What's with all the negative press on Castrol Syntec

[NaOH]

Recently purchased a GTI and I recently checked my oil levels just in case. It was halfway between the halfway mark and min mark. So I wanted to top it off and found out that VW uses Castrol Syntec 5-40w as the fill in it's cars off the line. Now I've always been a Mobil 1 guy, but the Mobil 1 5-40w is not one of the VW recommended oils. The only one that was recommended from Mobil 1 was 0-40w. Anyways, I'd rather just fill her up with Castrol, but from talking to everyone in the GTI forums, they say that Castrol is crap and burns like mad compared to Mobil1. They also note how it's not really synthetic (ie. lawsuite by mobil few years back). To me, if the end product is the same as synthetic then I don't care how they do it. Anyways, what are your guy's opinions on Castrol Syntec. I'm probably going to pick some up after work.

 

[Kelvrick]

Didn't the lawsuit establish that Mobil1 wasn't really synthetic? I think most of the synthetic stuff is just really refined dino now anyway, with how the classifications are. Regarding burning and running like crap, run it through your car and see if it burns or runs like crap. You still got till like 1k before your first change anyway.

I personally use whatever is cheap and just replace when it seems to be getting dirty. 8-9k in my 2.5i legacy with whatever is on sale. Just so happens to be either pennzoil plat or valvoline syntec.

 

[NaOH]

Originally posted by: Kelvrick
Didn't the lawsuit establish that Mobil1 wasn't really synthetic? I think most of the synthetic stuff is just really refined dino now anyway, with how the classifications are. Regarding burning and running like crap, run it through your car and see if it burns or runs like crap. You still got till like 1k before your first change anyway.

I personally use whatever is cheap and just replace when it seems to be getting dirty. 8-9k in my 2.5i legacy with whatever is on sale. Just so happens to be either pennzoil plat or valvoline syntec.

From what I heard during discussions, the ruling just established that synthetic didn't really have a defined meaning....So it could be anything really. I believe it's already in my car, and I never checked how much I had when I got the car but after recently checking I noticed that I was a bit on the low side. I was going to use Castrol anyways, but just hearing all the rumors and hearsay from people really have made me fear putting this stuff in my car (a car which was already known to be "unreliable"). Hell, even their website turns me off. It's kind of pathetic how much marketing they put into this oil. I thought I was visiting the need for speed underground website when I visited their page for Castrol Syntec.

 

[PandaBear]

The only good Castrol Syntex is the German/Belgium ones that are 0w30 or 0w40. Other than that they aren't that great, and they are the first one that started calling GRP III hydrocracked oil synthetic.

Save the money and use Pennzoil Platnium (good quality GRP III for the wear/high TBN), Valvoline Synpower (cheap and decent), or Mobil1 (for the reputation).

 

[woodie1]

Yup, the court said practically anything could be called synthetic. It's hard to tell what is what. I think some of the new labels go into more detail as to just what is in the bottle than before so you might look into that.

 

[NaOH]

Originally posted by: PandaBear
The only good Castrol Syntex is the German/Belgium ones that are 0w30 or 0w40. Other than that they aren't that great, and they are the first one that started calling GRP III hydrocracked oil synthetic.

Save the money and use Pennzoil Platnium (good quality GRP III for the wear/high TBN), Valvoline Synpower (cheap and decent), or Mobil1 (for the reputation).

The only one VW recommends from mobil1 is the 0w-40 and I believe the german 0w-40 from castrol is not included in this list. I have to double check but i'm pretty sure. I do a lot of stop and go city driving (only if I hit all the lights, it's an expressway...ugh) and don't want to risk killing this thing.


I believe the best thing I can do is just run castrol syntec and do an oil analysis. Then I would make my decision from there.

 

[overst33r]

according to bobistheoilguy.com castrol syntec is the shit

 

[Vette73]

Castrol is ok but over priced IMO. You are paying for their ads, not the oil. Same goes for Mobil1 as they are a Grp3 oil now not a PAO as in the past. Not that either is bad, just over priced.

Today oils have to meet such high specs there will be little difference between most in the long run. I run what ever syn I can get the cheapest.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: PandaBear
The only good Castrol Syntex is the German/Belgium ones that are 0w30 or 0w40. Other than that they aren't that great, and they are the first one that started calling GRP III hydrocracked oil synthetic.

Save the money and use Pennzoil Platnium (good quality GRP III for the wear/high TBN), Valvoline Synpower (cheap and decent), or Mobil1 (for the reputation).

I had to get Castrol 10w60 for my car at the dealer and it was definately German. The bottle was completely different from Castrol sold here.

$11/quart :roll:

 

[fstime]

Why don't you use Mobil 1 0w-40, it's one of the best oils out there, approved by BMW, VW, Audi, and Porsche.

You can also go with Castrol Syntec 0w-30 (very heavy 30 weight, actually THICKER than Mobile 1 0w-40), its the only group 4 oil you can buy off the selves at autozone. Make sure it reads made in Germany on the back, it is also VW, Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche approved.

 

[exdeath]

Go Royal Purple or Amsoil and never look back.

 

[Aharami]

Originally posted by: exdeath
Go Royal Purple or Amsoil and never look back.

those are mighty expensive

 

[mooseracing]

Originally posted by: NaOH
They also note how it's not really synthetic (ie. lawsuite by mobil few years back).

Good luck finding a true synthetic. It can be a certain % (can't remem the number right now) and be claimed as full syn. It is just like food products that have less than x amount don't have to have it lsited on the ingrediants.

the closer to 100% spec syns you py out the ass for, kinda of like Amsoil or Royal Purple. I run the higher spec stuff in air cooled temps as the heat they experience varies and there is alot more abuse on them.


I am a Castrol person, I've had the best luck with their oil as far as maintaining pressure over age. I've ran plenty others that started out with a higher pressure but slowly broke down, and I've run others that were shit.

 

[Spicedaddy]

been using Castrol Syntec 5W40 in a AWP 1.8T engine for 2 years, absolutely zero oil burnt.

I use it year round in Montreal weather, -30C to 30C...

 

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: Aharami

Originally posted by: exdeath
Go Royal Purple or Amsoil and never look back.

those are mighty expensive

That's why I don't use those. I use Mobil 1 and never had any problems. I tried RP and didn't notice anything except a lighter wallet.

 

[biggestmuff]

NaOH, what year is the GTI? What's the engine code?

 

[NaOH]

Originally posted by: biggestmuff
NaOH, what year is the GTI? What's the engine code?

08, engine code? I know i have the FSI one...

 

[thecritic]

You need a 502.00 approved oil. Syntec 5w-40, Mobil 1 0w-40 and others are all VW approved for that specification.

Without going into the debate as to which 502.00 approved oil is better, just understand that all of the approved oils were put through the testing program and passed. That's all that matters. Nowadays with German cars, it isn't the brand/model/grade of oil that matters, but instead, it's whether or not the oil is approved for a particular specification.

 

[bamx2]

I really don't think that matters which synthetic brand you use if you at least keep up with the recommended maintenance schedule . Lots of discussion y people obsessed with this on forums at www.bobistheoilguy.com,

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: bamx2
I really don't think that matters which synthetic brand you use if you at least keep up with the recommended maintenance schedule . Lots of discussion y people obsessed with this on forums at www.bobistheoilguy.com,

If I use anything other than the only approved oil my warranty will be voided. Whether or not others may be comparable I'll take the comfort of a warranty versus oil brand loyalty, which has never really been for Castrol.