Shell Rotella T6 Full Synthetic and T5 Synthetic Blend Technology oils – both of which are formulated to provide fuel savings and cleaner engines for easier maintenance demands.
The package begins with Shell Rotella T1 – a straight grade engine oil offered in SAE 10W-30, 10W-40 and 10W-50 blends. Shell Rotella T3 is designed specifically for fleets and features a low-ash additive technology, “outstanding” grade shear stability and an all-group-II basestock formulation. According to Mark Reed, global brand manager, all Shell heavy-duty motor oils provide protection in three critical areas: controlling acids created by burning diesel fuel, as well as engine deposits and wear.
“New adaptive oil technology in the Shell Rotella product line allows the oil to protect across all driving conditions,” Reed says. “The oil’s molecules are designed to remain compact in cold-weather conditions, yet expand into rope-like structures as engine temperatures increase. This allows the oil to both physically and chemically alter its properties in reaction to an engine’s ever-changing needs and driving conditions.”
Shell Rotella T5 10W-30 Synthetic Blend Technology oil — formulated to deliver better fuel economy than Rotella T Triple Protection 15W-30 — and Shell Rotella T6 T Triple Protection oil are designed to deliver improved fuel economy while protecting engines from the higher heat and soot generated by exhaust-emissions control systems on trucks now and in 2010.
The T6 Full Synthetic blend features an advanced multifunctional low-ash additive in a synthetic base oil that delivers up to 34 percent better wear performance compared to Shell’s previous API CI-4 Plus 5W-40 formulation. Testing by Shell engineers has indicated additional fuel economy savings of up to 1.5 percent when compared to the previous Shell 5W-40 blend. The T6 formulation can handle extended drain intervals while providing improved high- and low-temperature protection and low-temperature flow through a cold engine.
The Shell Rotella T5 Synthetic Blend Technology oil is designed to provide extended drain capabilities while providing enhanced engine cleanliness and wear protection. Shell says the T5 blend has met several stringent global heavy-duty engine oil tests, including API CJ-4, ACEA E9 and Volvo’s tough VDS-4 test. Reed says Shell Rotella T5 provides excellent wear control, most notably in preventing bore polish in cylinder liners.
Both Shell Rotella T5 and T6 formulations will be available in the fourth quarter of 2009.
