Castrol
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 5,228
Likes: 5
From: Running Springs CA
Castrol
Back to the Castrol brand.
>It's kind of hard to
>tell what castrol uses since they are not an oil
>manufacturer but just a bottling company.
Castrol is a unit of British Petroleum, a large integrated oil company that also owns ARCO here in the US. It is one of the the most respected brands in Europe and is factory fill in BMW's. Of course, Pennzoil is one of the most respected brands here.
>I do know that a
>bottle from one box can pour out either lighter or darker
>than oil from another box.
Very interesting!
Jim
>It's kind of hard to
>tell what castrol uses since they are not an oil
>manufacturer but just a bottling company.
Castrol is a unit of British Petroleum, a large integrated oil company that also owns ARCO here in the US. It is one of the the most respected brands in Europe and is factory fill in BMW's. Of course, Pennzoil is one of the most respected brands here.
>I do know that a
>bottle from one box can pour out either lighter or darker
>than oil from another box.
Very interesting!
Jim
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 773
Likes: 0
From: VA/USA
Castrol
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 14-Nov-02 AT 11:24 PM (EST)]Castrol mentions on their bottles, and this is not a quote verbatim, rather something to the effect that, from time to time, due to continual or on-going research\upgrades and/or improved refining techniques, their oil WILL change 'color', and that this is normal, not detrimental and no reason for alarm or concern - I, for some reason, have always felt better about Castrol's capabilities and protective benefits, in general, during the heat of summer driving conditions, probably partly advertising and because they seem to have cornered the market in motorcycle racing - and these engines run at higher temps, or rather Rev much higher and faster, to begin with.
I think it is a very solid conventional motor-oil - they're "Syntec" on the other hand, while not necessarily a "bad" oil - is falsely advertised and over-priced.
"Valvo' has long been my favorite, but Mobil, Shell, and Chevron, not neccesarily in that order, really seem to have their respective "acts" together.
My 2 cents - Glenn . . .
I think it is a very solid conventional motor-oil - they're "Syntec" on the other hand, while not necessarily a "bad" oil - is falsely advertised and over-priced.
"Valvo' has long been my favorite, but Mobil, Shell, and Chevron, not neccesarily in that order, really seem to have their respective "acts" together.
My 2 cents - Glenn . . .
Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
Castrol
Castrol is an excellent oil. My dad got 600,000 miles on his last Camry using it and has 270,000 on his new one. I don't think you can go wrong with Castrol.
I did all of my dad's oil changes until I moved to a different town, and it always struck me as funny how Catrol changed color from case to case. I just assumed it was because it was dino and there would be minor differences in the base stock.
I did all of my dad's oil changes until I moved to a different town, and it always struck me as funny how Catrol changed color from case to case. I just assumed it was because it was dino and there would be minor differences in the base stock.
Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
From: Adrian, MI
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 10,101
Likes: 40
From: Pa
I've noticed a color change in Pennzoil as well. I had a 5 qt. jug of 5-30 from around 2002 and was given a more recent 2005 manuf. 5 qt. jug and when poured they were different colors. Both containers were sealed. Don't use 5w-30 dino anymore so I gave it away. I don't think the color difference means anything though.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 1,642
Likes: 6
From: Northern California
Don't Forget The Top Secret Z-7 In Pennzoil!
Yeah, and don't forget the "Mystery Ingredient" Z-7 in Pennzoil! If you discovered what that was, you may have to be killed, sorry.
LOL I hear you, but when I heard: "Stop. Go. Pennzoil" then I knew it had to be the oil to use!
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 303
Likes: 1
From: Northern Calif
If you go online and look up pil comparisons you will find out that the debate is endless. Myself and my brother have worked as mechanics for years. Me 36 years on heavy equipment medium and light duty trucks and auto's, him on European for 27 years and the last five years at a ford dealership and is a ford master tech. We both agree on one thing, If your going to use reg oil we like castrol. The inside of an engine just look better on tear down than other oil's. A funny story. I was working for a dodge dealership and this guy came in with a 1500 Ram with the newer 318 cid, before they changed to their new engines and it was burnning oil. A day later he came in and was looking at his new motor and I asked him what the hell was you running in your engine (brand of oil) and he looked at me and said sternly what ever the hell you guy's use for oil changes. I was takin back and just couldn't say anything because I had serviced his truck since it was new . We used Valvoline. I run castrol in all my vehicles except my motorcycle. I run Mobile 1 full synthetic. I mean if my engine seizes up on my truck I think I will be ok, But on the bike it's bad. Antway just my take on oil. Look It up and enjoy some really boring but informative specs then make your choice based on that.
T. Moe
T. Moe
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 360
Likes: 0
Ive used Castrol in all my engines since 1974 with NO problems at all. I usually put over 150K on my vehicles in a hurry and never had an oil related problem. I change oil every 3K and it is never dark brown or black looking. It always has a little mahogony look to it.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 5,228
Likes: 5
From: Running Springs CA
What oils were like in 1974, or 1984 or 1994 for that matter is simply irrelevant today. Oil chemistry has advanced a lot in recent years. Many brands have been bought, sold or merged, so it is a different company.
Back then I mostly used Valvoline, Pennzoil and Castrol. I even tried ARCO Graphite and AeroShell once each with less-than-stellar results. Valvoline had the weakest additive package, so it tended to sludge up PCV systems and turn dark very quickly. Castrol had "Liquid Tungsten" that left strange green deposits in the bottom of the oil pan and on the undersides of the pistons. I never had any such problems with "Z-7" Pennzoil of the day.
Jim
Back then I mostly used Valvoline, Pennzoil and Castrol. I even tried ARCO Graphite and AeroShell once each with less-than-stellar results. Valvoline had the weakest additive package, so it tended to sludge up PCV systems and turn dark very quickly. Castrol had "Liquid Tungsten" that left strange green deposits in the bottom of the oil pan and on the undersides of the pistons. I never had any such problems with "Z-7" Pennzoil of the day.
Jim
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