Just curious how the original German Castrol 0W-30 craze started on BITOG? I know it's a good oil and has plenty of manufacturer approvals, but there are other oils with even better specs and approvals ( M1 0W-40, etc.). Could it have been because the oil was green?
German Castrol Craze?
- Thread starter orlzx6r
- Start date
- Status
Maybe because it is the only true synthetic Castrol available for retail sale in the USA. I noticed that ( M1 0W-40 ) no longer has a slot at my WalMart.
I've used that stuff time and time again, my Nissan VQ's always ran stellar on it.. It's a great oil.
Probably because its a thick 30 with high HTHS that 'technically' meets requirements for manufactures that spec a 30 grade oil.
I have a fill in the old Saturn. It runs great on it.
I have a fill in the old Saturn. It runs great on it.
You can not get it a ppBoys anymore so I am starting to look for a replacement? Now I need to rely on the AutoZone adds.
It was suppose to be the wizbang oil for stopping the cold start knock in GM 5.3 truck engines. I tried it once and found nothing special.
It was also bright green, and hard to find. So that led people to start humorously referencing its mythical qualities.
I ran a couple fills of the green GC in the Maxima, just to see of the car ran quieter and if the oil really smelled like gummi bears. Yes to both.
Every application in which I've run GC seemed to do very well with it.
Both Accords and the Forester have done at least a few changes on GC.
The high HTHS as compared to most thirty grades didn't seem to hurt fuel economy either.
A very smooth, quiet oil where I have used it.
I have five quarts left, which will go in the BMW.
Both Accords and the Forester have done at least a few changes on GC.
The high HTHS as compared to most thirty grades didn't seem to hurt fuel economy either.
A very smooth, quiet oil where I have used it.
I have five quarts left, which will go in the BMW.
Hi,
orlzx6r - Elves 'n things - Wow, those were the days..........
orlzx6r - Elves 'n things - Wow, those were the days..........
Originally Posted By: orlzx6r
Just curious how the original German Castrol 0W-30 craze started on BITOG? I know it's a good oil and has plenty of manufacturer approvals, but there are other oils with even better specs and approvals ( M1 0W-40, etc.). Could it have been because the oil was green?
- It was almost unheard of for any product on the US market to have so many high performance approvals, let alone an xw-30.
- It used to show frankly surreal levels of shear stability.
- Early tests -- crude, but MUCH more informative than anything you will see on BITOG these days -- seemed to indicate that it was almost entirely PAO.
- UOAs in a variety of applications yielded low numbers for wear metals.
- The fact that it combined those properties with an exceptionally low pour point and a 0w cold pumpability rating led people to believe it was an "all-purpose" product.
- It didn't cost any more than Castrol's other Syntec products, which weren't very good.
- The fact that it was green didn't hurt.
These days, GC doesn't seem so special. However, there are still very few widely available engine oils with as many high performance approvals, and almost none in xw-30 grades. There are some comparable products on foreign markets, but they tend to be a lot more expensive here.
Just curious how the original German Castrol 0W-30 craze started on BITOG? I know it's a good oil and has plenty of manufacturer approvals, but there are other oils with even better specs and approvals ( M1 0W-40, etc.). Could it have been because the oil was green?
- It was almost unheard of for any product on the US market to have so many high performance approvals, let alone an xw-30.
- It used to show frankly surreal levels of shear stability.
- Early tests -- crude, but MUCH more informative than anything you will see on BITOG these days -- seemed to indicate that it was almost entirely PAO.
- UOAs in a variety of applications yielded low numbers for wear metals.
- The fact that it combined those properties with an exceptionally low pour point and a 0w cold pumpability rating led people to believe it was an "all-purpose" product.
- It didn't cost any more than Castrol's other Syntec products, which weren't very good.
- The fact that it was green didn't hurt.
These days, GC doesn't seem so special. However, there are still very few widely available engine oils with as many high performance approvals, and almost none in xw-30 grades. There are some comparable products on foreign markets, but they tend to be a lot more expensive here.
Hi,
d00df00d - You said this:
"Early tests -- crude, but MUCH more informative than anything you will see on BITOG these days -- seemed to indicate that it was almost entirely PAO."
