slo town
$200 Site Donor 2026
Hello:
I've been using German/Belgium Castrol 0w30 for years on both our BMWs, and more recently on our Passat VR6 (for it's first couple of OCIs).
As must of you know, 0w30 no longer has BMW's LL-01 approval. As I understand it, it's because BMW LL-01 oils can no longer be 0W-xx. Doesn't matter. Even with the lack of a LL-01 approval, that won't stop me from using it. I think the "Euro" Castrol 0w30 is good oil and I have several used oil analysis from two cars to prove it.
Anyway, I recently ordered two cases from Amazon. Although I've ordered it from Amazon before, for this order I wanted to make sure I didn't get counterfeit oil. That's why I did this VOA.
I'm certain the oil I got is the real thing, although the formula has changed since my last 0w30 used oil analysis/VOAs. The ones I tested in 2014 were the LL-01 versions. This latest 2020 is not. That said, this doesn't mean the LL-01 approved formula hadn't been changed since my earlier used oil analysis/VOAs.
Where before the oil had the somewhat balanced Ca/Mg add pack, the new version has the high Ca/low Mg that seems to be in vogue now days. In fact, it looks a lot like the 0W-40 Castrol Passat VR6 used oil analysis I just posted, just thicker.
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/t...0-5k-oci-2016-vw-passat-vr6-20k-miles.334095/
And then TiGeo just posted a VOA of Castrol 5W-40. Same add pack combo.
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/castrol-edge-5w40-voa.333766/
What I see here is that Castrol's A3/B4 oils (0W-30, 0W-40, and 5W-40) have the same add packs now.
The first VOA is from Nov 2020. The other is from Nov 2014. This is not cause for alarm. It's just an FYI for "German Castrol" users.
Enjoy,
Scott
I've been using German/Belgium Castrol 0w30 for years on both our BMWs, and more recently on our Passat VR6 (for it's first couple of OCIs).
As must of you know, 0w30 no longer has BMW's LL-01 approval. As I understand it, it's because BMW LL-01 oils can no longer be 0W-xx. Doesn't matter. Even with the lack of a LL-01 approval, that won't stop me from using it. I think the "Euro" Castrol 0w30 is good oil and I have several used oil analysis from two cars to prove it.
Anyway, I recently ordered two cases from Amazon. Although I've ordered it from Amazon before, for this order I wanted to make sure I didn't get counterfeit oil. That's why I did this VOA.
I'm certain the oil I got is the real thing, although the formula has changed since my last 0w30 used oil analysis/VOAs. The ones I tested in 2014 were the LL-01 versions. This latest 2020 is not. That said, this doesn't mean the LL-01 approved formula hadn't been changed since my earlier used oil analysis/VOAs.
Where before the oil had the somewhat balanced Ca/Mg add pack, the new version has the high Ca/low Mg that seems to be in vogue now days. In fact, it looks a lot like the 0W-40 Castrol Passat VR6 used oil analysis I just posted, just thicker.
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/t...0-5k-oci-2016-vw-passat-vr6-20k-miles.334095/
And then TiGeo just posted a VOA of Castrol 5W-40. Same add pack combo.
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/castrol-edge-5w40-voa.333766/
What I see here is that Castrol's A3/B4 oils (0W-30, 0W-40, and 5W-40) have the same add packs now.
The first VOA is from Nov 2020. The other is from Nov 2014. This is not cause for alarm. It's just an FYI for "German Castrol" users.
Enjoy,
Scott
...well, about this anyway: there have been a number of formula changes between your 2014 and 2020 samples. If anyone else still cares about this increasingly hard to find oil, here are my thoughts/experiences over the years. Somewhere in there, they added Ti, maybe shortly after your 2014 sample was manufactured. I have 3 used oil analysis: from late 2016, late 2018, and most recently as well. my 2016 sample showed Ti, along with the more balanced CaMg as you mentioned. it’s likely I used USA Castrol 5w30 for the 1/4 - 1/2 qt top up near the end, so not necessarily a true reflection of the GC, but too much Mg in the used oil analysis to blame on 1/4 qt top off. Besides, your 2014 VOA is somewhat consistent with that result. My 2018 used oil analysis showed strong bias toward Ca as you noted on your 2020 VOA. I’m going to guess that 2018 used oil analysis was 2016 or 2017 vintage GC. Odd that Moly went to near zero, but rebounded in my 2020 used oil analysis. Earlier this year, I picked up a single quart of GC with a late 2019 code, basically for free with a PepBoys coupon, and the label had changed, and no more LL01. It’s still on my shelf. I’m going to assume your 2020 VOA reflects its formula. Last week, I found some 2017 vintage GC (with LL01) at Advanced Auto, so picked up 5 qts to get their special Oil Change deal with a bogus filter...not as cheap as it used to be, but still acceptable. Meanwhile, the car is now filled with a mix: 2qt 0w30 GC (2017 vintage) with LL01, and 2.3qt of the 0w40 GC (I should look at the date code, but bought this year...heck, it might not be LL01???).
