Castrol seems very Confused!

[HangerHarley]

Id like to make an observation about Castrol oils. They are all over the place.

First of all, there is no more "Castrol Syntec Blend." Its now "Castrol GTX Semi-Synthetic."

Secondly, i saw Castrol Syntec 10W-40 at Advance. Seems redundant, since they now have Syntec 5W-40. They also do a pretty good job of keeping 5W-50 in stock, should anyone need that.

Then, they have Castrol Edge at $.50 cents more per Quart than the Syntec.

What is going on with Castrol, and what are everyone's thoughts on Syntec?

And yes, it is possible the Advance store had old Products..

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: HangerHarley


Secondly, i saw Castrol Syntec 10W-40 at Advance. Seems redundant, since they now have Syntec 5W-40.

10W-40 is targeted at high mileage/older vehicle applications. It is also an energy conserving oil (GF-4). 5w-40 is targeted at European applications (caries VW/MB/BMW/Porsche specs) and is not energy conserving (GF-3).

Quote:

Then, they have Castrol Edge at $.50 cents more per Quart than the Syntec.

That's no different than Pennzoil having their Platinum and Ultra priced not that far from each other, depending on the current sale going on.

Quote:

What is going on with Castrol, and what are everyone's thoughts on Syntec?

I've had good luck with GC, but GC is an outlier in the whole Syntec lineup. If I wanted a good group III oil, I'd probably choose PP over Syntec. And if I wanted a good and low-priced 5w-40 oil, I'd choose Shell Rotella T6 over Syntec 5w-40.

 

[addyguy]

I'd love to be able to use Syntec 10W-40 - looks like a great oil. Alas, not sold up here!

 

[StevieC]

Castrol while they make good products is overpriced for the performance you get in most cases. The company isn't the sharpest knife in the the drawer!

... Besides as I proved in my Amsoil Fan thread, clearly it's more slipperier!

 

[yaris0128]

I dont understand Castrol one bit. If Edge is sooo much better than Syntec than why is it only a $1.50 more for a 5qt? Why does Syntec even exist anymore? Why would I save a $1.50 and get Syntec?!?! Im lost.... either way, Ill go with Pennzoil Platinum or Pennzoil Ultra. They make more sense.

 

[znode]

Also, they have the worst data sheets in the business. Has anyone looked at their TDS/MSDS's? It's like consumer disclosure is something you tell the guy in the corner to do in 15 minutes in a spreadsheet.

 

[lipadj46]

Originally Posted By: yaris0128
I dont understand Castrol one bit. If Edge is sooo much better than Syntec than why is it only a $1.50 more for a 5qt? Why does Syntec even exist anymore? Why would I save a $1.50 and get Syntec?!?! Im lost.... either way, Ill go with Pennzoil Platinum or Pennzoil Ultra. They make more sense.


How does PU and PP make sense but Edge and syntec don't? They seem to be similar. Each company has 2 levels of synthetics. Mobil 1 is worse with there regular, EP, high mileage, truck and SUV and green cap formulas.

 

[StevieC]

Originally Posted By: znode
Also, they have the worst data sheets in the business. Has anyone looked at their TDS/MSDS's? It's like consumer disclosure is something you tell the guy in the corner to do in 15 minutes in a spreadsheet.

 

[saberz]

Originally Posted By: yaris0128
I dont understand Castrol one bit. If Edge is sooo much better than Syntec than why is it only a $1.50 more for a 5qt? Why does Syntec even exist anymore? Why would I save a $1.50 and get Syntec?!?! Im lost.... either way, Ill go with Pennzoil Platinum or Pennzoil Ultra. They make more sense.


GTX = MC5k = Pennzoil conventional = Good

Syntec = Mobil 1 = Pennzoil Platinum. = Better

Edge = Mobil 1 Extended Performance = Pennzoil Ultra = Best


That's how I see it. You have Good, Better and Best. The price differential isn't that high between PP/PU(now it is since its new), Mobil 1 / Mobil 1 Extended Performance etc.

Why kill a brand that is known and has marketing behind it when you can also promote a new brand. Mobil did it, Pennzoil did it, and Castrol is doing it.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: Anies
GTX = MC5k = Pennzoil conventional = Good

Syntec = Mobil 1 = Pennzoil Platinum. = Better

Edge = Mobil 1 Extended Performance = Pennzoil Ultra = Best


That's how I see it. You have Good, Better and Best. The price differential isn't that high between PP/PU(now it is since its new), Mobil 1 / Mobil 1 Extended Performance etc.

Why kill a brand that is known and has marketing behind it when you can also promote a new brand. Mobil did it, Pennzoil did it, and Castrol is doing it.

Exactly!

Everybody is doing it, so why is Castrol being singled out as being "confusing".

 

[Johnny]

"First of all, there is no more "Castrol Syntec Blend." Its now "Castrol GTX Semi-Synthetic."

This makes sense to me. Syntec is the name of their synthetic oil and no need to confuse the consumer. GTX Semi-Synthetic/Synthetic Blend makes more sense as long as they don't put it in a white bottle.

On a side note, I think the Castrol brand would have been better served if someone other than BP would have purchased them.

 

[StevieC]

Originally Posted By: Johnny
"First of all, there is no more "Castrol Syntec Blend." Its now "Castrol GTX Semi-Synthetic."

This makes sense to me. Syntec is the name of their synthetic oil and no need to confuse the consumer. GTX Semi-Synthetic/Synthetic Blend makes more sense as long as they don't put it in a white bottle.

On a side note, I think the Castrol brand would have been better served if someone other than BP would have purchased them.


Agreed!

 

[Bill in Utah]

Some off topic posts HAVE been removed.

KEEP it on topic. If you want to bash go someplace else.

ANY comments, PM me.

Bill

 

[lexus114]

Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
Some off topic posts HAVE been removed.

KEEP it on topic. If you want to bash go someplace else.

ANY comments, PM me.

Bill

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Everybody is doing it, so why is Castrol being singled out as being "confusing".

The only significant difference I see is that Mobil does a bit better job of differentiating their different synthetic varieties for different applications, plus always having a wider selection available for various viscosities.

High Mileage and EP and Mobil 1 Turbo Diesel Truck at least have some meaning to someone reading the label. I want more zinc or have a high mileage vehicle, I go to high mileage. I want extended OCIs, I get EP (or Amsoil). I want something with a stout additive pack, including the zinc, I go Mobil 1 Turbo Diesel Truck, and don't even have to wander to the HDEO section. If I do need HDEO, the Mobil 1 Turbo Diesel Truck fits the bill, too.

Wording like Platinum, Ultra, and Edge are simply things dreamed up by marketing departments without a target audience in mind. At least SOPUS is moving in the right direction if they make the labeled European formulas more available.

As for Castrol, if it weren't for BITOG, I wouldn't know the difference between GC and regular Syntec. All I'd know is the more public bickering between Mobil and Castrol about what is really a synthetic.