Rimula-X - on the nose?

First of all........you should have stayed with the Castrol products if that is what you were using.
Oil is like religion......once converted don't stray.

Now... is the smell of Rimula X a sulphur smell or does it smell like ammonia.
If it is sulphur like then best get it out pronto.
If it's ammonia like that is more of an additive smell and "possibly" Ok but still get it checked.

If the drum has been incorrectly filled (and this is highly unlikely) and you suspect that then keep a sample of the used and if you have some, the new oil. Send these to Castrol and ask them to confirm if it is OK as an engine oil....they will do it for you if you ask to speak with the Technical Manager and explain what you believe is the problem. They can tell if it's engine oil or gear oil by doing a quick Infra-red scan.Takes about 30 seconds to scan and the chemist can interpret the scan in an instant.

If you have had EP gear oil in the engine flush it out with a couple of fills of RX Super by running the engine for about 10 minutes on each fill.
New filter, clean the turbo inlet of any oil and the intercooler and away you go. Don't look back.

Hi Ian,

I use Shell Rimula X as my normal oil (1HZ). I have never noticed any funny smell, it is just like any other oil in smell and feel. Sounds like something is wrong with what you bought!
Mike.

Maybe its the simple fact the Discovery's stink at the best of times :-)


Sorry could not resist :-)

Its easy to tell the difference between gear oil and engine oil. Rimula X is thin and hypoid style oils are thick, smelly and "heavy". And indeed, as mentioned by another caller, if it smells of Sulphur get it out asap and flush engine. Sulphur has a nasty effect on oil, turning it green and lumpy. Been near a gas plant recently? I have seen (in industrial machines) oil contaminated with SulphurDioxide become a hard lump like very hard soap. On one occasion it caused many thousands of dollars damage.

Thanks for the replies, everybody.

There does seem to be some misunderstanding though... I don't think my oil actually IS gear oil - it looks and flows like engine oil. It just smells like EP gear oil.

I just checked again this arvo and if smells very similar to a drum of Castrol EPX80W90 I also have in the shed - but "not at thick as some". Therefore I suspect it may be a drum of diesel engine oil that MAY have had EP additive added mistakenly.

I will tomorrow email Shell with the batch no. and ask for an explanation. What I would really like to know is: IF my drum of oil has been erroneously blended with the distinctive 'aromatic' EP additive, might it have caused any damage to the engine??

Ta,
Ian