Given the choice...Castrol 0w40 or GC?
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I would give serious look to the 0w40. I think they are trying to give XOM a run for their money. I would at least try the stuff.
Agreed, give the new guy a try and do a UOA while you're at it.
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Agreed, give the new guy a try and do a UOA while you're at it.
X2, would be interesting to see how it does.
Agreed, give the new guy a try and do a UOA while you're at it.
X2, would be interesting to see how it does.
Would be sticking to GC myself but I'm part of the thin crowd.
Now, if I wanted to rag on the car like a champ and drive 120MPH, 0W-40 all the way.
Then again I do live in climate mild Canada.
Now, if I wanted to rag on the car like a champ and drive 120MPH, 0W-40 all the way.
Then again I do live in climate mild Canada.
I've been using the 0w40 for about 500 miles now and it is smooth. Had been using M1 0w40 for a while, but there's just something about the Castrol that makes my motor run smoother and more quite, especially when revving it up. I went with the thicker oil since I drive in stop and go traffic with a stick shift. An automatic tends to keep the rpm's up when going slow and I'd probably use the thinner oil with it.
OVERKILL
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Originally Posted By: RiceCake
Would be sticking to GC myself but I'm part of the thin crowd.
Now, if I wanted to rag on the car like a champ and drive 120MPH, 0W-40 all the way.
Then again I do live in climate mild Canada.
GC really isn't much thinner, LOL!
Would be sticking to GC myself but I'm part of the thin crowd.
Now, if I wanted to rag on the car like a champ and drive 120MPH, 0W-40 all the way.
Then again I do live in climate mild Canada.
GC really isn't much thinner, LOL!
Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
Originally Posted By: RiceCake
Would be sticking to GC myself but I'm part of the thin crowd.
Now, if I wanted to rag on the car like a champ and drive 120MPH, 0W-40 all the way.
Then again I do live in climate mild Canada.
GC really isn't much thinner, LOL!
Copy that, probably HTHS 3.5 vs 3.6 or 3.7 at most I'd guess, but the GC is probably more shear stable than the BC it's a toss up ha ha.
Originally Posted By: RiceCake
Would be sticking to GC myself but I'm part of the thin crowd.
Now, if I wanted to rag on the car like a champ and drive 120MPH, 0W-40 all the way.
Then again I do live in climate mild Canada.
GC really isn't much thinner, LOL!
Copy that, probably HTHS 3.5 vs 3.6 or 3.7 at most I'd guess, but the GC is probably more shear stable than the BC it's a toss up ha ha.
So no one has taken this as an omen that GC is on the way out? The new replacement is BC (0w40).
I'm waiting for the first M1 vs. BC head to head thread.
I'm waiting for the first M1 vs. BC head to head thread.
Originally Posted By: Coprolite
So no one has taken this as an omen that GC is on the way out?
Why? It's not like GC has been disappearing from the stores. As a matter of fact, even more retailers carry it now. Before it used to be just AutoZone and PepBoys, and now even AdvanceAuto carries it.
So no one has taken this as an omen that GC is on the way out?
Why? It's not like GC has been disappearing from the stores. As a matter of fact, even more retailers carry it now. Before it used to be just AutoZone and PepBoys, and now even AdvanceAuto carries it.
If anything is on the way out it may be the US made 5w40 from what I have seen.
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: Coprolite
So no one has taken this as an omen that GC is on the way out?
Why? It's not like GC has been disappearing from the stores. As a matter of fact, even more retailers carry it now. Before it used to be just AutoZone and PepBoys, and now even AdvanceAuto carries it.
I was coming at it from the certifications angle. Selling two oils that carry basically the same certs, therefore same niche in the market, is probably not sustainable in the long term. As Castrol can sell the 0w-40 as SN, but not the 0w30 they might want to convert the GC fan base and then slowly wean them from the oil with another proven castrol product.
