Could Castrol Edge Extended-Performance (EP) 0W-20 SP be the best 0W-20 out there?

IIRC the Afton Chemical HiTEC 11500 is the additive package I was thinking of:
I don't think it would be a stretch for Castrol to claim ACEA C6 if they think their oil meets that specification.

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Yes, the ACEA-C6 LSPI and timing-chain tests are the same as in API SP. The only new tests would be the JASO fuel economy and Toyota turbocharger tests to get the ACEA-C6 approval if it was already approved for ACEA C5 and API SP and passed the valvetrain-wear test to the ACEA-C6 criteria.

Note that TBN is different because it is measured using a different procedure.
 
So far, none of the additive pkgs posted in this thread are licensed for Dexos 1 Gen 3, which is an approval that EP 0W20. Is it possible that Castrol had something made exclusively for them by Infineum?
My thought was that the additive package that Castrol is using for the EP line-up could already pass the D1G3 requirements without any problem. It is the same additive package that Castrol uses for "Castrol EDGE C5 0W-20" sold in Europe. In fact, I believe that EDGE EP 0W-20 and C5 0W-20 are the exact same product. For the US market, Castrol extended the lineup with 5W-20 and 5W-30, the only difference being the viscosity. Pretty clever.

The lubricants below are all D1G3 licensed:


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My thought was that the additive package that Castrol is using for the EP line-up could already pass the D1G3 requirements without any problem. It is the same additive package that Castrol uses for "Castrol EDGE C5 0W-20" sold in Europe. In fact, I believe that EDGE EP 0W-20 and C5 0W-20 are the exact same product. For the US market, Castrol extended the lineup with 5W-20 and 5W-30, the only difference being the viscosity. Pretty clever.

The lubricants below are all D1G3 licensed:


1668533641156-png.126347
I don't think it works that way? I thought the usual approach was for the additive supplier to supply an additive pack that is stated to pass testing for a given specification if the blender abides by a certain "recipe." This way it saves on significant costs for the blender.

@Foxtrot08 - how does this typically work?
 
I don't think it works that way?
Castrol EDGE EP 5W-20 and Castrol EDGE EP 5W-30 are only available in the US market and probably Canada. These two don't go out of their way to list any approvals, except for 5W-20 claiming ACEA C5, and 5W-30 claiming ACEA C2.
 
I don't think it works that way? I thought the usual approach was for the additive supplier to supply an additive pack that is stated to pass testing for a given specification if the blender abides by a certain "recipe." This way it saves on significant costs for the blender.

@Foxtrot08 - how does this typically work?
That's the way it is for smaller blenders, they buy pre-approved additive packages and as long as they abide by the rules for what they can be blended with, will result in an approved product IIRC.

I think there's a rather significant departure for that with the juggernauts like Mobil, Shell and BP who likely have very customized DI packages developed in a collaborative manner with a tremendous amount of their own input, as they already know, or have a very good idea, as to how they want to blend the product in terms of base oils, VII selection...etc. Which may look nothing like what is produced by Warren, Ashland, or even their own commodity/reseller market products (Motomaster, AutoZone...etc).

Of course it also begs mention that not all smaller blenders package and sell a commodity DI package in a pre-approved base oil blend. Some of these products may start off with one of those additive packages, targeted at a given slate of approvals, and then depart wildly in terms of base oil selection and final additive composition.
 
I don't think it works that way? I thought the usual approach was for the additive supplier to supply an additive pack that is stated to pass testing for a given specification if the blender abides by a certain "recipe." This way it saves on significant costs for the blender.

@Foxtrot08 - how does this typically work?

I can’t go too far into this without giving away confidential information.

However as Overkill said, Castrol could have a proprietary additive package developed for their different blends - depending on base oils used, tests licensed for, etc. They would go to infinium/Afton/Lubrizol/whomever and have an addpack tweaked to what they want to market. Then blended for them by a toll blender and packager.

Or

They could simply coat tail on another pre-packaged additive by who they’re using as a toll blender and market it accordingly. Much like what you’re referring to.

It can certainly work both ways. I know majors that do it both ways depending on product line up and where they want to focus their money. Developing a specialized addpack and getting it fully licensed may be cost prohibitive for some brands - even majors. Volume is key. If you’re Mobil - it’s extremely easy to move volume between the retail and wholesale side.

