How we developed Shell Advance

Formulating the idea

Before you even start to develop oils like Shell Advance, you need to understand bikers and their day-to-day needs. Shell has put together experienced teams around the world who spend time finding out what bikers want from oil – whether they ride in congested cities or on the open road. In addition, our lubricants scientists in Shell laboratories as far apart as Germany, Japan, Thailand and the USA work closely with bikers, developing new oil concepts that will meet their biking aspirations today and in the future.

Our decision to develop Shell Advance stems from this painstaking work. Over the past few years, we discovered that bikers want oil that provides maximum reliability, performance and cleanliness – enabling them to get the most from their bikes for longer.

Formulating the oil

Deciding what you need from an oil is one thing. Finding the right formula that will deliver the goods is another. At Shell, we have years of know-how and formulation experience, having been at the forefront of lubricants development for more than 100 years.

We have specialists working in laboratories around the world who understand local needs and conditions and who help us to focus on the key components needed when developing new oils.

We recognise that developing the right recipe for new oils like Shell Advance requires a full understanding of the critical and complex interrelations between key components such as anti-wear additives and detergents. However, like any important invention, we must test our formulations in every conceivable way before we launch them onto the market. It’s a process that can take years.

Laboratory testing

New four- and two-stroke oil formulations are evaluated in Shell research facilities around the world. We carry out standard laboratory tests on 20 or more different formulations for each grade of oil. We check that the prototype oil will meet international standards laid down by the industry and bike manufacturers and ensure it will not cause adverse reactions with bike seals and hoses.

The formulations that pass this first stage are then subjected to comprehensive rig tests to examine how the oil performs on different, key engine components. During these rig tests, we fine-tune the formula and check whether any of the components are competing with one another. During tests on Shell Advance, we modified the formula to obtain the best mix of additives, detergents and other components to make sure that riders get the most from their bikes in terms of wear protection.

After the rigs tests, we have usually identified several candidates for extensive laboratory bench tests using a wide range of bike engines. Most of our two-stroke oil bench tests are carried out in our Japanese laboratory where we test performance and check the oils meet the high specifications laid down by the Japanese Automobile Society Organization (JASO).

Our four-stroke bench engine tests are carried out in our laboratories in Japan, Europe and the USA where we have a wide range of representative bike engines.

We check that Shell Advance keeps your engine components clean and provides maximum wear protection. For example, we examine how the candidate oils are able to prevent, or at least minimise, the build up of carbon deposits on engine and piston components. In two-stroke engines, exhaust port blocking is also investigated. The different prototype formulations are also checked for best possible lubricity and wear protection. Perfect wear protection is especially important for the valve train in four-stroke engines.

Field testing

The Shell Advance team ensure a number of riders are sought to test the product ranging from professional bikers to dealers to racing teams to the average rider on the street.

However, more often than not, two of the proposed oils are selected for field testing. This is when we put the oil into bike engines and test its performance both on and off road, in a host of climatic conditions. At Shell, professional bikers, and other experts sourced from dealers, racing teams and riders are asked to test the bikes in various parts of the world and in city and rural riding environments.

We also use the tests to assess development work on other lubricants such as chain oils and cleaning agents.

We use the same approach with the larger four-stroke bike engines. Most of these field tests are carried out in Europe and the USA.

Here is a list of the four-stroke bikes we have used recently in our Shell Advance laboratory and road tests across the world:

- Ducati 748, 900SS, 916
- Honda CBR 600, CBR 900RR, Fireblade, African Twin 750,VFR 750
- Kawasaki W 650, ZX12R, GPZ 900 R, ZX9R
- KTM 520, 640 LC4, 640 Duke
- Suzuki GSX 1000R, SV 650
- Yamaha TDM 850, FJR 1300, XJ 900 F, YZF 1000 R1, YZF 600 R6, 600 Fazer.

Here is a list of the two-stroke bikes and scooters we have used recently:

Scooters
- Piaggio TPH 125
- Aprilia SR 50
- KTM Go 50
- Italjet 125

Bikes
- Aprilia RS 250
- KTM EXC 200
- Honda Tena 105

It’s this rigorous commitment to testing that ensures the Shell Advance range will always provide you with the right oil you need for your bike. No matter how new or old your engine, you’ll know that Shell Advance will help you enjoy your riding and protect your investment for longer.

Technical partnership

Once the road tests are complete, our oils face their final and most gruelling tests on the racetrack. Shell’s involvement with racing goes back years, and we have enjoyed successful working partnerships with several of the world’s leading race teams. These partnership arrangements mean that we are actively involved in technical developments and new engine requirements at an early stage in the design process. Working together with teams such as Ducati Corse presents us with a tough challenge but the spin off ideas generated during this work enable us to develop innovative prototype oil formulations that guide development of the next generation of Shell Advance oils.

Ducati technicians test Shell Advance

In racing, we have to tailor the oils so that they provide the maximum horsepower and protection in racing conditions. For example, we now know that the right lubricant formula can boost a bike’s performance by several horsepower. We also make sure the viscosity falls in the optimum range for the various leading bike engines. Our racing partnership with Ducati has taught us that, under some conditions, their bike engines run with extremely hot sump temperatures and so need a thicker oil formulation. Other racing bikes run with lower temperatures and can therefore use a thinner formula. This fine-tuning and attention to detail under such tough conditions is what gives us the edge when designing oils for bikers. For example, we know that the slightly modified version of Shell Advance Ultra used in Ducati racing bikes gives excellent wear protection to valve trains and bearings, even under the most stressful racing conditions.
Ducati now has such confidence in our partnership that all motorbikes leaving the factory contain and are recommend to use Shell Advance Ultra 4. Shell Advance is used in a wide range of motor sports and has helped teams achieve the following successes:

• World Superbike 1999 for the Ducati Performance Team with Carl Fogarty, with Troy Bayliss in 2001 and again with Neil Hodgson in 2003
• Constructors World Championship in World Superbikes in 1999/2000/2001/2002/2003 for Ducati
• many titles for KTM four-stroke teams in rallying including the Paris Dakar, Enduro, Motocross and Super Moto
• numerous two-stroke titles in Motocross and Enduro.

Our technical partners in developing Shell Advance included Ducati Motorcycles, MotoGP and World Superbikes.