Castrol Syntec

[RickD]

Hello to all from a newbie,

Although I've read so much here in the past couple of weeks, I almost feel like I know a great deal of people here. At any rate, I'll get to the point. I have a 2005 Nissan V6 Frontier just passed the 5000 mile mark and I would really like to change to synthetic. I was going to go for Mobil 1, but after reading so many posts here, I'm convinced it needs a heavier 30 wt. I read through the long post about the tests on GC, wow, it was almost like reading a novel, had me on the edge of my chair waiting to finally hear the results. Anyway, back to the point, I was wondering what you all thought about running reg Castrol Syntec?? Has anyone been running it vs the GC with good results? Love my new truck and want to give it the best. Any comments would be appreciated. And by the way, I read way too much here. And for the record, I was sent to this sight as a recommendation from TUNSF Frontier sight.
Also, the book calls for 5-30, would the castrol 0-30 be acceptable or should I go for a 5-30 or 10-30 rating. I live in the Seattle area, weather is pretty fair year round here.

Thanks for all the great shared info,

Regards,

newbie and long term interest.

Rick

 

[92saturnsl2]

Sounds like Castrol 0w30 (German Castrol found at Aut0ozone) would be ideal in your application. It is arguably one of the best 30 weight oils readily available.

Another good choice is Mobil 1 Truck and SUV, although it is a 5w-40.

 

[gulledge]

Rick,
I would go with a 5w30 in your area. Another thing to remember about your truck is that many some "experts" will say that a highly efficient oil filter may be more important than the oil when it comes to engine wear. If it were my truck I would go with Mobil 1 5w30 with either a Mobil 1, pure one, Amsoil, or K&N oil filter. I currently have a 2001 Honda Civic with 210,000 and doesn't use a drop of oil. I use Mobil 1 with a Mobil 1 filter. Although I have hear excellent things about GC, I have never been able to find it at any of the Auto Zones near me.

 

[pscholte]

quote:

---

Originally posted by RickD:
Hello to all from a newbie,

Although I've read so much here in the past couple of weeks, I almost feel like I know a great deal of people here. At any rate, I'll get to the point. I have a 2005 Nissan V6 Frontier just passed the 5000 mile mark and I would really like to change to synthetic. I was going to go for Mobil 1, but after reading so many posts here, I'm convinced it needs a heavier 30 wt. I read through the long post about the tests on GC, wow, it was almost like reading a novel, had me on the edge of my chair waiting to finally hear the results. Anyway, back to the point, I was wondering what you all thought about running reg Castrol Syntec?? Has anyone been running it vs the GC with good results? Love my new truck and want to give it the best. Any comments would be appreciated. And by the way, I read way too much here. And for the record, I was sent to this sight as a recommendation from TUNSF Frontier sight.
Also, the book calls for 5-30, would the castrol 0-30 be acceptable or should I go for a 5-30 or 10-30 rating. I live in the Seattle area, weather is pretty fair year round here.

Thanks for all the great shared info,

Regards,

newbie and long term interest.

Rick

---

Rick,

Go with GC if you can find it (I saw it at an AZ in Des Moines). It is a perfect match for coastal Washington climate. I run it in my son's 94 Nissan Hardbody with the 3L...I think it's got about 120K on the clock now. Put it in in Nov and no consumption issues. It's wear protection abilities are well-documented.

 

[haley10]

RickD, the German Castrol 0w30 and Syntec 5w30 and 10w30 have little in common. Regular Syntec is good stuff, but will be roughly the same viscosity as Mobil 1 or perhaps even thinner. If you don't think Mobil 1 fits the bill due to being too thin, then regular Syntec would be also.

 

[LubeOiler]

RickD: I ran Syntec 10/30 for 100000 miles in my Nissan truck then switched to Syntec Blend. Look at the oil report on both and both were good fit for Nissan.If it were me I would run the Syntec Blend till about 20000 and switch to GC 0-30 if you choose to go longer OCI.The reason I switched is miles and a small leak developed. I never used ARX and if I did I am sure I wouldn't have gotten a leak at all.Its all good so have fun with it.

 

[cortazzo]

I don't think a lot of folks are running regulal castrol syntech because it isn't a 'real' synthetic, just a hydrocracked dino, and it's also very pricey. The GC is a full synthetic and everyone here swears by it. I don't think the 0w30 weight would negatively impact your vehicle at all, as it still becomes a 30weight when heated up. I wouldn't be shy about using Mobil 1, i just put Mobil 1 5w30 in my 4.3v6 in my Jimmy at it is running amazingly. It idles lower and stays quieter.

 

[RickD]

Thanks a million to all, I've really been confused on what to do, I think I have good feel for it now. I'll do another Conventional oil change until I've hit the 7500 mile mark and go with the GC. Just have a gut feeling about it. But I think I'm going to go with the Mobil 1 in the Missus Altima next week. It's on the 15000 mile mark with the 4 cylinder, I feel that would be a good one for it.

Thanks again to all,
I'll keep you posted.

Regards to all

Rick

 

[Grossomotto]

Drive across to BC, Canada and get some Esso XD-3 0W30, a 100% full synthetic.

 

[Winston]

What OCI are you going for. What filter have you chosen to use?

No one meantioned Redline.

GC, Mobil 1 Extended Performance, Redline.

 

[Craig]

does GC make a 0/5W-20?
If so is it any good?
Craig

 

[Winston]

GC is 0W30 - Only, with Made in Germany on the lable.

 

[Alex P.]

quote:

---

Originally posted by haley10:
RickD, the German Castrol 0w30 and Syntec 5w30 and 10w30 have little in common. Regular Syntec is good stuff, but will be roughly the same viscosity as Mobil 1 or perhaps even thinner. If you don't think Mobil 1 fits the bill due to being too thin, then regular Syntec would be also.

---

Really? I had a code H 305 in my last car, and it leaked a decent amount of Mobil 1 5w30. After a few oil changes I switched it to 5w30 Syntec and it didn't leak a drop. Was slightly quieter than 5w30 GTX (the lifters lightly tapped at idle), and took abuse pretty good. I eventually silenced the tapping with a flush or two and some work cleaning under the intake manifold (gaskets had to be replaced anyway).

Now I run nothing but Mobil 1 in my series II 3800, but that's a different beast and it was practically raised on M1. Anyway, I was always under the impression that M1 was pretty slippery stuff compared to its competitors.

 

[KonakTheWarrior2005]

would switching to synthetic on a high mileage engine be foolish? Anyone know?

 

[haley10]

quote:

---

Originally posted by KonakTheWarrior2005:
would switching to synthetic on a high mileage engine be foolish? Anyone know?

---

What engine and what do you consider high mileage? Generally modern engines that have been well maintained won't be a problem. Tell us more detail.

 

[KonakTheWarrior2005]

nissan maxima 3.0 w/146,000miles

 

[Alex P.]

If you haven't done anything to clean it out, you might want to consider using ARX while you're still on conventional oil. Apparentely you can only really do maintenence with ARX with synthetic, and not effectively do clean cycles. At least that is the impression I get.

But 146k isn't really all that high mileage. Don't let the 75K+ "high mileage" advertising get stuck in your mind.