Both the contenders are specially designed for four-stroke motorcycle engines which are equipped with standard air and water cooling systems. They are made with Shell’s Active Cleaning and RCE Technology helping to deliver performance most efficiently. AX5 is conventional while AX7 is synthetic engine oil.
AX5 meets the MA JASO and SL API standards. It is made with premium mineral base oil due to which it has a superior cleaning ability to its competitor. AX5 is an ideal oil for standard motorbikes due to its high oil performance reliability. AX5 generates less heat than its competitor, as it has a smoother clutch engagement due to which it deals better with oil drainage.
AX7 meets the latest SM API standard for better performance and engine protection. It deals better with extremely high temperatures due to a higher flash point. It is synthetic engine oil that reduces engines internal drag and friction. It is relatively more adaptive to environmental change. It has a slightly higher price than its competitor.
When compared to its AX7, AX5 has a better cleaning ability and oil drainage system. AX5 also offers a wider range of viscosity grades. Whereas AX7 provides better performance in an extremely high-temperature environment. AX7 meets SM API while AX5 meets SL API standards.
Table of Contents
Assessment Table
| Specifications | AX5 | AX7 |
| Engine Type | Motorcycle Engine (4-stroke) | Motorcycle Engine (4-stroke) |
| Oil Type | Conventional | Synthetic |
| Formulated Technology | Shell Active Cleansing Technology, RCE Technology | Shell Active Cleansing Technology, RCE Technology |
| Viscosity Grades | SAE 10W – 30, 10W-40, 10W, 15W-50, 20W-40, 20W-50 | SAE 15W – 50, 10W – 40, 10-30Wshel |
| JASO Standard | MA | MB |
| API Standard | SL | SM |
| Cost (10W – 40) | 4.19 $ (1 liter) | 4.48 $ (1 liter) |
Viscosity Evaluation
The two main factors to analyze when we are evaluating viscosity are the viscosity index and the contender’s kinematic viscosity at higher and lower temperatures. Kinematic viscosity is defined as the absolute viscosity of a liquid divided by its density at the same temperature.
In simple terms, the higher the kinematic viscosity the more difficult it will be for the engine oil to flow. Since AX5 has a lower value of kinematic viscosities at both higher and lower temperatures, it would be easy to flow inside an engine and hence would consume less amount of fuel.
On the other hand, the viscosity index is the measure of change in viscosity of oil relative to temperature changes. The lower the Viscosity index, the more the viscosity of a lubricant will be affected by temperature change and vice versa.
AX5 will have comparatively less change in its kinematic viscosity as it has a higher viscosity index than its opponent. Engine oil with a lower viscosity index is considered very well in terms of environment adaptability which makes AX5 inferior to its competitor in this category.
AX5 will offer better fuel economy while its competitor would be more adaptive to environmental change.
| Parameter | AX5 (10W – 30) | AX7 (10W – 30) |
| Viscosity Index | 139 | 135 |
| Kinematic Viscosity at +40 °C | 60.50 mm²/s | 74.33 mm²/s |
| Kinematic Viscosity at +100 °C | 10.50 mm²/s | 10.89 mm²/s |
Lubrication Standards
AX5 meets the API SL while AX7 meets the API SM standards. As API SM is the latest compared to its competitor’s API, it will provide better performance and higher fuel efficiency. Also, API SM is recommended for vehicles manufactured between 2002 and 2009, while API SL can’t be used in engines designed after 2004.
With being the latest, API SM offers some advanced features. It is based on API Group I or Group II base oils with basically low HTHS than its competitor.
A low HTHS improves fuel efficiency to a great extent. With this help, it becomes superior to its competitor in this category.
On the other hand, AX7 complies with JASO MB while its competitor complies with JASO MA standards. MB is relatively an inferior standard to MA in terms of providing better clutch performance and application versatility.
Survival in Extreme Temperatures
When we are considering extreme temperatures within engine oils, their pour and flash point values become of utmost importance.
A certain point at or above which the engine oil can burn is referred to as the flash point. The engine oil can also get frozen in extreme winter conditions and so it will be unable to flow in this situation.
The point where it starts to lose its flowing ability is known as the pour point.
Both the contenders have equal pour point values which means that their ability to endure extremely cold weather is almost equivalent. But when talking about the flash point, AX7 has a higher upper bound which means that it will sustain better performance in extremely hot weather.
| Parameter | AX5 (10W – 30) | AX7 (10W – 30) |
| Pour Point | -33 °C | -33 °C |
| Flash Point | 220 °C | 246 °C |
Cleaning Ability
Oxidation causes the depletion of additives, reducing the effectiveness of the engine oil. This is also the reason for the formation of sludge and deposits. As both the contenders are designed with Shell’s Active Cleaning Technology, their cleaning ability is equally exceptional. This technology makes sure that the dirt particles sticking together to form deposits are prevented.
As we are comparing the two contenders, it can be said that AX5 has better cleaning ability. This is because it is made with a premium mineral base oil, it has comparatively more quantity and contribution of minerals which makes its oil more effective in cleaning the engine than its competitor. This makes AX5 more efficient in removing sludge and engine deposits.
Oil Drainage
When oil begins to break down and settles down on the engine, it can cause the development of sludge with contamination in the engine oil. This happens when engine oil becomes acidic as additives lose their ability to neutralize.
As AX5 has a smoother clutch engagement, it will generate less heat unless the operation requires frequent starts and stops. This will prevent the formation of sludge and deposits as the chance of oxidation will reduce to a great extent which will further reduce oil drainage.
Therefore, we can say that AX5 is superior to its competitor in this category.
Cost Comparison
Both the contenders have almost equivalent prices. AX5 (10W – 30) has a price of $4.19 (1 liter) while AX7 (10W – 30) has a price of $4.48 (1 liter). AX7 has a slightly higher price because it is better in extreme temperatures and meets the latest API standard.
Summary
Both contenders;
- are manufactured with the same technologies for 4-stroke motorcycle engines.
- Offer better performance in cold weather environments.
Shell Advance AX5;
- is made up of premium mineral base oil.
- meets the more advanced JASO standard.
- provides better cleaning ability.
- is more fuel efficient.
- has a lower oil drainage interval.
- has a slightly lower price.
Shell Advance AX7;
- is made up of 100% synthetic base oil.
- meets the latest API standards.
- is a better choice in extremely hot temperatures.
- is relatively more adaptive to environmental change
