Anyone using the Castrol Syntec 0W-30 German formula oil?

[Meghan54]

Seems that over at BITOG forums, lots of people using Mobil 1 are reporting that excessive amounts of iron are showing up in their used oil analysis.

Now the "suggested" oil of the day is the Castrol Syntec 0W-30 German made oil.

Anyone using it in place of a 5W-30?

 

[Howard]

Doubt you'd find any tangible benefits over PU/Edge/M1 EP

 

[Meghan54]

Just asking because due for oil change and AutoZone has this particular recommended Castrol on sale.....$27 for 5 qts. and any oil filter up to $6.99 (choose a filter that costs more and you pay the difference).

 

[ViviTheMage]

I use Castrol 0w-40 full syn as recommended by Audi ... and my numbers look great. I get an oil change analysis every oil change.

 

[Castiel]

I just changed the SRT's oil from Royal Purple to RP XPR over the weekend. Look forward to having it analyzed in 5K miles. I was planning on going with German castrol but i couldn't find any.

 

[KDKPSJ]

Pepboys actually have better offer; 5 Qt Castrol Syntec + Bosch Distance Plus filter for $ 27.99 before $ 5 MIR. So, even before MIR, it's better deal as Bosch Distance Plus is definitely better than Fram from Autozone (even though you can upgrade by paying difference.. Bosch D+ is already one of the top ones and you don't have to pay extra for it). If you include MIR, it's one of the best synthetic oil + filter deals IMO.

Now, about GC. I'd start from if the car particularly you will use likes it. In my case, my brother's Bimmer likes it (one of 4 recommended oils for E90). My G37 also appears to like it, but I am still researching it.

 

[Meghan54]

Well, this would be going into an '02 Blazer with 235K on the clock. Have used synth oils in it from its first oil change. Mobil 1 mostly, RP lately. But the sale on the Castrol and the recommendations are making me think about switching. Just wondering if a 0W would do any harm....I'd tend to think not, but unsure. (Recommended oil is 5W-30.)

About the PepBoys special....saw that. Unfortunately, I'd spend more in gas getting to the closest PepBoys (it's over 75 miles away) than I'd save buying from them, hence the AutoZone sale (local AZ is "only" 20 miles away.)

 

[Excelsior]

I've been using it in my Passat for a couple of changes. It works well enough. You wouldn't be wrong to use it in your blazer.

 

[AsianriceX]

Well, this would be going into an '02 Blazer with 235K on the clock. Have used synth oils in it from its first oil change. Mobil 1 mostly, RP lately. But the sale on the Castrol and the recommendations are making me think about switching. Just wondering if a 0W would do any harm....I'd tend to think not, but unsure. (Recommended oil is 5W-30.)

About the PepBoys special....saw that. Unfortunately, I'd spend more in gas getting to the closest PepBoys (it's over 75 miles away) than I'd save buying from them, hence the AutoZone sale (local AZ is "only" 20 miles away.)

Don't bother driving to PepBoys. As far as I know, the only German Castrol available in the States is the 0W-30 European Formula bottles (1qt) sold by Autozone. You just have to make sure you look at the back and it should say "Made in Germany."

I use it in my cam follower eating VW 2.0T FSI since I've seen the words "shear stable" and "high zinc content" thrown about. My goal is to prevent this from happening.
http://www.golfmkv.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1383541&postcount=1

As for your particular application, while the consensus is that GC is a great oil, I can't see you really reaping any benefits GC has to offer over any other off the shelf synthetic oil.

 

[KDKPSJ]

Well, my local Pepboys have 0w-30 GC, so that was my suggestion based on. But yeah, it's not worth 75 miles driving for them. lol. (I have about 4 Pepboys in 5 miles radius)

Since you have been using synthetic since day 1 and 5w-30 is weight recommended for your car, I don't think GC 0w-30 will cause problem. Especially since you are already using RP, which is more expensive than GC with promo, the cost will be less and the performance will be ok. (Some do say GC is better than RP)

 

[AsianriceX]

Well, my local Pepboys have 0w-30 GC, so that was my suggestion based on. But yeah, it's not worth 75 miles driving for them. lol. (I have about 4 Pepboys in 5 miles radius)

Since you have been using synthetic since day 1 and 5w-30 is weight recommended for your car, I don't think GC 0w-30 will cause problem. Especially since you are already using RP, which is more expensive than GC with promo, the cost will be less and the performance will be ok. (Some do say GC is better than RP)

Ah, maybe it's a regional thing. All of the Pepboys in my area either don't have 0W-30, or it's the non-"Made In Germany" variant.

 

[thescreensavers]

GC is amazing oil. All the VQ motors love it.

 

[coxmaster]

Don't bother driving to PepBoys. As far as I know, the only German Castrol available in the States is the 0W-30 European Formula bottles (1qt) sold by Autozone. You just have to make sure you look at the back and it should say "Made in Germany."

