Gulf Competition 0w30

[dparm]

I came across their 0w30 and it has peaked my interest. Specs below:

KV @ 100C = 9.6
KV @ 40C = 53.8
VI = 164
CCP = 6020cP @ -35C
Flash = >200C
Pour = -36C
TBN = 9.2


The PDS also says:
(no formal specifications can be claimed, but these oils contain performance additives designed to achieve ACEA A3/B4 and API SL/CF)

The website says something similar:
All the oils incorporate a top-of-the-range additive system which, in other products, attains the high international specifications such as ACEA A3/B4 and API SL/CF.



Not entirely certain why they call it "Competition" when the formula meets or exceeds ACEA & API specs. In fact, the HTHS is likely 3.5 or better since it's meeting ACEA A3. The low KV with high HTHS must mean they've got a really good basestock. They claim this is an ester-based oil. Also leads me to believe the ZDDP levels are not crazy high.

Also available as 5w40, 10w40, 15w50, and 10w60 (aka BMW M motor oil). They make some stout gear oils too (high VIs).

I've got an email in to them hoping to get some more info such as NOACK & HTHS, as well as a more definitive answer on basestock content. If anyone has any experience with this product, please post in this thread.

 

[JHZR2]

And where are you supposed to find these?

 

[dparm]

Not sure if they're available in the US. Easy to get in Europe.

 

[CATERHAM]

They had a booth at the Cdn F1 GP in Montreal and I of course checked them out.
There Cdn distributor is as follows:

http://www.profilecanada.com/companydetail.cfm?company=2586961_Teklub_Distribution_Inc_Quebec_QC

Very interesting oils but very expensive.
Depending on the grade they were $13 to $18 per litre.

 

[dparm]

Sent a follow-up email to Gulf USA to find out if there are any US distributors.

 

[rshunter]

Originally Posted By: dparm
Sent a follow-up email to Gulf USA to find out if there are any US distributors.

The only problem is that the Gulf companies in question have no relation to each other. The Gulf Oil we know in the U.S. is a subsidiary of the Cumberland Farms convenience store chain. Gulf Oil International, which is the company behind the product you're interested in, is owned by a UK organization.

You'll need to contact Gulf Oil International to see if they have a distributor who is willing to ship the stuff into the U.S. market. It'll probably be difficult to find anything official, though, as there are no doubt concerns regarding trademark infringement. If you can find a retailer who sells it online, I'd say that they would be your best bet.

 

[dparm]

Thanks for the info. I've sent messages to Gulf USA, Gulf Canada, and Gulf International. I have a friend that routinely goes to Canada so maybe he can pick up a case for me.

 

[rshunter]

Originally Posted By: dparm
Thanks for the info. I've sent messages to Gulf USA, Gulf Canada, and Gulf International. I have a friend that routinely goes to Canada so maybe he can pick up a case for me.

I'm not sure what the current situation is with Gulf Canada. I know their operations were bought by Conoco-Phillips several years ago, though. You've got my curiosity going, so I'll see what I can dig up.

Okay, it looks like the Gulf presence in Canada is through an importer-distributor of GOI products. Apparently their primary markets are Montreal, Quebec, Toronto and Vancouver. Their contact info is:

Company: Teklub Distribution Inc

Main Contact: +1514 321 3953

Email CEO: [email protected]

Website Address: www.gulfoil.ca

 

[dparm]

Gulf USA sent me the contact info for a distributor near me. I'll call him in a while.

Gulf Canada sent me information for the closest Canadian distributor. They said Competition products are not widely distributed and that "due to manufacturer restriction, Gulf Canadian range of products are not for sale in the USA."

 

[ffracer]

This product is made by Gulf International (UK) and is named as "Competition" because they have sponsored LeMans cars.

It likely has no license by either Gulf US (Cumberland) or Gulf Canada.

 

[pennzoil_guru]

Correct me if I am wrong but I thought Gulf Canada was merged into Petro Canada as was Fina when PC was formed as a crown corporation in the late 1970s

 

[CATERHAM]

Originally Posted By: pennzoil_guru
Correct me if I am wrong but I thought Gulf Canada was merged into Petro Canada as was Fina when PC was formed as a crown corporation in the late 1970s

You're right.
TEKLUB Distribution Inc out of Montreal is the Canadian importer of Gulf Oil International products.
Jean-Marc Alcaraz, their general manager, I met in Montreal last year at the Cdn GP. Problem is their oils are very expensive, limited grade selection and grade on grade nothing we can't source for half the price from the likes of Red Line or Motul to name just two .

 

[dparm]

Response from Gulf Canada:


A case of the 0w30 Competition is 272.10 and includes 10 1L containers. Price per L is $27.21

Alternately a case of 5L 0W30 Competition is $454.72 and includes 4 5L containers. Price per L is $22.74



Prices include tax/shipping. That works out to $281 USD, or $28/L...ouch. That's twice what I pay for Motul 300V. Gulf USA is going to call me in a bit with pricing.

 

[CATERHAM]

Told ya!

 

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted By: dparm
Response from Gulf Canada:


A case of the 0w30 Competition is 272.10 and includes 10 1L containers. Price per L is $27.21

Alternately a case of 5L 0W30 Competition is $454.72 and includes 4 5L containers. Price per L is $22.74



Prices include tax/shipping. That works out to $281 USD, or $28/L...ouch. That's twice what I pay for Motul 300V. Gulf USA is going to call me in a bit with pricing.


OUCH indeedy!!!! (I would just stick with the 300V

)

 

[dparm]

As a followup, I plugged this in to my "shear resistance" calculator and it achieved a score of 1.0881, which actually surpasses every other Xw30 I've ever seen, including Redline 5w30.

That assumes the HTHS is exactly 3.5. Gulf says it is designed to achieve ACEA A3/B4 and API SL/CF though they can't formally say it's approved.


For reference, the shear resistance of other Xw30s:

Motul 300V 5w30: 0.9882
GC 0w30: 0.9275
RLI 0w30: 0.9490
Redline 5w30: 1.0785
Motul 8100 X-lite 0w30: 0.9051


Now I REALLY want to try this stuff!

 

[A_Harman]

That's an amazing value for a 0w30. I take the HTHS/DV150 ratio with a grain of salt if the value goes above 1.0, and chalk it up to to the uncertainty of the density adjustment. But anything over .95 I think is pretty robust.

 

[dparm]

I had to estimate the Redline 5w30 density. Their tech is going to get back to me with it, so the shear resistance might change slightly. It's amazing to see the GC shear resistance so high for an off-the-shelf oil.

What's weird is that the other grades of the Gulf Competition are not even close on shear resistance. The 5w40 is like 0.75 or something. Makes me wonder if that shear resistance formula is valid.

 

[Quattro Pete]

HT/HS of 3.5 out of such thin 0w30 grade? That would be a first, if it in fact were proven to be true.

 

[dparm]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
HT/HS of 3.5 out of such thin 0w30 grade? That would be a first, if it in fact were proven to be true.



Agreed. But they say its additives meet A3/B4 so that points to HTHS >= 3.5.

BTW, Redline just replied with the density of their 5w30. It's higher than I expected so its shear resistance is actually 1.0425. That's still phenomenal.