GC 0w30

[A_Harman]

Virgin sample of Castrol Syntec 0w30, analyzed by Polaris Labs.

Elemental Analysis, ppm:
Iron, 1
Silicon, 2
Sodium, 2
Magnesium, 512
Calcium, 1899
Phosphorous, 920
Zinc, 1023

KV100 = 11.7

TBN = 9.64

Oxidation = 5
Nitration = 6

This replaced PU in my Camaro when I changed oil a couple of weeks ago. I noticed a step change in oil pressure from 38 to 50 psi at 1700 rpm cruise with GC. The piston slap at idle when warmed up seems louder than with PU.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Oil is overadditised for long drain - give it 1500 miles to settle in and noise should be somewhat abated.
BTW, Oil pressure seems too high.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Thanks!

Looks like no change since the last time we had a VOA done on this oil.

What was the production date on the stuff you had analyzed?

 

[dparm]

So which version is this?

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: dparm
So which version is this?

Yeah, is it from the latest "Made in Belgium" bottle?

 

[tstep]

always thought the Kv100 was around 12.2??

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: tstep
always thought the Kv100 was around 12.2??

A $20 UOA is not an exact science. Plus, there is often batch to batch variation. 11.7 is close enough, IMO.

 

[A_Harman]

This is German Castrol that I bought last year at AZ on a 5qts+filter deal for $32. I figured what the heck, I've always wanted to try it, so I might as well take advantage of the sale.

The bottles say "Made in Germany" on the back.

The KV100 on the PDS is 12.2, so it's running a little light.
The TBN should be 10.3, so it's a little short on that, too.

I seem to remember that Calcium used to be 2400 back in the good old days. Does anybody remember for sure?

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: A_Harman
I seem to remember that Calcium used to be 2400 back in the good old days. Does anybody remember for sure?

Back when it was green, Calcium was around 2700-2800...

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubb...port#Post475261

That was some 10+ years ago.

Your VOA is very similar to this one from 2011:
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubb...0_S#Post2365765


Too bad you didn't have the latest "Made in Belgium" version tested. It would put to rest any rumors whether there was any change to the formula as a result of manufacturing location change.

 

[dailydriver]

Did Polaris test for boron, or was there just none in there, so you did not post it up?

 

[fdcg27]

I've always kind of chuckled at the simple add pack this oil uses, although it meets most of the same Euro certs as M1 0W-40.
It also has very similar levels of the ads the two share in common, although GC has less Calcium along with a much larger slug of Magnesium as compared to the M1.
Where's the moly?
Where's the boron?
There isn't any.
I wonder what blend of basetocks Castrol uses in GC?
This oil does meet some demanding certs, and that isn't due to an outstanding add pack.

 

[A_Harman]

Originally Posted By: dailydriver
Did Polaris test for boron, or was there just none in there, so you did not post it up?

Polaris tests for it.
I only posted the non-zero elements.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: fdcg27
I wonder what blend of basetocks Castrol uses in GC?

Since it's classified as "full synthetic" in Germany, it has to be predominantly group IV/V. Although the German Castrol 0w-30 was recently reformulated, so this may have changed now.

 

[fdcg27]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: fdcg27
I wonder what blend of basetocks Castrol uses in GC?

Since it's classified as "full synthetic" in Germany, it has to be predominantly group IV/V. Although the German Castrol 0w-30 was recently reformulated, so this may have changed now.


Given the very basic add pack combined with the certs this oil meets, I've always thought that it must have a pretty high quality basestock blend.
I've used it in applications that didn't really need such a high HTHSV oil and it seemed to be fine, although I did no UOAs.

 

[CATERHAM]

Originally Posted By: A_Harman
I noticed a step change in oil pressure from 38 to 50 psi at 1700 rpm cruise with GC.

That's a HTHSV 3.5cP vs PU's 3.1cP for you.