Castrol 0W-40 European Synth Oil, made in Belgium

[HyundaiGuy]

Originally Posted By: GoHack
Originally Posted By: HyundaiGuy
While I wouldn't hesitate to use Mobil or Castrol OW40 in my Turbo (or your Abarth) I would recommend PU while under warranty.


PENNZOIL 5W-40 ULTRA EURO or 0W-40 ULTRA?

I haven't seen the Euro anyplace, except on Amazon.com.

.


5W40 Ultra Euro. Both Fiat dealerships here carry it. Like you said, there is also Amazon.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: GoHack
Originally Posted By: vinu_neuro
GoHack, you've missed a lot in the last several years. I have bad news for you regarding the GC in your Mini, it's not "synthetic" per your definition. Group III and Group III+ are the base oils used in formulations like Castrol 0W-30, 0W-40, M1 0W-40, PU 5W-40, that all meet the most stringent oil specifications around like Porsche A40 and Mercedes 229.5. They outperform the old PAO formulations while being cost-competitive.


I thought w/the GC, being manufactured in Germany, w/their laws, it has to be a true synthetic, like a Group 4 or better, in order to be sold as a full synthetic oil, while here in the US, where the laws aren't as stringent, they can pretty much call anything synthetic now-a-days.



That would apply only to the packaging of the oil when it is sold in Germany, not in the USA.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: dparm
And as Quattro Pete says, the "GC" formula you are remembering has not been sold for many years. They removed all the group IV and V content and it's now mostly group III,

Not that it makes any difference when it comes to its performance, but I don't recall ever stating the above.

In fact, gold GC still has a very impressive pour point of -54C which would indicate a good dose of group IV. On top of that, the product sold in Germany that resembles GC due to identical specs (Castrol EDGE Professional A3 0W-30) is still marketed as Vollsynthese (full synthetic) there.

Again, not that I think this one ingredient makes or brakes an oil. Just throwing out there what I think.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: GoHack
Group 3 is just a cracked, or purified mineral base oil.

Doesn't it bother anyone, when you have two oils next to each other in the store, both Group 3, but one says synthetic while the other says regular, and of course, half the price or more, of the synthetic?

I'm picky about the definition, but I can live with it. Markets drive pricing, not just inputs. My PAO Delvac 1 ESP 5w-40 from my distributor is almost as cheap as conventional from normal retail channels. I wouldn't pay extra for it just because of what it is. In any case, I tend to suggest to buy what you need and what you're willing to pay for. If every synthetic on the shelf had to be primarily PAO or Group V, you wouldn't be able to afford it.

As far as GC goes, it could still be PAO. Note that it says that it's made in Germany and only for sale in the Americas. Perhaps that means it's not synthetic after all, if one is looking for a good conspiracy.

 

[edyvw]

Originally Posted By: Garak
Originally Posted By: GoHack
Group 3 is just a cracked, or purified mineral base oil.

Doesn't it bother anyone, when you have two oils next to each other in the store, both Group 3, but one says synthetic while the other says regular, and of course, half the price or more, of the synthetic?

I'm picky about the definition, but I can live with it. Markets drive pricing, not just inputs. My PAO Delvac 1 ESP 5w-40 from my distributor is almost as cheap as conventional from normal retail channels. I wouldn't pay extra for it just because of what it is. In any case, I tend to suggest to buy what you need and what you're willing to pay for. If every synthetic on the shelf had to be primarily PAO or Group V, you wouldn't be able to afford it.

As far as GC goes, it could still be PAO. Note that it says that it's made in Germany and only for sale in the Americas. Perhaps that means it's not synthetic after all, if one is looking for a good conspiracy.

Yes but GC has exactly same numbers and characteristics like 0W30 for EU and German market.
As far as that: not for sale out of US, that is on all their bottles, so I would say it is just their way to prevent some legal problems.

 

[Garak]

I agree absolutely about the GC. It's probably just for labeling reasons, given the languages on the product. All I'm saying is it might be more prudent to pay attention to certifications than base stocks. I can find you some primarily PAO products that you almost certainly would not wish to run, at least compared with the competition, Group III or not.

 

[edyvw]

Originally Posted By: Garak
I agree absolutely about the GC. It's probably just for labeling reasons, given the languages on the product. All I'm saying is it might be more prudent to pay attention to certifications than base stocks. I can find you some primarily PAO products that you almost certainly would not wish to run, at least compared with the competition, Group III or not.

Yeah I think technology progressed so much that that is irrelevant.
Also, in the US these cars do not see abuse like in Europe, constant high rpm's etc. People here are much more educated and drive differently then 99% of other drivers. I have a guy here that owns a store that carries Pentosin products. We know Pentosin is GIII, but it is great oil, it has all necessary approvals, it is priced reasonably etc, and it is Made in germany, so cannot see a reason why would be a problem running that oil.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Originally Posted By: GoHack
Originally Posted By: dparm
Originally Posted By: GoHack
What is so irritating is, no matter what synthetic oil you buy, you really have no idea if it is really a true 100% synthetic oil, like a GRP 4 or 5.



Group III is synthetic oil. I don't know why people struggle with this fact.

To answer your original question, the Castrol Edge 0w30 is also a plain-old group III. The old version ("GC") contained more group IV and V, but that has been off the market for a while now.


Group 3 is just a cracked, or purified mineral base oil.

Doesn't it bother anyone, when you have two oils next to each other in the store, both Group 3, but one says synthetic while the other says regular, and of course, half the price or more, of the synthetic?

As for 0W-30 GC, I still see it available, and it still says made in Germany. I use to use it in my Mini Cooper S.



Aren't all oils made of organics? Whether is dino oil or castor beans does it matter?