In its original API SH/CF form (1995-6) - as Formula SLX - it was a castor (ester) based and with a low phosphorous/low chlorine content
It was a flop and was withdrawn from sale here in its API SL/CF form around 2000. It left a trail of woes behind it
In many ways it was similar to one of Castrol's original synthetics - Formula R 15W-50 (API SE) of around 1978. It was caster based and red in colour. This product (now much modified) still exists as TWS 10W-60 (ester) or Edge 10W-60 (PAO). I assisted in the development of these great products over several years
d00df00d - You said this:
"Early tests -- crude, but MUCH more informative than anything you will see on BITOG these days -- seemed to indicate that it was almost entirely PAO."
In its original API SH/CF form (1995-6) - as Formula SLX - it was a castor (ester) based and with a low phosphorous/low chlorine content
It was a flop and was withdrawn from sale here in its API SL/CF form around 2000. It left a trail of woes behind it
In many ways it was similar to one of Castrol's original synthetics - Formula R 15W-50 (API SE) of around 1978. It was caster based and red in colour. This product (now much modified) still exists as TWS 10W-60 (ester) or Edge 10W-60 (PAO). I assisted in the development of these great products over several years
Of course. I was only referring to the conclusions drawn from the gas chromatograph scan that was posted here several years ago -- not to say that those conclusions necessarily were true, but simply to mentiom something that contributed to GC's popularity.
I have heard that in more recent years GC was primarily PAO with an ester additive at about 5%. Is that not the case?
I have heard that in more recent years GC was primarily PAO with an ester additive at about 5%. Is that not the case?
Hi,
d00df00d - Yes Castrol has moved its formulations around quite a lot. PAO remains their upper range with some ester versions still about. Grp3 lubricant are now leading the volume "synthetics" marketplace
d00df00d - Yes Castrol has moved its formulations around quite a lot. PAO remains their upper range with some ester versions still about. Grp3 lubricant are now leading the volume "synthetics" marketplace
It did well in 10,000-15,000 mile drains in common cars. The MB and BMW LL approvals provided confidence it was actually designed for longer drains.
Thats why I used it in my little sisters college car for annual changes (GM 2.2 OHV). Today I would likely use M1 EP for the same service.
Thats why I used it in my little sisters college car for annual changes (GM 2.2 OHV). Today I would likely use M1 EP for the same service.
I have GC in my 330Ci for a 8k OCI right now...4k still to go.
I probably don't have the green stuff, but i have driven that car a lot on GC on very hot days with a/c on etc etc, and i really like the way engine idles smooth and quiet and also feels great while driving...
I don't see any reason not to go with whatever GC i can find year long, and do 8k intervals...i might do a UOA after the NEXT 8k run...perhaps.
I think it's still a good oil, even if it's different from the green.
I probably don't have the green stuff, but i have driven that car a lot on GC on very hot days with a/c on etc etc, and i really like the way engine idles smooth and quiet and also feels great while driving...
I don't see any reason not to go with whatever GC i can find year long, and do 8k intervals...i might do a UOA after the NEXT 8k run...perhaps.
I think it's still a good oil, even if it's different from the green.
We routinely saw UOAs with essentially no wear. It was hard to beat no significant wear metals. Many of the big boys were changed to lower additives and Group III base stocks. When the dye was removed (GCgreen to GCgold), many of us were concerned that the formula may have changed for worse. It doesn't seem that the new formula was down grade, but the change provided motivation to stock-up while we could.
I'm still running GCgreen. I only have two OCs left. Some people poke fun of the hoarders, but I've been running a great oil at $2.50-4.00/ quart for several years now.
I'm still running GCgreen. I only have two OCs left. Some people poke fun of the hoarders, but I've been running a great oil at $2.50-4.00/ quart for several years now.
I liked that it was made in Germany, smooth running, and of coarse green. The tests that were performed by Terry also showed that it was a PAO oil and had no viscosity improvers added.
Doug, do you have any idea what it was about this oil that caused you to have an engine failure? I think I remember you saying the oil pump froze? If Castrol had been using esters for years, did they try something new without testing it enough?
Doug, do you have any idea what it was about this oil that caused you to have an engine failure? I think I remember you saying the oil pump froze? If Castrol had been using esters for years, did they try something new without testing it enough?
GC is a very stout motor oil and it does have mythical qualities. Its all things to all people; works as hard as you do summer or winter. Its the Arnold Schwarzenegger of motor oils. (in the Pumping Iron days, not the maid thing days) It's faster than a speeding bullet and can leap tall buildings, It will put hair on your chest, as well as cure your erectile dysfunction.
It wont let you down when the going get tough like some supermarket oil.
- Status
