"Best Uses" for FUCHS engine oils

[Doug Hillary]

Hi,
Patman - no I do not know of anybody using "R" 0w-40 but I have a late model highly utilised vehicle that could be changed to it so I will keep that in mind

A used oil analysis on it would be interesting I agree

You say it is double priced against GC - here the three "R" viscosities are very closely priced.

I recently noticed some old SJ and SL SLX 0w30 on a shelf for $A101 for 5ltrs. The "R" are around the $A55-65 range

Regards

[ February 14, 2004, 09:25 PM: Message edited by: Doug Hillary ]

 

[Losiho]

Patman - I very nearly chose Castrol 0w40 for my next oil change. No matter what people think of Castrol's policy or marketing tactics, I'm sure it will be a good oil. The Formula R 5w30 I'm using right now has been very good, but I don't feel like paying A$65 a bottle for it. 0w40 is around A$80 (for 5 litres).

Doug - My local Autobarn had one bottle of SLX left when I was last there. It was an SL bottle. The salesman said it was not a very good choice

How hard do you drive the Outback ? I have 79,000km and oil consumption is nil.

 

[tdi-rick]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Doug Hillary:
I use MANN-HUMMEL ( Spinner 2 ) centrifuges in my Detroits and I think your Defender has one too - a cartridge model - fitted as standard

The FUCHS ATF will need to be good. I find Castrol's Transmax Z to be almost a "magic" fluid. I have used it in my Porsche (Auto )and BMW ( manual ) transmissions for quite a while


Regards
Doug Hillary
02 Subaru Outback 2.5 AWD ( Delvac 1 )
98 BMW Z3 2.8 ( Delvac 1 )
89 Porsche 928 S4 ( Delvac 1 )

---

My Defender is a Nov. '98 model, the very last of the mechanical injected 4cyl models. The TD5 5cyl. which replaced my engine uses the centrifugal filter.

Wow, the Transmax Z must be good !
I've used Neo (di-ester) and Amsoil (PAO) auto transmission fluids in my old F100 and liked them both.

BTW, I'm using Castrol Syntrans in the G/box and SAF-XA in the diffs. The original Rover spec is for ATF in the 'box, then that was revised to a Caltex specific 'Land Rover MTF 94 (catchy, eh

) which is rated at 53.2 cSt @ 40*C and 10.5 cSt @ 100*C. The Syntrans is a little heavier @ 64.4 cSt and 11.9 cSt respectively, but it shifts great at around 0* (it gets to -7* here in winter) although I can feel the synchros a little on upshifts (particularly second) at elevated ambients (it's been hovering around 37*-39* here for the last week)

The poor Castrol dealer (Scone) has to order the synthetics in just for me ! although I did spy some Formula R 5w30 on the shelf the other day. At least she knows the difference between Syntrans and Syntrax now.

The Mobil blokes were telling me that they are turning over more and more D1.
Two years ago I was the only bloke between Muswellbrook and Moree that was using it ! Probably not surprising as it was double the price back then.

Back in '93 I started using synthetics in motor racing when the then Neo importer offered me some oils to dyno test. At the time, the only Synthetics commonly available was Mobil 1 15W-50 (too heavy for a Formula Ford) Castrol Formula R 10W-60 (ditto) and Agip's Synt 2000 (tried that, no better than BP Corse 30). Synthetic gear lubes were basically unavailable.
Ended up racing on Neo's 0W-5 and 10w30 engine oils, synthetic wheel bearing grease and 7wt and 75W-90HD trans oils (dog boxes). Used the Neo 75W-90HD in a mates girl friends Peugeot (405, IIRC) and transformed the gearbox.
Been hooked on synthetics ever since.

[ February 15, 2004, 04:08 AM: Message edited by: tdi-rick ]

 

[Doug Hillary]

Hi,
Losiho - I do a lot of long distance high speed running between here and Brisbane which 1200kms each way. I watch out for Mr Plod and travel virtually non-stop monthly. I just replaced the original Yokohamas at about 96kkms. My trucks are based in Brisbane and I have a property near Gatton and this place here at Airlie where I spend most of my time

Rick - My Outback has Syntrax/Syntrans in the appropriate places. The Porsche has Syntrax in the diff and the BMW has the Castrol BMW "brew" SAF ??. Various Utes and things use only Syntrax and Syntrans
I have a number of 500hp Linehaul trucks using Syntrax 75w-90 in the diffs. We use Castrol's Syndrive 50E in some RoadRanger gearboxes. These are great products

I was once a National Manager for Frigmobile and in the early 1980's we ran Castrol "R" 10w-50 in the diesel engines of all the Thermoking reefer units

One of my Drivers and his truck, an IVECO PowerStar 7500, features in a Mobil Delvac 1 advert as "the first all synthetic lubricant truck in Australia"

You sure have some knowledge of lubricants and have used them wisely

Regards

 

[tdi-rick]

Doug,

I was only working on a Thermo King unit yesterday, but it was a tiddler V250 in a milk truck. I'm a refigeration mechanic by trade, although I've been beef cattle farming for the last few years (father in-laws property) The farms now been sold so back onto the tools I've gone.

