IDEMITSU Zepro Eco Medalist 0W-20 Oil Review

4.8 Customer rating 28 reviews Read reviews Characteristics 1000 rub per 1l. 0w-20 for winter Japanese viscosity 0W-20 API SN ACEA - Pour point -41°C Dynamic viscosity CSS - Kinematic viscosity at 100°C 8,13 mm2/s

Excellent Japanese oil recommended by major manufacturers. Some Japanese car manufacturers use it as their first filler, which indicates its high quality. The oil is made with the addition of organic molybdenum, creates a strong film on all parts, protects the engine well and saves fuel. The oil is good, let's talk about it in more detail.

About the manufacturer IDEMITSU

A Japanese company with a century of history. It is one of the world's top ten lubricants producers in terms of size and production capacity, while in Japan it is only the second largest petrochemical plant, in first place is Nippon Oil. There are about 80 branches in the world, including a branch in Russia, opened in 2010. 40% of cars leaving the Japanese conveyors are filled with Idemitsu oil.

The manufacturer's engine oils are divided into two lines - Idemitsu and Zepro, they include synthetic, semi-synthetic and mineral oils of different viscosities. All of them are produced using modern technologies and with the addition of harmless additives. Most of the range consists of hydrocracking oils, marked on the packaging with the word Mineral. Ideal for high mileage engines, restores its internal metal part. Synthetics are labeled Zepro, Touring gf, sn. These are products for modern engines operating under heavy loads.

I especially recommend that owners of Japanese diesel engines take a closer look at this oil, since it is it that is produced according to the DH-1 standard - Japanese diesel oil quality requirements that do not meet American API standards. The upper oil scraper ring on Japanese diesel engines is located lower than on their American and European counterparts, for this reason the oil does not heat up to the same temperature. The Japanese foresaw this fact and increased the oil cleaners at low temperatures. API standards also do not provide for valve timing features in Japanese-built diesel engines, for this reason, in 1994, Japan introduced its DH-1 standard.

Now there are very few fakes of the Japanese manufacturer on sale. The main reason for this is that the original oil is bottled in metal containers, only a few items in the assortment are sold in plastic. It is unprofitable for manufacturers of counterfeit products to use this material as a container. The second reason is that oils appeared on the Russian market not so long ago, and therefore have not yet reached the target audience. However, in the article I will also talk about how to distinguish the original Japanese oil from a fake.

General overview of the oil and its properties

Synthetic oil specially developed for modern four-stroke petrol engines of passenger cars. The viscosity grade allows it to be used at very low temperatures.

It differs from analogues in a high viscosity index, which the company achieves through the use of its own technology for the production of VHVI + oils. Organic molybdenum MoDTC is added to the composition, it improves anti-friction characteristics. Usually, molybdenum disulfide is added to oils of this class, the Japanese manufacturer chose the organic option, since it dissolves in the lubricant and quickly reaches all parts, this is especially important for highly loaded elements.

The oil has the abbreviation Eco in its name for a reason, it is very environmentally friendly: it saves fuel up to 4%, the figure depends on the type and condition of the engine. Another word in the name - Zepro, indicates that the oil belongs to the highest level of quality, in some respects it even surpasses the main indicators inherent in this class.

The lubricant is of synthetic origin, the base is obtained using hydrocracking technology, as a result, the oil is clean, as free as possible from sulfur, nitrogen and chlorine, which makes it compatible with domestic fuels with a high sulfur content.

The oil is used for the first fill and is recommended by almost all Japanese car manufacturers, suitable for the most modern engines, economical, with high power density and environmentally friendly. Can be poured into cars, minivans, SUVs and small commercial vehicles.

Technical characteristics, tolerances, specifications

Corresponds to the class	Explanation of designation
API serial number;	SN has been the quality standard for automotive oils since 2010. These are the latest stringent requirements, SN certified oils can be used in all modern generation gasoline engines manufactured in 2010. CF is a quality standard for diesel engines introduced in 1994. Oils for off-road vehicles, engines with separate injection, including those running on fuel with a sulfur content of 0,5% by weight and above. Replaces CD oils.
ASEA;	Classification of oils according to ACEA. Until 2004 there were 2 classes. A - for gasoline, B - for diesel. A1/B1, A3/B3, A3/B4 and A5/B5 were then merged. The higher the ACEA category number, the more stringent the oil meets the requirements.

