VW CC! What oil to use?

[edyvw]

Originally Posted By: skyship
The marketing folks for Castrol in the US were responsible for the confusion, because they were making HC synthetics when Liqui Moly and Amsoil started producing full synthetic oils and obviously they wanted to describe their HC oils in the same way as the competition, so they filed a law suit to allow them to define their HC oils as full synthetics in the US. Castrol is owned by BP, so the UK just rubber stamped the US approval. Oddly enough Mobil contested the law suit in the US, when their EP oils were group 3, but I presume it was because they wanted to change to a group 4 base stock.

WIKI extract:
Controversy

In 2006, the results of a gas chromatography test on Mobil 1 5w-30 EP were posted by an industry expert on the popular motor oil discussion website BITOG. It showed the oil to be primarily composed of a less expensive, Group III processed mineral oil. Until this time, Mobil 1 was believed to be a true synthetic, utilizing a Group IV (PAO) basestock. The release of this information has led to a backlash against ExxonMobil's lubricant products in many automotive communities. Ironically, in 1999, Mobil fought Castrol's change in formulation to a Group III basestock in motor oils being marketed as fully synthetic. Mobil claimed that Castrol was decieving their customer base, while degrading their products. The National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus eventually ruled that Castrol could continue to market their Syntec line as a fully synthetic motor oil. ExxonMobil currently refuses to comment on the primary basestock of their Mobil 1 series of oils. This has only added further confusion over the exact definition of the term "synthetic oil."



Whatever is, one thing I know. With Castrol 5W40 after 4,000 miles I had valve train noise. When I started to use Castrol 0W30 GC, I never experienced that noise and I changed oil every 7-8000 miles in passat 1.8T.

 

[Hessam]

Originally Posted By: skyship
The BMW forum chaps averaged out their UOA's and found that in wear metal terms for a reasonable rather than extended OCI, Castrol GTX 5/30 (Part synthetic) beat Mobil 1 0/40, Edge 5/40 beat both of them although only by a small margin, so it was nothing to do with 30 vs 40, or 0 vs 5W. For some odd reason they didn't publish the LM Synthoil results, as it's a better oil than GTX and might have beat Edge.

Originally Posted By: edyvw
Originally Posted By: skyship





Are you talking about Syntec Synblen 5W-30? There is no GTX 5W-30 (part synthetic) in the USA (correct?)

 

[edyvw]

OK guys, so here are expiriences so far with Mobil1 (IMO).
While I did not have any particular issues with GC, I decided to switch to M1 0W40. Reason for that is the "weight," availability and up to date approvals.
However, since I have owned Passat 1.8T, I was very happy with GC in that application. I know 2.0T is harder on oil, so i was thinking between M1, GC or maybe going on internet and buying Motul X-Cess or X-Clean.
Anyway, growing up in Souther Alps, I always liked oils with great pumpability performances in winter months, and that is where M1 dissapointed me!
When I was using GC in 1.8T engine, I have never heard "rattling" sound in the morning, regardless how cold (yeah, I live in Alabama, but I drive long distances: Chicago, Detroit, Pittsburgh). When I used PU 5W40 "rattling" sound was there.
When I used GC in CC, I have never expirienced "rattling" sound, however, with M1 it is there when temperature drops below 60!
That lasts 1-2 seconds and then it is gone. During the day, if I keep car turned off for 4-5hrs, sound is there again. If I start car withing 2-3 hrs, sound is not there.
Other then that, no issues at all with M1.
Considerig that winter is coming, and I am moving to CA and I liek to ski, GC is back in CC!
For summer months, probably I will go with Motul X-clean or X-Cess or even again with M1. But during winter, good ole GC is my choice!