I use it in my cam follower eating VW 2.0T FSI since I've seen the words "shear stable" and "high zinc content" thrown about. My goal is to prevent this from happening.
http://www.golfmkv.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1383541&postcount=1

As for your particular application, while the consensus is that GC is a great oil, I can't see you really reaping any benefits GC has to offer over any other off the shelf synthetic oil.

Oh my, more talk of the dreaded cam follower failures (checking mine this weekend actually)

I also use German Castrol, though I believe i use 5W-30 (i think)

 

[AsianriceX]

Oh my, more talk of the dreaded cam follower failures (checking mine this weekend actually)

I also use German Castrol, though I believe i use 5W-30 (i think)

Hah yeah. It seems like a rare enough event when you consider the sheer number of TFSI's out in the world and the relatively low reports of failure, but when it does fail it does so catastrophically.

I got mine used so my first check/replacement was at ~60K. The coating was gone and there was some light marring on the face, but it wasn't punched through. Here's hoping yours is OK too!

 

[coxmaster]

Hah yeah. It seems like a rare enough event when you consider the sheer number of TFSI's out in the world and the relatively low reports of failure, but when it does fail it does so catastrophically.

I got mine used so my first check/replacement was at ~60K. The coating was gone and there was some light marring on the face, but it wasn't punched through. Here's hoping yours is OK too!

I'm only at around 45k so it should be alright. Although I just got tuned this past weekend at a local VW show so I want to get an idea of where my cam follower was at from 45k of stock tune

 

[CraigRT]

I used GC for years in my dads and my (at the time) Nissan VQ's
The engines always purred and ran flawlessly on the GC.
It cranks well in the cold temps, but is fairly thick at operating temp. Excellent product.

 

[chucky2]

Oh my, more talk of the dreaded cam follower failures (checking mine this weekend actually)

I also use German Castrol, though I believe i use 5W-30 (i think)

GC = 0W-30, only

 

[chucky2]

Well, this would be going into an '02 Blazer with 235K on the clock. Have used synth oils in it from its first oil change. Mobil 1 mostly, RP lately. But the sale on the Castrol and the recommendations are making me think about switching. Just wondering if a 0W would do any harm....I'd tend to think not, but unsure. (Recommended oil is 5W-30.)

About the PepBoys special....saw that. Unfortunately, I'd spend more in gas getting to the closest PepBoys (it's over 75 miles away) than I'd save buying from them, hence the AutoZone sale (local AZ is "only" 20 miles away.)

Chevy's tend to prefer thicker 30W's, so GC would definitely fit that bill. If you're wanting to go thicker still, you could also try Mobil-1 0W-40. Or, perhaps, their 5W-30 ESP (although I don't know the cst on that on, could be light but I'd guess medium to thick at 100C for a 30W).

Chuck

 

[coxmaster]

GC = 0W-30, only

Hmm you're right. So what exactly is the difference between the German spec (VW 502, the stuff dealers use) 5W-40 and the true German 0W-30?

 

[chucky2]

You mean other than the weights?

 

[coxmaster]

You mean other than the weights?

Yes.. What makes one "german formula" while the other is just German approved?

 

[chucky2]

The reason "German Castrol" got named that was because on the back of the bottle, there is a "Made in Germany", "Imported from Germany", or "Something to that effect". On top of that, it had some EU type approvals that normal domestic oils did not have. Then when the PDS was looked at, it was found to have a cSt right at the top of the 30W @ 100C scale, making it a very desirable 30W: Synthetic, "heavy" 30W (at 100C), EU cert's, 0W for winter. All of these things sort of added up to give it the rep it has...but the name was from where it came from.

BITOG got a collection way back when and did a real VOA on it, and determined it was made up of Group IV and I think V oils...I'm talking like a $700 VOA or something like that. So unless they've had a major forumlation change - doubtful - one can expect a real deal synthetic (no "" around that word) for OTC prices, and locally available.

There is some controversy though on GC...I seem to remember some folks not being impressed with it in very hot climates and being run hard. But that's heresay at this point, because I can't recall where I heard that and if it was a confirmed deal or not. One would have to research that out now and then confirm it to be true.

Chuck

 

[Meghan54]

There is some controversy though on GC...I seem to remember some folks not being impressed with it in very hot climates and being run hard. But that's heresay at this point, because I can't recall where I heard that and if it was a confirmed deal or not. One would have to research that out now and then confirm it to be true.

Chuck

And that is one reason I asked the question originally. I live in the South....it gets quite hot (was 82 yesterday and we see >90 all summer) and I tow a boat, among other things, most every weekend.

 

[CraigRT]

And that is one reason I asked the question originally. I live in the South....it gets quite hot (was 82 yesterday and we see >90 all summer) and I tow a boat, among other things, most every weekend.

I would not hesitate to use GC in your application.
The stuff is excellent.

 

[Pantoot]

GC = 0W-30, only

Mine is 10W-60, but then again the back of the bottle says product of the EU not Germany.

Maybe I have EC?