If you’re Kendall, it’s not easy to move volume. Which is one of the reasons why Kendall moved away from the liquid titanium addpack in their changeover for SP/GF6. It allowed them to streamline their offerings.
 
Comparing the old and updated PDSs, I noticed that the existing ACEA-C5 Castrol Edge Extended-Performance (EP) 0W-20 SP, without reformulation, is apparently also certified for the new ACEA C6, which along with the new ACEA A7/B7, is the strictest ACEA specification, stricter than ACEA A3/B4, ACEA C2, ACEA C3, ACEA C5, etc. It also carries many European-OEM approvals.

I am now thinking that the main difference between stricter OEM approvals and less strict OEM and/or industry approvals is the antioxidant (AO) content. More antioxidant (AO) results in a longer oil-change interval (OCI) and a cleaner engine among other things. ACEA C6 and the accompanying European-OEM approvals are the strictest approvals in the world. Given the fact that Castrol Edge Extended-Performance (EP) 0W-20 SP also claims a 20,000-mile OCI due to its higher antioxidant (AO) content, it is a win–win.

I still think TGMO 0W-20 SP is also a great choice with its polyol ester (POE; solvent), high moly (AW/EP/FM), and high boron content (dispersant), none of which Castrol has. However, I doubt TGMO 0W-20 SP has a high antioxidant (AO) content like Castrol has.

ACEA-C5 and ACEA-C6 versions of Castrol EP 0W-20 SP are identical:


It is not clear in the PDSs if Castrol is actually referring to the EP gold bottle. I am guessing that this is the case because of the Euro-OEM approvals.

In addition to providing LSPI and timing-chain protection, ACEA C6 reduces the valvetrain wear by 18% with respect to ACEA C5, improves the fuel economy, and reduces the engine and turbocharger deposits.

Oronite OLOA 54720 additive package meets BMW LL17FE+, MB229.71, Volvo RBS0-2AE 0W-20, WSS-M2C947-B1, WSS-M2C962-A1, ACEA C6, and API SP/RC (ILSAC GF-6).


The HTFS/VII table lists all the Castrol 0W-20 flavors. The flavors to avoid are Castrol Edge High-Mileage 0W-20 SP and Castrol GTX Full Synthetic 0W-20 SP due to a thin base oil (BO) and a high viscosity-improver (VII) content.

*What you state makes sense - curious if the same qualities / improvements would carry over to the Castrol EDGE 5W30 EP ?
 
*What you state makes sense - curious if the same qualities / improvements would carry over to the Castrol EDGE 5W30 EP ?
Different viscosity grades share the identical additive pack for a given oil line because that's how the additive packs get tested and approved for blending—only the base oil (BO) and amount of viscosity-index improver (VII) differ.
 
Just purchased a used 2017 F-Tyoe V6 S, Daily driver. It is fresh oil From the jag dealer With about 1000 miles on it. I am changing the oil this week. Prob 5W-30 or 0W-40 M1, 5000 mi OCI’s are my norm. I live in hot and sticky south FL.

prob doing the 475HP tune/pulley combo soon

charcoal color.

Hr1Chv1.jpg

How much does your car weigh?
 
How much does your car weigh?
I think they are about 3800 pounds. For an all aluminum, 2 seat car, it's not light. Nor is it physically small, despite looking like a Miata. It's every bit as wide as my F150 4x4.

Power to weight is not as good as it should be. C+D got my car to run 12.9 @109. That takes adequate octane, otherwise it's a 13 sec car. The tune makes it a solid 12 sec car, with about 400 at the wheels.

Doesn't matter much in this case, the car is an absolute blast to drive. Feels like a tuner car, stiff, hyper-responsive, only semi-civilized.

Oh, and it's not getting 0W-20 anything.
 
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A long while ago, I may have seen a post by @MolaKule about a cross-licensing agreement between Castrol/BP and Infineum. Therefore, it might be reasonable to conclude that Castrol EDGE EP 0W-20 is blended with an Infineum additive package. That'd be, in fact, so cool! (y) :)
Is there anyway for the general public to see which package is in what oils?
 
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