I did some research when I went to LM on my two diesels (i'm camping on this thread, since there is no more Helix info ... lol). It's not so easy to sort things out, for sure. I'm not a huge believer in garden testing youtube stuff ... which is not to say it is not valid stuff, but I trust real engineers that specifically deal with the actual issues. Engine oil is constantly evolving, specs expanding, etc. For example, a low NOACK number ... it's not about oil sump temps and evap, it's about coating the top of the cylinder walls (where temp gets real and oil coating is critical, and one wants oil film). I run the LM 2309 5w-30. @Bnks334 is right, it's a Gr. 3 base stock. But it meets BMW LL-04, MB 229.51, VW 505 01 ... and I understand NOACK is under 10%. For a street daily driver (which is what my diesels are), I believe this oil does the job just fine, and Blackstone analysis place me above average on N57 wear data they accumulate. Low ash (via low SAPS - again in the certs) is also an issue with diesel and the DPF. Is it the best choice? Trick question ... certainly not ... but that question kind of lacks an answer. I have run additive package (Cera-tec or HSS FR3) which I suspect is unnecessary. FR3 makes a noticeable difference in how quiet my (already quiet) N57 runs, topside ... but I wouldn't put much in how the motor sounds and feels (smoother) ... placebo effect, etc.
Some of this reminds me of the amp arguments about THD ... there is a good enough, and there is a cost function I suppose. But the FCP return is simple - the only difference with a regular oil change and FCP is that I fill out their form and label the return box. It's really not all the work you guys make it to be, but YMMV. Because I do both my wife and my daily diesels at the same time, at $140 it's worth the nominal effort. Would I do it for a third of that? Hell no lol.
Just one other quick observation: race formulations (like 300V, as I understand it) are not designed for use on the street, which is very different that serious race car usage (with per event oil changes). It is good to remember that oil performance is not one dimensional.
Filippo
Some of this reminds me of the amp arguments about THD ... there is a good enough, and there is a cost function I suppose. But the FCP return is simple - the only difference with a regular oil change and FCP is that I fill out their form and label the return box. It's really not all the work you guys make it to be, but YMMV. Because I do both my wife and my daily diesels at the same time, at $140 it's worth the nominal effort. Would I do it for a third of that? Hell no lol.
Just one other quick observation: race formulations (like 300V, as I understand it) are not designed for use on the street, which is very different that serious race car usage (with per event oil changes). It is good to remember that oil performance is not one dimensional.
Filippo
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