Both of the contenders are 100% synthetic engine oils made for high-yielding motorbikes, sports bikes, and off-road bikes fitted with 4-stroke engines. Both contenders meet the latest JASO MA2 and API SN standards which indicates their compatibility with engines working on ethanol-containing fuels, better fuel economy, and that they are suitable for wet-clutch applications as well.
Designed through Ester Technology, Motul 7100 is a synthetic ester-based engine oil for improved wear protection. Besides being a premium cleansing lubricant, it also performs exceptionally well in resilient conditions, especially in a high-temperature environment. It also provides exceptional drainage intervals.
Shell Helix Ultra is formulated with PurePlus Technology which means that its base oil is being manufactured from natural gas instead of conventional crude oil.
The method makes sure that the base oil doesn’t possess impurities like the ones made from crude oil. Its performance in cold weather and antifoaming ability is quite competitive.
It is also relatively more compatible with catalytic converter
Compared to Shell Ultra, 7100 has a better cleaning & wear protective ability. It also outshines its competitor in the contest of oil drainage interval, environment adaptability, and performance in a high-temperature atmosphere. But when it comes to catalytic converters’ compatibility and cost, ultra takes the lead.
Table of Contents
Motul 7100 Vs Shell Advance Ultra
| Specifications | Motul 7100 | Shell Advance Ultra |
| Engine Type | Motorcycle Engine (4-stroke) | same |
| Oil Type | 100% Synthetic | same |
| Formulated Technology | Ester Based Technology | PurePlus Technology RCE Technology |
| Viscosity Grades | 10W-30 10W-50 10W-60 10W-40 5W-40 20W-50 15W-50 | 15W-50 10W-40 |
Viscosity Evaluation of both oils:
The kinematic viscosity of engine oil is usually referred to as the internal resistance of the lubricant’s molecular layers.
This affects the flowing characteristics of engine oil inside an engine.
It varies with temperature as the liquid becomes less viscous or resistive to flow under high-temperature conditions.
The kinematic viscosity of Shell Helix Ultra is comparatively higher than its opponent at high and low temperatures. This suggests that it would be slightly more viscous and difficult to flow.
Another major parameter in this contest is the Viscosity Index, which tells us about the change in the kinematic viscosity of an engine oil upon temperature alteration.
The higher the viscosity index, the least will be the change in the kinematic viscosity of engine oil.
This suggests that Shell Helix Ultra would have comparatively less change in its kinematic viscosity, which is a bad aspect. It’s because more change in the kinematic viscosity would mean that the environment adaptation ability of engine oil is better.
Hence 7100 would be a less viscous oil and also has a superior environment adaptation ability.
| Parameter | Motul 7100 (10W-40) | Shell Advance Ultra (10W-40) |
| Viscosity Index | 154 | 163 |
| Kinematic Viscosity at +40 °C | 88.80 mm²/s | 90.20 mm²/s |
| Kinematic Viscosity at +100 °C | 13.50 mm²/s | 14.20 mm²/s |
Survival in Extreme Temperatures
In extreme weather conditions, engine oil is at high risk of either getting burnt or frozen.
During a high-temperature environment or engine heat up, a lubricant can burn up at a certain temperature level upon proving with an ignition source.
This is commonly referred to as the flash point. And this leads to the deficiency of engine oil in an engine and could cause engine failure.
Motul 7100 would outperform its competitor during high temperate conditions since its flash point value is relatively higher.
During an extremely cold weather environment, engine oil gets frozen and loses its ability to flow effectively inside an engine. The certain point of temperature at which it loses its flowing ability is usually known as the pour point
Since both of them have equivalent pour point values, so their agility in cold weather would also be the same.
Both competitors would perform remarkably well in a cold environment, but Motul 7100 takes the lead in a high-temperature environment.
| Parameter | Motul 7100 | Shell Advance Ultra |
| Pour Point | -33 °C | -33 °C |
| Flash Point | 236 °C | 230 °C |
Which has better Cleaning Ability?
Many side products and reactions like oxidation cause the formation of sludge and deposit in the engine oil.
To deal with this situation, oil manufacturers use cleaning additives in engine oils for sludge removal purposes.
The major cleansing agents are calcium, sodium, and magnesium.
Their collective quantity is higher in Motul 7100 in comparison to its competitor.
So its cleansing ability would surpass its competitor.
Another major phenomenon that pollutes engine oils is the formation of foam.
It is the accumulation of small air bubbles on the surface of engine oil. Silicone is the major anti-foaming agent in engine oils.
Both competitors are ended in a stalemate since their silicone concentration is equivalent to one another.
| Detergent | Motul 7100 | Shell Advance Ultra |
| Calcium, ppm | 2443 | 1905 |
| Magnesium, ppm | 11 | 6 |
| Sodium, ppm | 0 | 7 |
| Silicone, ppm | 8 | 8 |
Do they provide Anti-wear Protection?
Many unexpected reasons like improper driving, engine heat up, oil deficiency, oxidation, etc. could be the reason for the engine’s failure.
That’s why anti-wear additives such as zinc, phosphorus, molybdenum, and boron are being added to engine oils to prevent the engine from wearing out.
The combined concentration of all the anti-wear additives in Motul 7100 is relatively higher than its rival. Hence, it would deliver a better anti-wear facility to engines.
| Additive | Motul 7100 | Shell Advance Ultra |
| Zinc | 1281 ppm | 820 ppm |
| Phosphorous | 1145 ppm | 692 ppm |
| Boron | 0 ppm | 49 ppm |
| Molybdenum | 31 ppm | 109 ppm |
What Effect do they have on Catalytic Converters?
Once the engine oil gets seeps into the combustion chamber due to worn-out seals and piston rings, lubricant gets burned up sideways with the fuel.
This harms the catalytic converter due to some anti-wear additives present in the engine oil.
Among the major anti-wear additives, two of them, zinc and phosphorus, have a drawback.
When they get burned up, zinc and phosphorous ash come into existence and start settling down on the catalytic converter. This affects the performance efficiency of the catalytic converter.
Since the concentration of both these additives is comparatively higher in Motul 7100, it would be negatively more effective for the catalytic converter.
Henceforth, the relatively more compatible contender with the catalytic converter would be Ultra.
Whats their TBN value?
Many harmful acids come into existence inside engines due to certain reasons like oxidation, contamination, and impurities from engine worn-out.
To neutralize these acids and keep the pH level around 7 (neutral), alkaline-based additives are being into engine oils.
But their neutralizing ability is limited and stops preventing engine oil from becoming acidic after some time. And that’s the time when you should drain your engine oil.
This neutralizing ability is usually measured by a parameter known as TBN or Total Base Number.
Since the TBN value of Motul 7100 is comparatively very higher than its rival, its oil drainage interval will also be longer.
| Parameter | Motul 7100 | Shell Advance Ultra |
| Total Base Number, mg KOH/g | 7.74 | 4.7 |
Quick Summary
Both of the competitors;
- Are fully synthetic engine oils made for four-stroke motorcycle engines.
- Meet the latest JASO MA2 and API SN standards.
- Perform exceptionally well in cold environments.
Motul 7100;
- Offers better wear protection and cleansing ability.
- Delivers high oil drainage interval.
- Is relatively more adaptive to environment alteration.
- Delivers optimum performance in a high-temperature environment.
Shell Advance Ultra;
- Is relatively more compatible with the catalytic converter.