Havoline or Castrol GTX

[James408]

I am looking for experiences with Havoline and Castrol GTX. I am still debating on what oil to use in my street/strip 69' Firebird with a modified 400. I have gotten alot of post for a hdeo 15w40 which I am using royal purple 15w40.
I have been learing alot from this forum on numbers for VI, Flash, Pour, etc... Living in south Texas I am still considering going back to a dino 20w50. I just don't get that warm fuzy feeling with the 15w40. I guess I worry mostly about hard use and fuel dilution.

On paper the numbers for Havoline dino 20w50 seem better than alot of oils out there including Valvoline, Castrol and Royal Purple. Where I live, alot of racers will not use it because they think it is a junk oil and causes sludge. They usually opt for valvoline or castrol gtx. The ironic thing is that the mechanic that helped me build my 400 suggested Havoline 20w50 but I thought he was crazy. After looking at the numbers on Havoline, maybe he wasn't. I have bought a bottle of the 20w50 Castrol GTX with the new SM rating and a bottle of the Havoline. Upon touch the Castrol seems more slippery than the Havoline. If I do decide to go back to the heavier stuff which brand would be better? Any opinions? I will not use the Valvoline VR1 20w50, it fouls my spark plugs and it is like honey.

 

[dustyjoe1]

at the risk of sounding goofy, Use the bugs bunny method. "push buttons" (trial and error method). Those are all good oils, Just a question what your baby likes best. I noticed the slippery thing with castrol, not sure what that is about, Maybe they put soap in it who knows, I've had good luck with the havoline in most of my vehicles, the exception being my pennzoil loving honda. No better way to see which is best than actual use. fwiw

 

[fuel tanker man]

Havoline, for sure...

UOA's here show Havoline well ahead of Castrol as far as wear metals go.

And the Havoline 20W50 will remain SL rated for a while now, so it'll have more zddp...

Dan

 

[Mr Nice]

Havoline for sure, it is the best low cost - high quality dino oil. Castrol GTX is one of the most expensive dino oils on the market.

 

[DR Racing]

quote:

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Castrol GTX is one of the most expensive dino oils on the market.

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Yes true and all you get for the extra money is the right to see all there adds. Dan

 

[mikemc]

I am sold on Havoline for a passenger car dino oil.

 

[buster]

Havoline is probably one of, if not the best, low cost dino oil out their. Their synthetics look good on paper, but not enough UOA's.

 

[haley10]

James, I'm not going to get into the Castrol vs. Havoline thing, but I question your wisdom of abandoning the HDEO 15w40????

 

[James408]

Haley, old habits are hard to break. It also seems that most, not all, pontiac people prefer the heavier weight oil in these old tech v8's. I just have not had enough experience I guess with the 15w40's. The Havoline 20w50 shows a pour number of -20 and a flash of 496. To me, this oil shoul flow good in a south Texas winter and protect in a south Texas summer.

 

[James408]

Another consideration with my 4.10 gears buzzing the motor at a constant 3000 to 3500 rpm down the highway. Would this constitute using the 20w50 over the 15w40?

 

[Triple_Se7en]

Until I started reading BITOG posts, I basically only used Kendall, Castrol and Havoline. I like both oils you mention real well - but if I had to choose just one... well.... "ALL" my vehicles in the past 38 years seemed to use less Castrol than Havoline between OCIs.... even used less Kendall than Havoline. I've owned a variety too... from Chevettes to full size vans, SUVs, Cudas... etc. Now keep in mind, I'm not bashing (Chevron products) Havoline. I presently am using a Chevron mix of Havoline & Delo 400 in our three used household vehicles.

You can't go wrong with either one. They all seem to clean about the same too (average)!

[ May 12, 2005, 03:00 PM: Message edited by: Triple_Se7en ]

 

[fuel tanker man]

Of course judging any/all oil brands across a spectrum of 38 years is subjective at best--things change...

Dan

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

Havoline 20w-50 no doubt is a good oil. If you're racing, check out Patman's UOA's on his Vette. This UOA is with 14 - 1/4 mile runs:
http://theoildrop.server101.com/cgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=002322#000000

I'm going to suggest not even using any dino, use GC instead. Grab a UOA or two of GC in your car and impress all your friends with the incredibly low-wear rates GC offers!

Since GC is almost a 40wt oil, you don't have to worry about it being too thin for older cars.

 

[James408]

What the heck is GC????

 

[dkryan]

Oh, God help us! You had to ask!

 

[AndyH]

quote:

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Originally posted by James408:
What the heck is GC????

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"GC" = Castrol Syntec 0w30 "Made in Germany". Here's an entire forum devoted to the magical green elixer:
http://theoildrop.server101.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=forum;f=51