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: edyvw
Yeah I think technology progressed so much that that is irrelevant.

Agreed. Basically, get what you need; splurge a little even. But, one doesn't need to most expensive boutique, either. And, a fancy base stock is a guarantee of nothing - not even of high price.

 

[glxpassat]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: dparm
And as Quattro Pete says, the "GC" formula you are remembering has not been sold for many years. They removed all the group IV and V content and it's now mostly group III,

Not that it makes any difference when it comes to its performance, but I don't recall ever stating the above.

In fact, gold GC still has a very impressive pour point of -54C which would indicate a good dose of group IV. On top of that, the product sold in Germany that resembles GC due to identical specs (Castrol EDGE Professional A3 0W-30) is still marketed as Vollsynthese (full synthetic) there.

Again, not that I think this one ingredient makes or brakes an oil. Just throwing out there what I think.

Those specs have not changed since the gold version came out in 2005 when it was upgraded to meet MB 229.5. Then, it also carried VW 503.01 which is a high horsepower turbo long life spec which has since been made obsolete by VW 504, so it is no longer listed.

 

[97tbird]

About 70% of this thread now consists of posts on GC and not BC

Mods might wanna merge this with the main GC thread...(is it possible on this forum? I know it is on some boards..)

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: 97tbird
Mods might wanna merge this with the main GC thread...

Or merge it with one of the other 10,000 threads on what constitutes a real synthetic.

 

[glxpassat]

Originally Posted By: 97tbird
About 70% of this thread now consists of posts on GC and not BC

Mods might wanna merge this with the main GC thread...(is it possible on this forum? I know it is on some boards..)


The OP asked the question "Anyone know if this is as good as the 0W-30 German Made Castrol?" Part of the reply is to debunk the notion that GC is now a group 3 oil. BC MAY be as good, but it's probably not any better.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: edyvw
Yes but GC has exactly same numbers and characteristics like 0W30 for EU and German market.

I don't know how I let you get away with this one.

Since when did we start getting decent, let alone trustworthy, data sheets from Castrol? Do they actually have a sensible data sheet for it here in North America? I saw the German one, and at least it wasn't filled with nonsense and minimum or maximum values, or "pass" or "ok" or other silliness that we see time and time again from them.

 

[edyvw]

Originally Posted By: Garak
Originally Posted By: edyvw
Yes but GC has exactly same numbers and characteristics like 0W30 for EU and German market.

I don't know how I let you get away with this one.

Since when did we start getting decent, let alone trustworthy, data sheets from Castrol? Do they actually have a sensible data sheet for it here in North America? I saw the German one, and at least it wasn't filled with nonsense and minimum or maximum values, or "pass" or "ok" or other silliness that we see time and time again from them.


Yes I get what you saying, but by the law in Germany and the EU manufacturers are facing much stricter regulation.
I think GC for US market is just listed like any other oil. All companies are in business of making money, not doing charitable work. However, I really cannot see point of making that oil in Germany different from formulation they make for EU. It does not make business sense. Also, I think Castrol also needs oil on the US market that is on par with M1 0W40 or PU 5W40 or Motul or Pentosin, because 5W40 they are making in NJ definitely is not on par with mentioned oils.
However, that is what happens with all this "less government and regulation" thing that we got fought in. Less govt. regulation, but sure let's allow Castrol, Mobil or Shell to ride our a..

 

[Garak]

Like I said before, I would agree and don't see there being a need for a different oil here than what they market elsewhere and having something top end. But, Castrol's data sheets, particularly in North America, are a bit of a joke and I don't think we can reach a lot of conclusions because of them.

The ironic thing is that something like their Syntec had a pretty decent showing in the PQIA test, at least with some decent results and a nice TBN. Why not put that stuff on a data sheet? Of course, it shouldn't surprise me that an A5/B5 synthetic is decent. But, either put data on the data sheets, or get rid of the data sheets, right?

 

[threeputtpar]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: 97tbird
Mods might wanna merge this with the main GC thread...

Or merge it with one of the other 10,000 threads on what constitutes a real synthetic.

Hopefully, ARCO doesn't show up and berate us all for thinking that the oils on the walmart shelf are synthetic. It'll get real in a hurry then.

 

[97tbird]

Originally Posted By: glxpassat
Originally Posted By: 97tbird
About 70% of this thread now consists of posts on GC and not BC

Mods might wanna merge this with the main GC thread...(is it possible on this forum? I know it is on some boards..)


The OP asked the question "Anyone know if this is as good as the 0W-30 German Made Castrol?" Part of the reply is to debunk the notion that GC is now a group 3 oil. BC MAY be as good, but it's probably not any better.


Really should have a more descriptive thread-title then !!!!

 

[artificialist]

Originally Posted By: dparm
Originally Posted By: GoHack
Originally Posted By: HyundaiGuy
While I wouldn't hesitate to use Mobil or Castrol OW40 in my Turbo (or your Abarth) I would recommend PU while under warranty.


PENNZOIL 5W-40 ULTRA EURO or 0W-40 ULTRA?

I haven't seen the Euro anyplace, except on Amazon.com.

.



The PU 0w40 is virtually impossible to find.

PU 5w40 can be had from Amazon with free shipping.

I saw PU 0w40 at a Pep Boys. At $8.99 a quart, it had better be special. Maybe they will have a "Get 5qt and a filter" sale to make it more attractive.

Anyway, I have BC in my car right now. I like the way it performs.

 

[dparm]

Originally Posted By: artificialist

I saw PU 0w40 at a Pep Boys. At $8.99 a quart, it had better be special. Maybe they will have a "Get 5qt and a filter" sale to make it more attractive.




Really? Wow. Take a picture next time. Most of us have never seen it in the flesh, and can't even locate a place to order it.