Why Is Castrol Perceived As A Premium Product?

[ottotheclown]

Michigan and chubby go hand in hand

Originally Posted By: pompadour
"this is so much like a bunch of fat guys talking in a diner or bar."

i would not say i am fat per se. i would accept chubby

 

[pompadour]

too true, but dallas is still chubbier.

 

[HangerHarley]

Originally Posted By: pompadour
too true, but dallas is still chubbier.


n/m

We need to invent a sport. How about Oil Bowling!

 

[Doug Hillary]

Hi, I hope I don’t revisit too much covered ground in this Post.

The Burmah Group’s brand of Castrol lubricants was once “the” almost universal name for the best in automotive lubricants! BP took over Castrol about a decade ago and the world changed forever for the name!

Prior to and immediately after Castrol’s name was synonymous with excellence in automotive lubricant. It was not polluted by being in the fuel supply business

No doubt WW2 had a significant effect on Castrol products due to their German development connections

I have had a unique relationship with Castrol products that dates back to the mid 1950s when I commenced work as an Engineering Cadet with (effectively) BMC. Then Castrol’s Castrolite, XL and XXL and the castor bean based “R” lubricants were judged to be the best available. Some were very good and others were not so good. The first 15W-50 lubricant was introduced by Duckhams especially for the Austin-Morris-BMC Mini – Castrol were “pipped at the post” with this

Castrol R was used in most race cars and motorcycles of that era in the old British Commonwealth and with good reason – they were good and they still are!

Castrolite was a great product too but the popular selling versions (like GTX today) were run of the mill. It soon became obvious to me that better products existed – these were from Shell, Mobil and Caltex to name the biggies! IME certain engine families run on XL and XXL from new were always sludged and internally dirty whilst engines on other Brands were much much cleaner. Later in the 1960s I was to see this with diesel engines too although their 2 cycle diesel lubricants were excellent performers

In 1978 or so I commenced using a new synthetic from Castrol – Formula R 15W-50 – it was castor bean based (similar in some ways to another SLX 0w30 introduced in 1996) and red in colour. It was a very good product. It was superceded/reformulated after a couple of years less the castor content

I worked with Castrol for several years in field testing the new version of that lubricant which is now the BMW 10W-60 (ester) and its (unlike) namesake Castrol RS 10W-60 (PAO) or whatever they call it now! This were and still are great products and probably judged a “world leader” by those in the Euro car racing world at least. Visit the Nurburgring to see their popularity amongst all and sundry!

I worked with Castrol again in the 1980s in the development of a semi synthetic 15w40 HDEO that was later to be named Enduro LD. This lubricant was designed for extended OCIs in NA sourced engines. Other named versions are still sold today – at least one in the US

Castrol’s gear lubricants were always at the forefront of technology. I have had extensive exposure to a number and they are truly excellent products. Some (and their German developed Transmax Z ATF) still are even though they were developed 20 or more years ago (this was confirmed to me by a number of engine/lubricant development Engineers at the Nurburgring in May this year). Sadly since the BP takeover serious development especially with ATFs has not kept pace with reality and some products have been surpassed

Whilst I have no knowledge of the US Castrol range I can confirm that their European range and the Edge products sold here in Australia are excellent performers and great value for money – especially their 0W-40

So to me at least Castrol still signifies a Premium line of lubricants but sadly today you need to know what they are! Price is a good indicator – the more expensive the better product – well, usually!

 

[buster]

Castrol in the USA has without a DOUBT been a very MEDIOCRE oil at best. For years their Syntec line was THE biggest joke of a synthetic I've ever seen. Couldn't even meet GM 4718M or HTO-06. Complete marketing gimmick. Poor TEOST results too. Just a lousy, overpriced oil. GTX and GC are their two best oils.

Castrol is owned by BP and their additives/base oils are sourced from all over the world. They are a large corporation. Quality varies as we've seen with GC.

 

[ottotheclown]

Following that line of thought does Amsoil meet those specs????And if not following that line of thought, a mediocre oil at best. We come close with Dougs thread but as always no conclusion on to tommorow threads that lead no place.

Originally Posted By: buster
Castrol in the USA has without a DOUBT been a very MEDIOCRE oil at best. For years their Syntec line was THE biggest joke of a synthetic I've ever seen. Couldn't even meet GM 4718M or HTO-06. Complete marketing gimmick. Poor TEOST results too. Just a lousy, overpriced oil. GTX and GC are their two best oils.

Castrol is owned by BP and their additives/base oils are sourced from all over the world. They are a large corporation. Quality varies as we've seen with GC.

 

[buster]

No I can not prove that Amsoil meets those specs, but I'd bet money they meet or exceed it. Amsoil has to build their oils to handle long drain intervals and if they weren't good at it they wouldn't be in existence. Yes they are a bit overrated as an oil but still good and a lot better than Syntec.

 

[ottotheclown]

How much would you bet????Fram and Advance are in existance.They might meet those specs too but I too cannot prove it but I would never bet on it. Nite Nite

Originally Posted By: buster
No I can not prove that Amsoil meets those specs, but I'd bet money they meet or exceed it. Amsoil has to build their oils to handle long drain intervals and if they weren't good at it they wouldn't be in existence. Yes they are a bit overrated as an oil but still good and a lot better than Syntec.

 

[buster]

Bet on what?

 

[HangerHarley]

Gentleman..........

 

[RamFan]

Originally Posted By: buster
Castrol in the USA has without a DOUBT been a very MEDIOCRE oil at best. For years their Syntec line was THE biggest joke of a synthetic I've ever seen. Couldn't even meet GM 4718M or HTO-06. Complete marketing gimmick. Poor TEOST results too. Just a lousy, overpriced oil. GTX and GC are their two best oils.

Castrol is owned by BP and their additives/base oils are sourced from all over the world. They are a large corporation. Quality varies as we've seen with GC.


I would say it is slightly less bang for your buck then other name brand oils, similar to how Valvoline prices their products. Not a "very mediocre" oil by any means, but then, very mediocre to me would mean just barely meeting API & ACEA certs.

VOA- https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/posts/884650/

UOA- https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/posts/884650/

PDS- http://www.castrol.com/liveassets/bp_internet/castrol/castrol_usa/STAGING/local_assets/downloads/p,q/pds_syntec_usa.pdf

 

[river_rat]

Castrol was once only available in race and motorcycle shops--I remember. And pricey too.
It was usually recommended for hard use.
I still think it's pretty good. Not great like it used to be.

 

[FZ1]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
Over the years, I have heard many times from both mechanics and from many older individuals that Castrol is a premium product.

These individuals do not necessarily bash other brands, but rather, state that Castrol is a cut above every other brand.

I remember that one person on this forum used to work at a Walmart TLE, and stated that Castrol was the #1 most requested brand if the customer had the choice.

So, what's the deal with Castrol's premium brand image? Did they used to make better products than the competition several decades ago? How did they earn their premium reputation?
John Force.

 

[BearZDefect]

Just opinion here:

Castrol is a premium product line like FRAM is a premium product line.

It is a perception built by successful marketing, and perhaps some history.

In reality, both are mixed bags.

To me, neither are worth the price premium they usually command, unless you can select the few winners in their line-ups.