I am not necessarily saying that is their strategy, just an interesting hypothesis that isn't negated at this time by the healthy supply of GC on the market. By the end of this year, I'll have to figure out a new hypothesis if both are still on the market.
Originally Posted By: Coprolite
So no one has taken this as an omen that GC is on the way out?
Why? It's not like GC has been disappearing from the stores. As a matter of fact, even more retailers carry it now. Before it used to be just AutoZone and PepBoys, and now even AdvanceAuto carries it.
I was coming at it from the certifications angle. Selling two oils that carry basically the same certs, therefore same niche in the market, is probably not sustainable in the long term. As Castrol can sell the 0w-40 as SN, but not the 0w30 they might want to convert the GC fan base and then slowly wean them from the oil with another proven castrol product.
I am not necessarily saying that is their strategy, just an interesting hypothesis that isn't negated at this time by the healthy supply of GC on the market. By the end of this year, I'll have to figure out a new hypothesis if both are still on the market.
Originally Posted By: Coprolite
I was coming at it from the certifications angle. Selling two oils that carry basically the same certs, therefore same niche in the market, is probably not sustainable in the long term. As Castrol can sell the 0w-40 as SN, but not the 0w30 they might want to convert the GC fan base and then slowly wean them from the oil with another proven castrol product.
OK, got it. Yeah, that makes sense.
I was coming at it from the certifications angle. Selling two oils that carry basically the same certs, therefore same niche in the market, is probably not sustainable in the long term. As Castrol can sell the 0w-40 as SN, but not the 0w30 they might want to convert the GC fan base and then slowly wean them from the oil with another proven castrol product.
OK, got it. Yeah, that makes sense.
Time to change the oil in my Jetta 2.0T.......I may give the 0W40 Castrol new kid on the block a run for the fun of it.
I picked it up at the BoGo sale for my 2.0t FSI GTI...it seems fine, but I get significantly worse fuel economy in cold weather with it than the GC 0w30. I'll probably run it in the warmer months, and the GC 0w30 in the colder months for fuel savings.
Originally Posted By: dgcamero
I picked it up at the BoGo sale for my 2.0t FSI GTI...it seems fine, but I get significantly worse fuel economy in cold weather with it than the GC 0w30. I'll probably run it in the warmer months, and the GC 0w30 in the colder months for fuel savings.
What month did you switch from GC to 0W-40? Over the years a number of people on various forums I post on, including here, have complained about losing power switching to GC. I'm wondering how much additional loss with this Castrol euro oil.
I picked it up at the BoGo sale for my 2.0t FSI GTI...it seems fine, but I get significantly worse fuel economy in cold weather with it than the GC 0w30. I'll probably run it in the warmer months, and the GC 0w30 in the colder months for fuel savings.
What month did you switch from GC to 0W-40? Over the years a number of people on various forums I post on, including here, have complained about losing power switching to GC. I'm wondering how much additional loss with this Castrol euro oil.
Originally Posted By: vinu_neuro
Originally Posted By: dgcamero
I picked it up at the BoGo sale for my 2.0t FSI GTI...it seems fine, but I get significantly worse fuel economy in cold weather with it than the GC 0w30. I'll probably run it in the warmer months, and the GC 0w30 in the colder months for fuel savings.
What month did you switch from GC to 0W-40? Over the years a number of people on various forums I post on, including here, have complained about losing power switching to GC. I'm wondering how much additional loss with this Castrol euro oil.
I switched to the Castrol 0w40 in December. I bought it because it was on sale, they didn't have 0w30, and my car burns too much Castrol 5w40 so I avoid it unless I'm in a bind (and go to the dealer for their fill). We had a chilly November and comparable December. I drive fairly consistently, and it reduced my average winter fuel economy by ~1 mpg on highway trips and 1.5mpg on my commute! That's pretty comparable to Castrol 5w40. My theories, it could be attributed to the high pressure fuel pump on my car (thicker oil film on the follower?), and I have different all season tires this season (not LRR rated, nor was my previous set). Reason I think it's the follower is my trip computer's fuel economy calculator is considerably less accurate with an Xw40 oil in the car --- it worked very accurately with my initial dealer's Valvoline 5w30 MST oil fill and when I use Castrol 0w30.
