GC from other sources?

[fdcg27]

I was at an O'Reilly's a few weeks ago, and was talking to the very helpful and knowledgeable store manager.
I asked him whether he could order Syntec 0W-30.
He looked in his system, and said that he could.
I am thinking this would have to be GC, since there can't be case quatities of the old US Syntec 0W-30 laying around, can there?
Anyway, next time O'Reilly has a special on Syntec, I am going to give this a try.
There was a guy on here a couple of years ago who said that his Napa could order GC for him. IIRC correctly, a number of memebers said that this had to be US Syntec 0W-30, but I wonder?
If a retailer buys from Castrol, and Castrol is the importer and distributor, why couldn't that retailer order any oil Castrol distributes in the US?
Only AZ and PB are known to stock GC, but couldn't others order it?

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: fdcg27

Only AZ and PB are known to stock GC, but couldn't others order it?

Yeah, I wondered about that too. All the other retailers just don't seem to stock Syntec in 0w-30 grade. I wonder if it's because it's an unpopular grade or they just can't get it.

Other than that, there are plenty of AZ and PB stores around me, so I don't even make an effort to source it from anywhere else.

 

[bdcardinal]

the Motorcraft bulk distributer for my dealer is also a Castrol bulk distributer and can get GC. only problem is that i have to buy it in pallet quantities, and i don't use it that much.

 

[Texas Aggie]

At ABC Auto, they stock Castrol Syntec 0W-30 made in Germany. I haven't bought it from there, and I'm not sure if ABC is a national chain, but it's one more source.

 

[LS2JSTS]

Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
the Motorcraft bulk distributer for my dealer is also a Castrol bulk distributer and can get GC. only problem is that i have to buy it in pallet quantities, and i don't use it that much.




Group Purchase!?!.....

....What is the cost/Qt?

 

[Vitt]

Originally Posted By: LS2JSTS
Group Purchase!?!.....

....What is the cost/Qt?


I would be interested too

. Live in the So.Cal/LA area. I can't find the real GC on Autozones. The ones I've been to have the "European" formula which is not the same from what I understand.

 

[fdcg27]

GC is labeled "Euopean formula" on the front of the botle, while in fine type on the back lower right of the bottle, it will say "Made in Germany".
If it is Syntec 0W-30, check for the "Made in Germany" attribution.
There was once a US Syntec 0W-30, but it hasn't been bottled in years.
I saw some mixed in with the GC a few years ago.

 

[Vitt]

I think some with "European formula" label had another label that said "For sale in USA or North America only," but didn't have the "made in Germany" label on it. I looked everywhere on the bottle. If it was the same as German GC why would it say for sale in North America only?

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: Vitt
If it was the same as German GC why would it say for sale in North America only?

All the GC bottles I've seen say "not for sale outside of North America." The reason for this is that since this oil is bottled in Germany, they don't want someone to start selling it there. Over there, the product naming/branding is different so they don't want to create confusion. At least that's what I think.

 

[38sho]

other castrol syntec bottles also say not for sale outside usa, I know 10w30 does........ they might all say that.....

 

[fdcg27]

Well, if this is the same stuff sold in the EU, you could pay shelf price here, ship a container load back to Europe, and make a killing, since motor oil is so much cheaper here than it is on the east side of the Atlantic.
I wonder whether anyone has done this with any motor oil?
It may be a matter of everything being sold by the quart here, and the liter there.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: fdcg27
Well, if this is the same stuff sold in the EU, you could pay shelf price here, ship a container load back to Europe, and make a killing,

Riiiight... and you're assuming Europe won't charge you import duties on that container of oil.

On top of that, you'll have to add 22% or more VAT to the price of that oil when you sell it in Europe.

 

[fdcg27]

Good point!