I wouldn't put Castrol in my lawnmower (well, maybe there).
> I've tried it and it sucks.
What exactly about Castrol Syntec sucks? I've used it for years with no
apparent problems......not taking sides here just wondering if anyone has an
opinion.
Edwin
Wichita Region SCCA
99' G-Stock Camaro
My main experience with Castrol was years ago in my 64 Ranchero with a 200ci
6.
At the time it was rather worn and used a lot of oil; a qt every 3-400
miles.
I was using Valvoline "Turbo V" oil at the time (no longer made). It gave me
20 pounds or so of oil pressure at idle and 45-50 on the road. That was well
within spec for one of those engines with a lot of miles. I think stock was
listed as 55 max. I put in the Castrol GTX based on their advertisements of
" ...maximum protection against viscosity and thermal breakdown...". My oil
consumption nearly doubled and everytime I backed off the gas a cloud of
smoke
formed behind me. Idle pressure dropped to 5-10 and road pressure to 35.
This is similar to what I experienced when I used some free Havoline 30 wt
Dino oil my dad didn't want; high oil consumption and a lot of smoke. The
Havoline was so bad that when I backed off the gas at high speed on the
freeway, people would actually change lanes to get out from behind me. The
GTX was only slightly better. I went back to the Valvoline and the problem
went away. Note; the Valvoline "Turbo" oil was not synthetic either, just a
better grade of standard oil.
Much later I tried Syntec in my 87 Toyota Camry with well over 200,000 miles
and
had a similar experience. I switched back to either Valvoline synthetic
or M1 in that car depending on where I was buying at the time and that car
at 340,000 miles still had 180lbs compression when I sold it although it
used
a little oil throught the valve guides (1 qt every 800-1000 miles). That
final
experience with Castrol stuff and having heard from various tidbits here and
there
that Castrol is apparently pushing the envelope when they call Syntec
"synthetic"
convinced me not to use it again. Maybe saying it "sucks" is a little harsh
as
any modern oil with a current rating is better than the best oils of 25
years
ago. It just seems to me that their ads don't match up with actual field
results.
If you use it and like it, don't change just because of me.
The final experience that covinced me to use M1 only was relating to my 89
525i.
As I said, it has 197,000 miles. I bought it 2 years ago at 157,000. I have
used,
since I bought it, either Valvoline or M1 synthetic in 15-50 or 20-50. At
one point
I noticed that when I put in the M1 at oil change and was diligent in not
mixing
in anything else like an occasional quart of Valvoline or a lighter weight
when
I added a quart, that oil usage dropped considerably. Instead of 900-1200
miles to
a quart it was 1800-2000. It has no noticeable smoking in either case. I
change
oil and filter every 6-8000. It still runs nearly as smooth and quiet as my
wifes'
new Z-3 with only 2000 miles. While I can believe that Redline or RP or
Amzoil may
be slightly better in some ways (but, IMHO, only in certain circumstances),
they
are not nearly as readily available as M1 and in some cases are a lot more
money.
Sorry for the length. I didn't see any way to get my reasons across
without
being a little long-winded.
Bruce
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