Castrol 5W-40

The full-synthetic, made-in-Belgium Castrol 5W-40, recently appeared in my local Auto Zone stores, at $4.99 per quart. It's now labeled for the American market, with "For Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen" prominently appearing on the label.

No longer a dealer-only item -- not cheap, but certainly cheaper than the dealers are charging.

Reply to
Brian Running
Loading thread data ...

What is the VW specification noted if any?

Reply to
Joseph Meehan

Ah, yes, good question -- it's the 505.01 spec oil that VW reportedly uses for factory fill. The synthetic oil that's spec'd for PD turbo diesel engines, in other words. Has been very hard to find in the US, but since it is appearing in Auto Zone, it's apparently going to be much easier to find, now.

Reply to
Brian Running

Hi folks,

Checking the Product data sheet for Castrol Syntec available at:

formatting link
URL-wrap warning in effect] they say: "SAE 5W-40: is engineered specifically to meet the Volkswagen engine warranty requirements, exceeding VW 502 00 and 505 00. Exceeds all car and light truck manufacturer's warranty requirements for the protection of gasoline, diesel and turbocharged engines where API SL, SJ, SH, CF or CD is recommended. Porsche approved and also exceeds European ACEA: A3, B3, B4, MB

229.3, MB 229.1, BMW LL-98. Meets the engine protection requirements of Volvo, BMW, Mercedes Benz and ILSAC GF-3 for API Certified Gasoline Engine Oils."

But the Auto Zone store near me (suburban Seattle area) didn't have it in stock when I checked today.

The above specs appears to satisfy all VW requirements as stated in my owner's manual (2006 GTI [A4])

- Jim K

Reply to
JAMES KLOTZ

formatting link
[usual URL-wrap warning in effect]>

From what I've read, I understand there's some confusion about Castrol's product line. The "Syntec" synthetic oils sold in the US are not true, Group IV synthetic oils. The only Group IV synthetic that Castrol sells in the US is the made-in-Belgium 5W40. It's also my understanding that the only oils that meet the VW 505.01 spec are true Group IV synthetics. The only US-made oil I'm aware of that is both a true Group IV oil and meets 505.01 is Mobil 1 0W40.

It's not entirely clear, but I assume that the product data sheet you found on the Castrol US site lists the US-market Syntecs, not the Belgian, Group IV 5W40.

Reply to
Brian Running

Hi Brian,

Probably a good assumption, but the text in the data sheet... "SAE 5W-40: is engineered specifically to meet the Volkswagen engine warranty requirements..." sounds like what you are describing. Like I said, my local Auto Zone doesn't have the product, so I can't look at the label myself. What area are you in? The Auto Zone web site does not list a Castrol Syntec

5W40 product at all as far as I can find.

Did the bottles you saw say "Syntec" on them, or something else? Was it marked 'made in Belgium' or some such?

My VW dealer's service guy says they use "Castrol Syntec 5W40 full synthetic." When I asked where it was manufactured, the guy had no idea, but said they order it directly from VW.

He agreed it's a good idea to go to a synthetic lubricant especially in light of the turbo (mine is a 1.8T) so I think I'm on solid ground there, but would like to save $ on the oil changes if I can. I still have the oil in the car it was delivered with... first oil change due at 5000 Mi. I'm tempted to make an extra change at 2500 mi or so like I did with my last car, a 1998 GTI VR6. Never had a lick of trouble with that car.

regards,

- Jim K

formatting link
> [usual URL-wrap warning in effect]>>

Reply to
JAMES KLOTZ

formatting link
[usual URL-wrap warning in effect]>

That sounds a lot like it has not been tested and approved by VW.

Reply to
Joseph Meehan

That Auto Zone is right next door to the supermarket where I shop, so I stopped in there this evening to read the label again -- I know, I really need a hobby -- and the one bottle of it they had the other day was gone, and in its place was a bunch of Syntec 5W40 with labels that read "Superior European technology now blended in the US." It carried VW specs 505.00 and 502.00. So, Castrol is now making 5W40 in the US, though it's unclear whether it's a true Group IV synthetic, or is a pseudo-synthetic like the rest of the Syntec line.

The bottle I saw the other day very definitely said "Made in Belgium" on the bottle, and though I can no longer prove it, I'll swear it carried the VW 505.01 spec.

I also misspoke in my earlier post -- Mobil 1 0W40 is rated 502.00 and

505.00, but not 505.01 -- but it is a Group IV oil.

So, let's just forget I said anything at all, okay? :)

Reply to
Brian Running

Brian,

Said what?

Interesting since, as I say, I can't locate ANY Castrol 5W40 Syntec AT ALL on the Auto Zone web site. According to the local store, they should have all products they sell listed there. Hmmm.

Tomorrow, I'm going to phone Castrol US and just see what they have to say. I'm unclear on these VW oil specs. Is there somewhere online I can see them?

My 2006 GTI owner's manual says "...the following terms must appear on the oil container singly or in combination with other designations:"

VW 502 00 or VW500 00 or VW501 01 ACEA A2 or ACEA A3 API Service SJ

- Jim K

Reply to
JAMES KLOTZ

Said that Castrol 5W-40 meeting the VW 505.01 spec was now available at Auto Zone. Apparently, it was a complete fluke that I spotted a bottle of it there a couple of days ago.