After reading the wisdom handed down on this board by regulars such as yourself, I really know bugger all. Just had my interest piqued when those numbers came up on that Superflow dyno 11 years ago. It was the easiest 4hp we ever made.
Of course I had to re-analyse everything after tearing down at the first re-build with such a light weight oil.

Rick.

 

[Patman]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Doug Hillary:
Hi,
Patman - no I do not know of anybody using "R" 0w-40 but I have a late model highly utilised vehicle that could be changed to it so I will keep that in mind

A used oil analysis on it would be interesting I agree

You say it is double priced against GC - here the three "R" viscosities are very closely priced.

I recently noticed some old SJ and SL SLX 0w30 on a shelf for $A101 for 5ltrs. The "R" are around the $A55-65 range

Regards

---

The main reason it's twice the price is because the 0w40 is only sold at BMW dealers for $13 per liter. And we don't know for sure if it's the same stuff, but it appears that way. GC on the other hand, is sold at Walmart, for $6.66 per liter.

 

[sprintman]

Doug I have Formula R 5W30 in my OB for final RX rinse. When my 20-litre drum of BP visco 5000 5W40 gone I may give the R 0W40 a go but only if available in 20-litre or way too exy. D1 is still a good fall back though to cover both vehicles. I've just discovered Anglomoil after watching F1 powerboats yesterday so more work to do. Heard of Anglomoil?

 

[pscholte]

I think it is a companion product to Saxonmoil.

 

[Losiho]

quote:

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Originally posted by pscholte:
I think it is a companion product to Saxonmoil.

---

 

[xrhp6]

Re Castrol Formula R 5w30, this product is confirmed Group 3 base oil.

Regards
xrhp6

 

[thedawk]

Did Fuchs buy out Silkolene? I was looking at a bottle of Silkolene the other day and also the website and it has Fuchs all over it. They must be trying to grab some of the American niche market.

 

[tdi-rick]

Fuchs have owned Silkolene for a number of years. Can't tell you exactly how long.

They push Silkolene in the two wheel market, and Fuchs in all the other sectors.

Rick.

 

[Primus]

Good engine oils, but in general nothing exceptional. Sales are mainly driven by the right price/quality ratio. Never saw them on the shelves in Germany or Belgium. Quite strange, is not it ? May be in W.Europe Fuchs supplies mainly to big garages and OEMs thanks to a.m. price/quality. Very active in C.E. and E.E., but here there are plenty of other players. Now nearly all synthetics, except GT-1 and BIO, are mainly Group III based (Fuchs technology is called Molecularly Converted). The same story with Ravenol GmbH, its parent company. Suppose that the stuff may be fully the same (like Castrol and Veedol), just different labels. Silkolene oils are positioned as sport oriented products. Limited number of sales points like it was with Motul 300V in the past. No idea whether it's due to a lack of capacity or Silkolene/Fuchs wish to maintain certain exclusivity.

 

[Primus]

Fuchs and Silkolene oils:

http://www.fuchs-oil.de/index.php/products/0/

 

[poison]

Doug, I have a 2.5L Subaru. I am interested in using Delvac 1 in the car (or Delo or Rotella Syn). Do you think that the 15w/40w HDEO's are suitable, or rather beneficial, for the 2.5L? I don't baby my car; I drive rather hard. I live in a warm climate, lowest temp would be 0c, highest would be 40c+. The manual recommends 5w30 or 10/30.

Thanks!

Nate

 

[JHZR2]

Doug,

Any update on your speculations about Fuchs ATFs being good? Actually, any insight on the quality and performance of any of their gear (diff and MT) lubes? Im seriously considering running some...

Thanks!

 

[Doug Hillary]

Hi,
ZHZR2 - I can assure you that FUCHS' products are of a very high quality. They have been at the forefront of synthetics for many decades

I would use their vehicle/application compliant ATF without a second thought

 

[supercity]

Originally Posted By: Doug Hillary
Hi,
Patman - no I do not know of anybody using "R" 0w-40 but I have a late model highly utilised vehicle that could be changed to it so I will keep that in mind

A used oil analysis on it would be interesting I agree[ February 14, 2004, 09:25 PM: Message edited by: Doug Hillary ]


I have a jug of Castrol EDGE 0w40 waiting for my next fill. I was planning to change it before an event coming up at Winton in March. It's 2 days, 2 drivers so lots of use but would that be enough to get a usefull used oil analysis?