Shell unveils next generation trunk piston oils

JUNE 6, 2017 — Shell Marine has unveiled next generation Shell Argina and Shell Gadinia trunk piston oils for the medium-speed engine market.

Shipowners are under pressure to shift towards cleaner fuels that address emissions regulations. Shell thinks that demand for distillates and low-sulfur heavy fuel oil will only increase as shipping approaches a global fuel sulfur content cap of 0.5%, imposed by IMO from 2020. Already, dual-fuel engines are taking an increasing share of the medium speed market.

Newer generation engines are designed for better fuel economy and lower operating costs, achieved by higher brake mean effective pressure and higher operating temperatures.

“These characteristics pose a challenge for trunk piston engine oils, increasing the risk of rapid BN depletion and increased viscosity,” explains Marcus Schaerer, Shell Marine Global Marketing Manager. “The new Shell Argina and Shell Gadinia oils feature excellent BN retention and viscosity control to address the faster oxidation that leads to deposit formation or lubricant contamination, without resorting to unnecessary oil sweetening.”

The Shell Argina range includes four grades: the BN20 Shell Argina S2 for residual, blended and distillate fuels; the “main stream” Shell Argina S3 (BN30) and Shell Argina S4 (BN40); and Shell Argina S5 (BN55) – offering extra protection from deposits and extended oil life.

A new addition to the existing standard and anti-lacquer Gadinia variants — Shell Gadinia S3 — has been developed to control oil consumption in modern engines burning distillate fuels.

“New and modern engines are designed to achieve higher efficiencies, lower emissions and lower operating costs,” says Mr. Schaerer. Shell Gadinia S3 has a comprehensive set of non-engine approvals for a wide range of non-engine shipboard applications, to provide a single long-term lubricant solution for smaller vessels working in the most severe operating conditions.

Exhaustive in-engine trials at Shell’s Marine and Power Innovation Center in Hamburg confirm Shell Argina and Shell Gadinia as oils that avoid sludge formation, improve piston and crankcase cleanliness, and thus block deposit formation. Both oil types offer improved detergency over previous Shell Marine products and those from competitors.

“Compared with a high-performing industry reference oil, the new Shell Argina S5 shows a 12.6% improvement in BN retention and a 15-20% improvement in piston undercrown deposit thickness, for example,” says Mr. Schaerer. “For operators, this can translate into lower operating costs via longer oil life, less sweetening and reduced maintenance.”