Well, it's there -- they'd better update the web site. The important thing is, the Castrol 5W-40 that's there now is NOT the 505.01 kind.

505.01 oil is required by the new PD turbodiesel VWs. Absolutely required. It's hard as hell to find, and costs an arm and a leg at the dealers. Your GTI does not need it, you can use 502.00 oil, such as Mobil 1 0W-40.

To see approved oils, have a gander at this:

formatting link
Note that the 502.00 approved oils are not necessarily true, full-blown synthetics (in spite of their names), but that all of the 505.01 oils are. I quit using Castrol Syntec when I found that they had pulled some hocus-pocus to be able to call it "full synthetic" when it's really not. Mobil sued Castrol over it, and a court held that Castrol could call Syntec full synthetic even though it does not use pure synthetic base stocks.

Reply to
Brian Running

Hi Brian,

By "said what?" I was trying (clumsily apparently) to indicate that I'd forgotten what you'd said. Sorry I wasn't clear.

Interesting about the Syntec not being full synthetic. That's exactly how the service guy at my dealer referred to it.

The dealer uses it, gets it direct from VW, so it must meet specs and warranty requirements for my car. I'm wondering if there's something better... something I can get that is. If the oils are truly compatible chemically with each other and with the (I'm assuming) regular Castrol that's in my car now, I could always swap the something better in without the dealer knowing it.

Easiest to stay with the Syntec the dealer supplies, but I hate to pay what they want for it.

Thanks for the link.

- Jim K

Reply to
JAMES KLOTZ

In fact, the Castrol is a complete mess in this regard. They tend to change the brands from country to country, so it is possible to buy the same oil under the different names.

For example, here in europe, in some countries you will get an Castrol TXT 5W-40 "synthetic". In some other countries you will not find an TXT, but there is a similar "synthetic" 5W-40 oil called GTX7. Also there are a lower grade 10W-40 oils sold as GTX5 and even lower grade GTX3. BUT, there are yet another group of countries, where they sell an 5W-40 oil called GTX, without any number, which looks very similar to GTX7 and TXT. I bet all of them are produced in the same refineries. You can't explain this as historical matter, as the oils are relatively new.

And by saying "synthetic" Castrol apparently means something different, as they also sell the "fully synthetic" "RS" oil.

Reply to
draugaz

Brian and all,

I called and spoke to someone at Castrol US today. I suppose this is old news, but the woman I spoke with confirmed that the Castrol product that meets the Group 4 and VW 505.01 specs is their Belgium-made 5W40 synthetic oil. She seemed at a loss as to how a can of the stuff got onto the shelf of an Auto Zone store. She said that ONLY VW is importing the stuff for their turbo diesel vehicles and that the ONLY place one can get it in the US is at VW dealers.

Additionally, she said that "they hoped" that the Belgian product would start being imported for more general sale in the US, but that it's unknown at this time whether or not this will happen. Appeared she thought this was much dependent on whether VW continues (past 2006) with the current design of it's turbo diesel engines that require such lubricants (and I suppose other manufacturers require such as well). She said first it was just supposed to be a year or two, now it's 2005 and 2006 VW TDI models too and (at least she) didn't know about the future.

When I said I was having trouble finding the US made 5W40 Syntec, she recommended I contact my local NAPA store.

I suppose this is just what she's been told to say... I wonder how really true it all is. I'm just passing on what was said.

- Jim K

Reply to
JAMES KLOTZ

Cool! I feel pretty special now, having spotted a rogue bottle of Belgian Castrol, on the loose in an Auto Zone in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Maybe this could become a hobby, sort of like trainspotting...

As of yesterday, our Auto Zones were fully stocked with the US-made

5W-40. I'm still stickin' with Mobil 1.
Reply to
Brian Running

But not the VW 505.01 rating needed for TDI engines since the 2004 model year in the US.

Reply to
Timothy J. Lee

correct

Reply to
JAMES KLOTZ

People get confused about that. Here are the base stocks used in motor oils:

Group I: mineral oil base with least amount of hydrocracking Group II: mineral oil base with more hydrocracking Group III: mineral oil base with even more hydrocracking to get a viscosity index comparable to group IV base Group IV: polyalphaolefins made from natural gas Group V: other (esters)

Group IV/V are generally viewed as "synthetic". Group III may be sold as "synthetic" in the US, but perhaps not in some other places. Group I/II are generally viewed as "conventional".

Most "synthetic" oils sold in the US are group III base. Of course, the base stock is not the only thing that counts when determining oil quality or suitability for a particular engine.

Reply to
Timothy J. Lee

The Castrol oil with the VW 505.01 rating is "Castrol TXT 505.01" "Castrol 505.01" (which comes in 5W-40 only). This is different from the "Castrol Syntec 5W-40" which meets VW 502.00 and 505.00. Note that "Castrol TXT 505.01" also meets VW 500.00 and 505.00, but not VW 502.00.

I've seen "Castrol Syntec 5W-40" but not "Castrol TXT 505.01" at Auto Zone.

Reply to
Timothy J. Lee

Quaker State however has Quaker State Diesel Plus 5W40, part # 5059095 that does meet the 505.01 spec and is somewhat available here and there. It's not on any mass-merchandiser shelves I've found yet but there are two distributers around Denver who will sell it in case lots for around seven bucks a quart. No real savings over buying TXT from the dealer but it's a start.

TK

Reply to
TDKozan

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.