I've never used Mobil 1 in my VW, and I'm stuck with Castrol as they had the most through and reasonable extended engine warranty program when my manufacturer's warranty was running out...but I couldn't tell the difference in the ML320 aside from only using 1 quart over 15k miles with Castrol 0w30 compared to Mobil 1 using 2 quarts. The 0w40 seems to be consuming less than the 0w30 in my VW.
Originally Posted By: dgcamero
I picked it up at the BoGo sale for my 2.0t FSI GTI...it seems fine, but I get significantly worse fuel economy in cold weather with it than the GC 0w30. I'll probably run it in the warmer months, and the GC 0w30 in the colder months for fuel savings.
What month did you switch from GC to 0W-40? Over the years a number of people on various forums I post on, including here, have complained about losing power switching to GC. I'm wondering how much additional loss with this Castrol euro oil.
I switched to the Castrol 0w40 in December. I bought it because it was on sale, they didn't have 0w30, and my car burns too much Castrol 5w40 so I avoid it unless I'm in a bind (and go to the dealer for their fill). We had a chilly November and comparable December. I drive fairly consistently, and it reduced my average winter fuel economy by ~1 mpg on highway trips and 1.5mpg on my commute! That's pretty comparable to Castrol 5w40. My theories, it could be attributed to the high pressure fuel pump on my car (thicker oil film on the follower?), and I have different all season tires this season (not LRR rated, nor was my previous set). Reason I think it's the follower is my trip computer's fuel economy calculator is considerably less accurate with an Xw40 oil in the car --- it worked very accurately with my initial dealer's Valvoline 5w30 MST oil fill and when I use Castrol 0w30.
I've never used Mobil 1 in my VW, and I'm stuck with Castrol as they had the most through and reasonable extended engine warranty program when my manufacturer's warranty was running out...but I couldn't tell the difference in the ML320 aside from only using 1 quart over 15k miles with Castrol 0w30 compared to Mobil 1 using 2 quarts. The 0w40 seems to be consuming less than the 0w30 in my VW.
So you are comparing two different winters with two different sets of tires and using the car's trip computer?
I'm running 0w40 in my LGT and GC in the forester now. Was on PU 10w-30 on the LGT, but the castrol is a touch smoother/quieter. I might have to pick up some more.
GC is not as easy to source for me. Have a few oci's on hand for the forester though. Have been PP/PU fan for while but research here pushed me to try GC and BC for while at least. BOGO and sales at AAP helped some too.
GC is not as easy to source for me. Have a few oci's on hand for the forester though. Have been PP/PU fan for while but research here pushed me to try GC and BC for while at least. BOGO and sales at AAP helped some too.
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edyvw
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Originally Posted By: 05LGTLtd
I'm running 0w40 in my LGT and GC in the forester now. Was on PU 10w-30 on the LGT, but the castrol is a touch smoother/quieter. I might have to pick up some more.
GC is not as easy to source for me. Have a few oci's on hand for the forester though. Have been PP/PU fan for while but research here pushed me to try GC and BC for while at least. BOGO and sales at AAP helped some too.
I thought Forester is calling for thinner W30 oils?
Do you get worse MPG with GC?
I'm running 0w40 in my LGT and GC in the forester now. Was on PU 10w-30 on the LGT, but the castrol is a touch smoother/quieter. I might have to pick up some more.
GC is not as easy to source for me. Have a few oci's on hand for the forester though. Have been PP/PU fan for while but research here pushed me to try GC and BC for while at least. BOGO and sales at AAP helped some too.
I thought Forester is calling for thinner W30 oils?
Do you get worse MPG with GC?
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