Group IV Castrol?

[OptOut]

So I just switched out my truck from Pennzoil Platinum 5w30 to Castrol Edge Fluid Titanium Technology in 0w-40 (black bottle, "formerly syntec" on the back, made in germany)
is this oil PAO/Group IV, so called III+, or what. I'm just getting into the science of oil so pardon my ignorance.

 

[Quattro Pete]

It's definitely not group VII, that much we know for sure.

 

[Atesz792]

VII usually stands for Viscosity Index Improver.

 

[SZR48207]

Seems like most mass market synthetics are group 3. PAO and Esters seem to command a price point that doesn't appeal to most consumers.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: Reddy45
Seems like most mass market synthetics are group 3. PAO and Esters seem to command a price point that doesn't appeal to most consumers.

But based on its pour point, I'd guess there is a decent amount of PAO in there.

Not that I think that PAO is some kind of a miracle ingredient or anything...

 

[Bryanccfshr]

It passes BMW LL-01 and its n20 turbo sequence test. That's what matters to me.

 

[FCD]

PAO is a good compromise in terms of price and performance, better than Grp III and slightly more expensive , Grp V oils are still too expensive and are hardly needed except for hardcore racing engines

 

[artificialist]

Originally Posted By: Reddy45
Seems like most mass market synthetics are group 3. PAO and Esters seem to command a price point that doesn't appeal to most consumers.

That is true, however, many oils that meet European auto maker specifications and are made in Europe have mostly PAO. Also, Group III oils can't be called synthetic in Europe, only Group IV and V oils can. Therefore if the Castrol 0w40 sold in Europe as a full synthetic and is identical to the one sold in the USA, it would have to have PAO.

Castrol 0w40 meets VW 502, VW 505, BMW LL-01, and a few Benz specifications, so it would fall into that category.

 

[bbhero]

I believe it has at least 50% of PAO in it and maybe up to 75%. At least per msds last time I looked earlier this year. Just checked and that appears to be right. Greater than 50% and less than 75%. Castrol 0w40 and 0w30 are stout oils.

 

[Trav]

Its is Made in Germany so its a good bet it comes from the same production as their domestic product.
It is listed there as a full synthetic which by legal definition eliminates it from being a group III it has to be PAO based but that from what I read wouldn't be very good at cleaning on its own so its probably a blend of group IV and V ester, basically your true synthetic.
The newer 0w30 sold in the US is no where near the same as the German 0w30, check out the German domestic products, the 0w30 in a different class spec wise.

http://www.castrol.com/de_de/germany/car...ge-motorol.html

 

[Trav]

Originally Posted By: artificialist
Group III oils can't be called synthetic in Europe, only Group IV and V oils can.


Only in Germany the rest of Europe does not have a legal definition AFAIK.

 

[bbhero]

That says the German 0w30 is API SN.... and Dexos 2 approved. Which is fine but not the same as the Belgian 0w30 that is API SL approved, MB 229.5,BMW LL-01 etc. We get the Belgian 0w30 here if you can actually find it.

 

[SR5]

Last time I checked the 0W-40 and 10W-60 were PAO Group 4 based. The 5w30 and 5W-40 were Group 3 based. But this can all change with a reformulation.

But more importantly, Happ Birthday BBHero !!!

 

[bbhero]

Thank you Captain always good to see you on here my friend.

 

[bobbydavro]

Originally Posted By: FordCapriDriver
PAO is a good compromise in terms of price and performance, better than Grp III and slightly more expensive , Grp V oils are still too expensive and are hardly needed except for hardcore racing engines


No oils are all ester. Oils that sound like there are, are not. They are simply ester containing with clever marketing to make them sound even better (Not that 100% ester is actually beneficial to an engine)

 

[UltrafanUK]

If it says Synthoil on the can it must be a genuine full synthetic (A group 4). The only other base stock that is as good as a G4 Synthoil is a GTL (Gas to Liquids) group 3 oil like Shell Ultra (Penn in the USA).
Group 5 oils don't mix with other oils too well and are only used for race cars as far as I'm aware.

Make sure you do not use a DPF rated (C2 or C3) version of Edge unless you have to. They are bad news in comparison with an Acea A3/B4 oil.

 

[neo3]

Originally Posted By: UltrafanUK
If it says Synthoil on the can it must be a genuine full synthetic (A group 4). The only other base stock that is as good as a G4 Synthoil is a GTL (Gas to Liquids) group 3 oil like Shell Ultra (Penn in the USA).
Group 5 oils don't mix with other oils too well and are only used for race cars as far as I'm aware.

Make sure you do not use a DPF rated (C2 or C3) version of Edge unless you have to. They are bad news in comparison with an Acea A3/B4 oil.


No it does not say "synthoil". It does say "not for sale outside the Americas".

Why is C2 or C3 "bad news"?

 

[fdcg27]

My guess, and it's no more than that, is that the old 0w30 Syntec must be a mostly Grp IV oil given the specs it carries and the certs it meets with only a very rudimentary add pack.
The same might not be true of the current 0W-40 product.

 

[MobilinHyundia]

Originally Posted By: Trav
Its is Made in Germany so its a good bet it comes from the same production as their domestic product.
It is listed there as a full synthetic which by legal definition eliminates it from being a group III it has to be PAO based but that from what I read wouldn't be very good at cleaning on its own so its probably a blend of group IV and V ester, basically your true synthetic.
The newer 0w30 sold in the US is no where near the same as the German 0w30, check out the German domestic products, the 0w30 in a different class spec wise.

http://www.castrol.com/de_de/germany/car...ge-motorol.html


Wunderbar

 

[edyvw]

Same oil (same formula) in Germany is sold as full synthetic, so it has to be at least 50% PAO> Also, based on pour point that thing has decent % of esters or Group V.
So it is not Group III+. That would be GTL.