need details on the Mobile/Castrol court case

Status
Not open for further replies.
Joined
Nov 30, 2002
Messages
258
Location
IL
I work at a very large dealership (BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, Infiniti, Honda, Cadillac, Saab)

We use 0w-40 mobil 1 for AMG motors and all porsches. Now, for other mercedes, they get the castrol 5w-40 which is a group III to the best of my knowledge. I told this to the lube rack manager, and he spoke to the shop foreman. they are very interested, and want me to write a kind of "report" about it... Me being kinda young, I need good facts to write a good paper

so, asking for details on--
the court case
Why mobil 1 is superior to group III,
and anything else you can think of!

thx in advance
 
The Castrol 5w40 is from Belgium and very possibly it is full synthetic. It's only the made in USA Syntec which has been the controversial one who switched to group 3 without telling anyone.
 
There was no "court case" or law suit between Mobil and Castrol. This is fast becoming one of those "urban legends." Here are the facts:

Mobil filed a complaint with the National Advertising Division of the Better Business Bureau in the US claiming that Castrol was engaging in false advertising by calling Syntec "full synthetic" since it was now being made with Group III base oil. Castrol was able to present enough "evidence" to convince the NAD that Group III base oil could legitimately be called synthetic, so they rulled in Castrol's favor. This ruling has no "legal" standing. It merely means that as far as the NAD is concerned, an oil company is not falsely advertising an oil as "full synthetic" if that oil is made from Group III base oil.
 
quote:

Originally posted by Patman:
The Castrol 5w40 is from Belgium and very possibly it is full synthetic. It's only the made in USA Syntec which has been the controversial one who switched to group 3 without telling anyone.

Patman, the only 5w40 produced by Castrol in Europe is the GTX7 Dynatec, which is a Group III based oil. The 5w40 Syntec sold here is surely nothing more than relabeled GTX7.
 
quote:

Originally posted by G-Man II:

quote:

Originally posted by Patman:
The Castrol 5w40 is from Belgium and very possibly it is full synthetic. It's only the made in USA Syntec which has been the controversial one who switched to group 3 without telling anyone.

Patman, the only 5w40 produced by Castrol in Europe is the GTX7 Dynatec, which is a Group III based oil. The 5w40 Syntec sold here is surely nothing more than relabeled GTX7.


Are you sure about that? Dr.T reported that there is a BMW dealer in Oakville Ontario which sells 5w40 Castrol and it says made in Belgium on it and I assumed it was a full synthetic.

[ October 03, 2003, 08:56 AM: Message edited by: Patman ]
 
Well Patman, guess the only way to settle this one is to buy a bottle and do the gummy-bear smell test!!!
grin.gif
 
I don't have any experience with the 5-40 (but I'll probably end up buying a bottle after this)...however, Syntec (to me) smells like "Tide" laundry detergent. The Castrol TWS 10-60 smells more kinda like Mobil 1 (Elmer's glue) but a little more sweater (esters?).

A friend of mine recently brought in Syntec 20-50 from Connecticut, and I could tell off the bat that it was Group III as it smelled similar to the other Syntec grades. The GC 0-30 does not smell like the other grades of Syntec either...but, it is sweet smelling. I just assumed it was PAO since that was the reply I got from Castrol...will need to reanalyze...
 
For the MB diesels, I'm quite sure that any brand of 5W40, API CI-4 group whatever will do just fine.
For the others, have a selection and let the owners deciede which one they want in their cars.

For PAO engine oils, I like Esso/Exxon's XD-3 0W40 because they are cheap and meet all the warranty requirements of anything I'll ever own.
As far as group IIIs are concerned, the other day I found a 5 gallon pail of Chevron Delo 400 5W40, un-opened in my parts storage van.
I'm happy. The engines are happy.
Who cares what group the oil is manufactured from if the engines don't care?
Gawd, this group III/PAO thing is getting old in a hurry.
 
quote:

Originally posted by userfriendly:
For the MB diesels, I'm quite sure that any brand of 5W40, API CI-4 group whatever will do just fine.
For the others, have a selection and let the owners deciede which one they want in their cars.

For PAO engine oils, I like Esso/Exxon's XD-3 0W40 because they are cheap and meet all the warranty requirements of anything I'll ever own.
As far as group IIIs are concerned, the other day I found a 5 gallon pail of Chevron Delo 400 5W40, un-opened in my parts storage van.
I'm happy. The engines are happy.
Who cares what group the oil is manufactured from if the engines don't care?
Gawd, this group III/PAO thing is getting old in a hurry.


You need to sneak up on your garage one night and listen to what you engines are saying...you MIGHT be surprised...maybe they do care! Remember the ad banner on this very board, "Your engine is talking. Are you listening?"
grin.gif
 
quote:

Originally posted by userfriendly:

Gawd, this group III/PAO thing is getting old in a hurry.


Hehehe, Try to put castrol syntec up to the test that 3MP just put Mobil1 through. I don't think it would've made it to the 12,000 mile mark for a new filter. Unsuspecting public that assumes PAO & ends up with group III oils may also get old in a hurry - their engines anyway as they try to do the extended drains. Not to metion, you are still paying for a group IV or V oil and getting a group III.

How would you like to pay for a Lincoln & get a Ford Escort with a Lincoln name plate?
 
ive used the belgian made 5-40... colored like normal oil, and definetly smelled like it... I think its not a full synth.....

does anyone have a link to give a THOROUGH explanation of all the 5 groups of oil?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top