Kendall vs Castrol GTX

[MacLeod]

Greetings all! My first post here. I did a search and coulndt find much of anything on Kendall oil ANYWHERE on the internet so I figure Ill just ask.

I just bought a 2007 Honda Accord 2.4 liter and will be getting the service done at my Honda dealer's Express Service. $22, Honda technicians and a free car wash. Cant beat that.

My only grumble is that they use Kendall synthetic blend. I dont know much about Kendall but always considered them lower quality oils.

Im a long time Mobil 1 user but I have yet to keep a car longer than 5 years and no longer see the benefit in paying $50 for an oil change for long term protection and then not keeping the car long term! So I decided to go with a high quality conventional oil and from all the research Ive done, Castrol GTX appears to be about the best.

My question is, am I totally wrong about Kendall and is their synth blend pretty good stuff - or would the GTX be a better choice.

My driving habbits are pretty average. Lots of stop and go - no hard accelaration and 3000 miles OIC's. The one severe thing I put my car thru is I attend car audio competitions about twice a month and during the summer my car will ilde with the AC on for about an hour each show while waiting to be judged. I know this is murder on oil and the engine in general but thats why Im wanting to get the best oil I can in there.

 

[Ken E.]

Kendall is fine oil even now that it's part of the Conoco/Phillips family. I would continue to use it in the Honda with no worries especially since you're not going to keep the car long enough to worry about engine longevity in any case.

 

[RacerE7773]

I like Castrol, but now am switching to Pennzoil regular 5w30. I used to use Kendall, but could never find it again, so went through several brands. Cost is on of my reasons for switching.

 

[badtlc]

I know nothing about oil, really, but from what I have seen on this site I am not that impressed with GTX. Kendall has done well and is so cheap. For 3k to 5k OCIs, I'd use it over GTX in a heart beat.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

Kendall is immediate family to Motorcraft oil... very-very similar. Let your vehcicle decide which one it likes. Do two OCIs with each oil brand.

 

[MacLeod]

Thanks for the input guys.

The main thing Ive seen on GTX is the Amsoil test report on their website.

http://www.amsoil.com/performancetests/g1971/index.aspx

Castrol performs very well and outperforms Motorcraft on more than a few tests. The ones that stuck out to me most was the shear test in which only M1 and Amsoil out did it!

I am big time into car audio and manuafacturers tout all kinds of fancy numbers that are kinda pointless. Yeah amp A has .4% distortion and amp B has .04% which is a lot less but it doesnt matter cause you cant hear anything below 2% anyway.

Are these test numbers kinda the same way? Yeah the differences look huge but in real life there wont be a real difference.

 

[troberts]

MacLeod, Houston's four Lexus dealers use Kendall in their bulk tanks. These guys get a lot of money for an oil change and could use most any available "premium" brand. I'm fortunate to be in the business and can have my distributor's rep bring a case to my shop when I need it because as others here have accurately pointed out,it can be hard to find. If your dealer has it, go for it. Am going on a run of PP when the K GT is exhausted but I've had good service with the Kendall.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

Going from memory, I believe those Amsoil tests were using 10W-30.

5W-20 is a completely different animal. If the price is the same, I would use Castrol GTX to start. If it were my Honda, I would go with the Pennzoil yellow bottle first. Read some very good UOAs using it.... mostly on the old forum that may not show up in your search.

 

[Merkava_4]

It use to be, I don't know how it is now, but all the Kawasaki motorcycle shops would use nothing but Kendall.

 

[wileyE]

Quote:

---

Are these test numbers kinda the same way? Yeah the differences look huge but in real life there wont be a real difference.

---

 

[wileyE]

If commute to work in a 4 ball wear machine, or take trips in a lab beaker, then yes, the rank of the numbers do mean a lot. If you drive a car with regular maintenance then they don't mean so much. Just my opinion.

 

[sw99]

Kendall is fine oil. Look at all the people using MC 5w20 in the Hondas. Kendall is close to the same oil. Don't sweat it.

 

[MacLeod]

Thanks for the help.

Ill stick with the Kendall.

Its kinda frustrating not being able to do my own oil changes as I always have but Ive always driven pickups and could crawl under them pretty easy. This thing is so low, I can barely get my arm under there. I live in an apt building with no real place to work so its just not practical for me to do them.

But heck, $22 for a dealer oil/filter change, 39 point inspection AND a free car wash!! It would be hard to beat that even if I did do my own OC's!

Thanks again.