I was paroozing though the local Canadian Tire and noticed a Syntec grade I havent seen before, its 5w-40. I grabbed it and looked at the specs, and what'd you know... it meets LongLife 98, A3 etc.. and its made in Belguim. Has anyone seen/used this before?
whats the deal with Belgian Castrol 5w-40?
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It sounds like the magic/secret stuff only sold at VW dealers. It would be good news if it is now going to be offered through retail distribution channels.
I'm not so hot for it. Seems like a garden-variety A3/LL'98 oil. I gave my last case to a friend for his R32 VR/6. I can pull a UOA at 8000 miles if I call him before he swaps in the GC I gave him.
I'm not certain, but I suspect Belgian 5W40 may be Castrol GTX7 Dynatec a hydrocracked oil. It's not bad but it's no SLX. Specs are: Castrol GTX7 DYNATEC · SAE 5W-40 · Exceeds API SL/CF · ACEA A3/B3/B4 · VW-Normen 502 00 / 505 00 · BMW LongLife-98 · MB 229.3 · Porsche Approved
It looks like Syntec 5W-40 has replaced Syntec 10W-40 in Canada. What can Syntec 10W-40 do that Syntec 5W-40 can't do better?
Castrol Canada web site: Castrol Syntec grades
Castrol Syntec 5W-40 tech data sheet: web page
[ October 14, 2004, 02:02 AM: Message edited by: Sin City ]
Castrol Canada web site: Castrol Syntec grades
Castrol Syntec 5W-40 tech data sheet: web page
[ October 14, 2004, 02:02 AM: Message edited by: Sin City ]
I found a new tech data sheet that Castrol has put on their web site to replace the old out of date tech data sheet that I had put above. I have removed the outdated information and replaced it with the link to the current information.
[ October 14, 2004, 02:08 AM: Message edited by: Sin City ]
[ October 14, 2004, 02:08 AM: Message edited by: Sin City ]
Patman
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I have never even seen 10w40 Syntec in Canada before, so us getting the 5w40 here now is something completely new for us. We don't get many 5w40s here, we used to get Havoline 5w40 at Walmart, as well as Delvac 1, but both of those are gone.
Yup, we never got 10w-40 Syntec, nor the 20-50.
I have used the Belgian 5w-40 it this past May-June. As far as I'm concerned, it's the same stuff (same smelling stuff) as the 5-50...only watered down. For $3 more per L, the 5-50 has more cojones/less consumption anyway in my engine...
IMO, I think they're capturing in on the VW spec thing and charging extra for it. Plus, someone must have found out it was "made in Belgium" (either at Castrol or Can Tire) and is capturing the moment too. Guess that was an oversight with GC...or they couldn't wait to get rid of it across the shores
I have used the Belgian 5w-40 it this past May-June. As far as I'm concerned, it's the same stuff (same smelling stuff) as the 5-50...only watered down. For $3 more per L, the 5-50 has more cojones/less consumption anyway in my engine...
IMO, I think they're capturing in on the VW spec thing and charging extra for it. Plus, someone must have found out it was "made in Belgium" (either at Castrol or Can Tire) and is capturing the moment too. Guess that was an oversight with GC...or they couldn't wait to get rid of it across the shores
ahh! good info, thanks everyone... so there is suspicion of this being a hydrocracked oil... that smells the same as the 5w-50. Now I'm not sure about the hydrocracked syntecs, but I'v heard of them performing well, but deteriorating very rapidly leading to sludge and varnish. has anyone heard likewise? Either way, I think I'll stick to GC for winter and XD-3 for summer
I agree with Dr Tquote:
Originally posted by the_oil_dealer:
ahh! good info, thanks everyone... so there is suspicion of this being a hydrocracked oil... that smells the same as the 5w-50. Now I'm not sure about the hydrocracked syntecs, but I'v heard of them performing well, but deteriorating very rapidly leading to sludge and varnish. has anyone heard likewise? Either way, I think I'll stick to GC for winter and XD-3 for summer
sorry, I didn't mean to make opinions (other people's own at that) sound like fact, but this is just what I've heard from more than a few people. Apparently, given varying temps and engine designs that are out there, some say it has a tendancy to become gel, but again, thats just hearsay, so it probably isnt true.
I've used the much maligned Castrol Syntec 10W-30 for 5,000 miles OCIs in my 1996 Volvo 850 with exemplary results. Personally I feel that the mud thrown at hydrocracked oils is 95% emotion, 5% fact based.
Have a look at this UOA as an example:
1996 Volvo 850 Syntec 10W-30 UOA
Also, I have not opened the engine up, but judging from what I can see through the large oil filler cap, there is not significant sludge building up yet in this my > 100,000 mile motor.
John
Have a look at this UOA as an example:
1996 Volvo 850 Syntec 10W-30 UOA
Also, I have not opened the engine up, but judging from what I can see through the large oil filler cap, there is not significant sludge building up yet in this my > 100,000 mile motor.
John
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Dr.T wrote:
Just like Dr. T, I noticed that the Syntec remained clean-looking for at least 6k miles.
As soon as I have 10k miles on the M1 5W-40 that's in the engine right now, I'll pull a valve cover and take a comparison picture of the engine uppers.
Since I used Syntec 5W-50 from the first oil change at 7.5k miles and for about another 100k miles, I'd say the Syntec didn't let the engine get dirty in the first place.
Just like Dr. T, I noticed that the Syntec remained clean-looking for at least 6k miles.
As soon as I have 10k miles on the M1 5W-40 that's in the engine right now, I'll pull a valve cover and take a comparison picture of the engine uppers.
Sin City ,
I have another data sheet for the 5w-40 Syntec that I aquired long before the product appeared on the website . It appears the little bit of Belgium oil I bought is different than the new stuff .
On another note , the VOA I posted linked by Audi Junkie showed much magnesium yet after doping this oil with moly and running it in a drag bike for awhile this summer analysis showed big time calcium plus big magnesium .
These labs have some trouble at times distingushing the two metals since they are proprietory .
I really believe that oil might have been redesigned .
I have another data sheet for the 5w-40 Syntec that I aquired long before the product appeared on the website . It appears the little bit of Belgium oil I bought is different than the new stuff .
On another note , the VOA I posted linked by Audi Junkie showed much magnesium yet after doping this oil with moly and running it in a drag bike for awhile this summer analysis showed big time calcium plus big magnesium .
These labs have some trouble at times distingushing the two metals since they are proprietory .
I really believe that oil might have been redesigned .
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