I know there are many of you who love "GC". But I was wondering about the "other" Castrol oils. Mainly their 5w-40? I know it's not "GC". But for reasonable OCI's??? How does it compare as a synthetic? Obviously a different oil compared to Mobil 1 T&Suv oil. Seems everyone talks about Mobil 1 as "The" oil. Are Castrol products not rated as highly as Mobil's? Or does Mobil have a better marketing plan? I don't understand this as when I visit a local AZ store... the selection is pretty much Mobil or Castrol as far as synth oil concerned.
How come no one talks about Castrol 5w-40?
- Thread starter JGmazda
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I'm on a run with Castrol Syntec 10W-40 in one of my cars. I want to use it to about 5k miles and do a UOA on it. I'm using the 10W- because where I live and drive I don't actually 'need' the 5W-.
However, at some point I might try one of the 5Ws.
The reason I'm not drawn to Mobil 1 is that it is at the thinner edge of whatever viscosity it comes in. I'm not of the 'thinner is better' crowd.
Also, I want nothing less than A3/B3 in my cars.
However, at some point I might try one of the 5Ws.
The reason I'm not drawn to Mobil 1 is that it is at the thinner edge of whatever viscosity it comes in. I'm not of the 'thinner is better' crowd.
Also, I want nothing less than A3/B3 in my cars.
AutoZone in my area stocks the Castrol Syntec 5w-40 (also known as "Belgian" Castrol as it's made there).
JGmazda: Do some searches on this forum and also on the "GC & Euro/Import Oils" forum for "BC", "Belgian Castrol", etc. You'll turn up some previous discussions you may or may not have read yet.
JGmazda: Do some searches on this forum and also on the "GC & Euro/Import Oils" forum for "BC", "Belgian Castrol", etc. You'll turn up some previous discussions you may or may not have read yet.
Pity the plight of brown BC
Living in the shadow of The Green.
No Elvish ones to give notoriety
From day 1 its fortunes have been lean.
So it probably has not received its "due"
Robbed of the respect that it deserves.
And its public followers are few
So it ends up on a shelf with plum preserves
Living in the shadow of The Green.
No Elvish ones to give notoriety
From day 1 its fortunes have been lean.
So it probably has not received its "due"
Robbed of the respect that it deserves.
And its public followers are few
So it ends up on a shelf with plum preserves
Krholm- Thanks. I'm using GC now. Seems to be doing well and my car (94' Miata) does not "Hot tick" with the lifters like it did on Mobil 1 10w-30. For some reason, Mobil was too "thin" for me. I did not get good oil pressure with it. It was alarming after coming off the highway in the Phoenix heat.
Funny that I would try a 0w weight oil like GC in the Phoenix area. Guy at AZ looked at me like- "Where you putting that oil son?" I want to use a Synthetic. And I'm not convinced Mobil 1 is the best choice based on the seat-of-my-pants observation. Loud and seems thin.
GC has been much better... but I can't get over the fact that my car calls for a 10w. Even 20w if you go by the first few years before CAFE.
I still do 3,000 mile OCI's. So? Maybe I'll give Castol 10w-40 a shot. Thanks.
Funny that I would try a 0w weight oil like GC in the Phoenix area. Guy at AZ looked at me like- "Where you putting that oil son?" I want to use a Synthetic. And I'm not convinced Mobil 1 is the best choice based on the seat-of-my-pants observation. Loud and seems thin.
GC has been much better... but I can't get over the fact that my car calls for a 10w. Even 20w if you go by the first few years before CAFE.
I still do 3,000 mile OCI's. So? Maybe I'll give Castol 10w-40 a shot. Thanks.
I'd take either 10w-40 or 5w-50 over Belgian Syntec 5w-40...no logical reason, just probally a better formulation.
BC has been discussed many times.
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Because no one uses it. There are proven, and more available, 5w-40 oils out there that are cheaper. Being a 5w-40 also eliminates 60% of the users out there ..and those either opt for M1 TSUV ..or go for the exotic (more exotic) stuff ..or maybe a dino all together. I doubt that it's as good as T&SUV ..given the weak kneed TBN retention of GC
(cough)I've used it(cough)
And if you want to talk to someone else who has, just ask any 2005 or newer Audi owner who goes to the dealership for free schedualed maintanence.
Local VW/Audi dealers sell it @ $5 per qt...thats cheaper than WM or AZ.