Laboratory Tests

Index	Unit cost
Viscosity grade	0W-20
ASTM Color	Thane
Density at 15 ° C	0,8460 g / cm3
Flash point	226 ° C
Kinematic viscosity at 40℃	36,41 mm² / s
Kinematic viscosity at 100℃	8 mm²/s
Freezing point	-54 ° C
viscosity index	214
Main number	8,8 mg KOH / g
Acid number	2,0 mg KOH / g
Evaporation (at 93,0 °C)	10 - 0% weight
Viscosity at 150℃ and high shear, HTHS	2,64 mPa s
Dynamic viscosity CCS at -35 ° C	4050mPa*s
Sulphated ash	1,04%
Corrosion of copper plate (3 hours at 100°C)	1 (1A)
PLAC	12,2%
API approval	Serial number
ACEA approval	—
Sulfur content	0,328%
Fourier IR Spectrum	Hydrocracking VHVI

Approvals IDEMITSU Zepro Eco Medalist 0W-20

• API serial number
• ILSAC GF-5

Release form and articles

• 3583001 IDEMITSU Zepro Eco Medalist 0W-20 1л
• 3583004 IDEMITSU Zepro Eco Medalist 0W-20 4л
• 3583020 IDEMITSU Zepro Eco Medalist 0W-20 20л
• 3583200IDEMITSU Zepro Eco Medalist 0W-20 208л

Test results

According to the results of the analyzes, it turned out to be a high-quality oil containing a large amount of molybdenum, that is, it will lubricate perfectly, providing high protection and fuel economy. Viscosity is quite low, even for this low viscosity grade, which means it will be the most economical among competitors. Excellent low temperature performance, both in terms of dynamic viscosity and pour point. This oil is suitable even for the cold north, withstands iron down to -40.

The oil has a very high viscosity index - 214, sports oils can boast of such indicators, that is, it is suitable for heavy loads and powerful engines. In terms of alkali, a good indicator, not the highest, but normal, is washed out and will not work the entire recommended cycle. Sulfated ash content is quite high, but the additive package is also oily, hence the high ash content. There is also a lot of sulfur, but the additive package also played a role here, in general it meets the ILSAC GF-5 standard. Also, we have a pretty low NOACK, it won't go away.

Advantages

• Forms a stable oil film that is maintained at high temperatures.
• Pure base oil is used. Although there are oils with lower sulfur content, this sample is very good and works easily with our fuel.
• Fuel economy, quiet operation of the engine due to organic molybdenum in the composition.
• Low freezing point.
• Prevents the formation of rust in the engine.

defects

• Not found

Verdict

In conclusion, I can say that this is indeed a very high-quality low-viscosity product, it is not for nothing that this oil is called the "buyer's choice" on the Yandex Market. It does not have auto manufacturer ratings, but there are two main general tolerances for which this oil can be used for most Japanese, American and Korean engines, it combines well with catalytic converters, it slightly exceeds the ILSAC GF-5 ash content standard, by 0,04%, but this is not critical, most likely a small measurement error. A truly superior low viscosity product that few can match in terms of performance. It is also available in metal containers, which are more difficult to fake. Although they are all fake.

How to distinguish a fake

The manufacturer's oil is bottled in two types of packaging: plastic and metal, most items are in metal packaging, which we will consider first. It is unprofitable for manufacturers of counterfeit products to make metal containers for their products, therefore, if you are “lucky” to buy counterfeit products in metal containers, then most likely you will be filled in with the original. Manufacturers of fakes buy out containers at gas stations, pour oil into it again, and in this case, you can distinguish a fake only by a few small signs, mainly by the lid.

The lid in the original is white, complemented by a long transparent tongue, as if it is put on top and pressed, no recesses and gaps between it and the container are visible. Adheres to the container tightly and does not move even a centimeter. The tongue itself is dense, does not bend or hang down.

The original cork differs from the fake by the quality of the text printed on it, for example, consider one of the hieroglyphs on it.

If you enlarge the image, you can see the difference.

Another difference is the slots on the lid, fakes that can be ordered at any Chinese store have double slots, they are not on the original.

Also consider what the original metal container looks like:

1. Surface is brand new with no major damage, scratches or dents. Even the original is not immune from damage in transit, but to be honest, the use in most cases will be immediately noticeable.
2. A laser is used to apply drawings, and nothing else, if you rely only on tactile sensations, close your eyes, then the surface is absolutely smooth, no inscriptions are felt on it.
3. The surface itself is smooth, has a shiny metallic sheen.
4. There is only one adhesive seam, it is almost invisible.
5. The bottom and top of the bowl are welded, the marking is very even and clear. Below are black stripes from the passage of the boat along the conveyor.
6. The handle is made from a single piece of thick material welded at three points.

Now let's move on to plastic packaging, which is much more often counterfeited. A batch code is applied to the container, which is decoded as follows:

1. The first digit is the year of issue. 38SU00488G - released in 2013.
2. The second is a month, from 1 to 9 each digit corresponds to a month, the last three calendar months: X - October, Y - November, Z - December. In our case, 38SU00488G is August of release.

The brand name is printed very clearly, the edges are not blurry. This applies to both the front and back sides of the container.

A transparent scale for determining the oil level is applied on one side only. It reaches a little to the top of the container.

The original bottom of the pot may have some flaws, in which case the fake may turn out to be better and more accurate than the original.

A cork with a disposable protective ring, the usual methods of counterfeit manufacturers in this case will no longer help.

The sheet is welded very tightly, does not come off, it can only be pierced and cut with a sharp object. When opening, the retaining ring should not remain in the cap, in the original bottles it comes out and remains in the bottle, this does not apply only to the Japanese, all original oils of any manufacturer must be opened in this way.

The label is thin, easily torn, paper is placed under the polyethylene, the label is torn, but does not stretch.

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