AutoZone has the Castrol 5W40. I think it is a combination of factors. The fact that it is not 100% synthetic, the fact that it was late to the 5W40 table, the fact that their additive package is kind of weak, the fact that we have not seen any or few UOA on it etc..............
We have a lot of UOA on Delvac-1 which many belive is simalar to TSUV 5W40. THen you have the fact that Walmart carries TSUV almost everywhere.
I think that one thing that hurt's Castrol is the few UOA we have!The only products that seem to do really well are the 5W50 and the GC 0W30 at least from my feable memory. THe rest of the Syntec line up seem to do ok but nothing to write home about. Then you have the whole cost versus performance issue. The GC was 100% synthetic and worth it's price. THe rest of their line up is a hoge poge of different base oils both synthetic and dino.
We have a lot of UOA on Delvac-1 which many belive is simalar to TSUV 5W40. THen you have the fact that Walmart carries TSUV almost everywhere.
I think that one thing that hurt's Castrol is the few UOA we have!The only products that seem to do really well are the 5W50 and the GC 0W30 at least from my feable memory. THe rest of the Syntec line up seem to do ok but nothing to write home about. Then you have the whole cost versus performance issue. The GC was 100% synthetic and worth it's price. THe rest of their line up is a hoge poge of different base oils both synthetic and dino.
Well...that makes sense to me... I'm no expert but I am leaning toward a thicker oil for my climate and Car. Mobil T&Suv??? I have read up on it and don't think it would hurt my 11 year old car. But it seems formulated more for diesels. Can any of you think of a reason not to use it in a 1.8 gas engine?
Thanks for all you comments.
Thanks for all you comments.
Maybe possible "butt dyno" lag due to the thickness of Mobil T&S.
M1 T&S is what I use in my 01 Audi TT 225 QR. It works great. The car runs smooth as silk and I know it is getting good protection. Others that I know have read up on it and it is a diesel oil. Delvac 1 to be precise. So, the cleaning properties are excellent. IMHO.
Common John, just like Redline is 100% Group V synthetic, Syntec is 100% Group III synthetic...or abbreviated...100% synthetic
I'd be willing to put it up against M-1 5-30, 10-30 or even their 0-40 any day.
That said, I've used it and it works well. However, due to the 220k mi. in my BMW I'm currently back to their 5-50.
Interestingly enough, I'd love to know how it performs vs. BMW's 5-30 as I'm in the process of purchasing a brand new BMW 3.0 X3 and would hate it to suffer the same fate as my current BMW (and others we've seen here) with their 5-30.
I'd be willing to put it up against M-1 5-30, 10-30 or even their 0-40 any day.
That said, I've used it and it works well. However, due to the 220k mi. in my BMW I'm currently back to their 5-50.
Interestingly enough, I'd love to know how it performs vs. BMW's 5-30 as I'm in the process of purchasing a brand new BMW 3.0 X3 and would hate it to suffer the same fate as my current BMW (and others we've seen here) with their 5-30.
JGMazda wrote:
"Krholm- Thanks. I'm using GC now. Seems to be doing well and my car (94' Miata) does not "Hot tick" with the lifters like it did on Mobil 1 10w-30. For some reason, Mobil was too "thin" for me. I did not get good oil pressure with it. It was alarming after coming off the highway in the Phoenix heat."
Hmm, my '99 Miata stopped ticking at start-up when I switched to M1 10W30 and appears to really like the stuff. Can't tell what the pressure is since the NB models have "idiot lamp" type gauges rather than true gauges as the NA types do. It only did it for a few seconds at start-up and only when hot.
"Krholm- Thanks. I'm using GC now. Seems to be doing well and my car (94' Miata) does not "Hot tick" with the lifters like it did on Mobil 1 10w-30. For some reason, Mobil was too "thin" for me. I did not get good oil pressure with it. It was alarming after coming off the highway in the Phoenix heat."
Hmm, my '99 Miata stopped ticking at start-up when I switched to M1 10W30 and appears to really like the stuff. Can't tell what the pressure is since the NB models have "idiot lamp" type gauges rather than true gauges as the NA types do. It only did it for a few seconds at start-up and only when hot.
Shell has 5w40 covered with their $13/gal. Rotella syn.
I never seen 5W-40 Castrol.
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I know a bunch of guys who use Castrol 5W-40 in their normally aspiated Audi 2.8 V6 12 valve engines. Most of them report greatly reduced oil consumption.
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