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Mobil 1 0W-40 vs. Castrol Edge 0W-40

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#42 ·
Megalocnus said:
Right. Apparently Castrol has an error in one of their pdf datasheets. Found another, it says the HT/HS of these oils is 3.5.

I decided to try Pennzoil 5W-40 Ultra for my next oil change. Very slightly thinner than M1 and Castrol xW-40, but a little more stable.
Click to expand...
eg. Shell Helix Ultra 5W40 and a lot cheaper here than M1 0W40 or Castrol
0W40. Probably a Group III base stock but these days who knows or cares?
 
Discussion starter · #44 · (Edited)
Conclusion Part II

Thanks everyone.

My conclusion is still to stay with Mobil 1 0W-40 and keep easy on the accelerator (and brake). While it is better for me to have the cold temperate ease of flow with the 0W rating when I start my car in -10 degree Fahrenheit weather, I am probably not getting the benefit of the HT/HS of the 40 high temperature rating. The 40 high temperature protection (instead of 30) maybe makes the oil slightly thicker than it needs to be under normal calm driving conditions.

If anything I may switch to Castrol Edge (Syntec) 0W-30 for a quieter engine with less resistance and slightly better economy. But Walmart does not stock this, so maybe not. The Castrol Edge 0W-40 is probably as good as the Mobil 1 or every so slightly better, but is more expensive, not as widely available, and does not have as long a track record. It is just too hard to tell without a controlled long term experiment. For now that 400 degree burn test is one of the only controlled comparison experiments I have seen. Both results are similar, but to draw a conclusion from this test alone may be omitting other important real world factors.

If anyone has any real world experience / experiments with these BMW LL-01 approved oils, please share.

-Marc
 
#46 ·
camrydriver111 said:
There must be errors in multiple Castrol data sheets then. The data sheet I saw had their entire range of EDGE oils and it shows 2.9 for all their oils except 0W20 and 5W50.
Click to expand...
Here ya go. Tell us how many of these have a HTHS of 2.9?
And Castrol now have 27 (twenty seven) XW30 oils available. Bet that surprises a few here........

http://www.tds.castrol.com.au/default.aspx
 
Discussion starter · #53 · (Edited)
Discussion starter · #55 ·
In terms of product data sheet specs:

Castrol Edge 0W-40
  • HTHS: 3.6
  • Base Number: 10.3
  • Viscosity @ 40C: 79
  • Viscosity @ 100C: 13.1

Mobil 1 0W-40
  • HTHS: 3.8 (slightly better)
  • Base Number: 11.8 (better)
  • Viscosity @ 40C: 75 (slighter thinner when cold / better)
  • Viscosity @ 100C: 13.5 (slightly thicker when hot / better)

Both have nearly identical certifications:
  • API SN, SM, SL, SJ
  • ACEA A3/B3, A3/B4
  • Nissan GT-R
  • MB-Approval 229.3
  • MB-Approval 229.5
  • BMW LONGLIFE OIL 01
  • VW 502 00/505 00
  • PORSCHE A40

Mobil 1 0W-40 has the following additional certifications:
  • API CF
  • VW 503 01
  • SAAB
  • OPEL Long Life Service Fill GM-LL-A-025
  • OPEL Diesel Service Fill GM-LL-B-025
  • FIAT 9.55535 - M2
  • FIAT 9.55535 - N2
  • FIAT 9.55535 - Z2

Base Number indicates the ability for the oil to arrest corrosive acidic compounds formed during combustion.

This is what each manufacturer lists for their own products anyway. Also keep in mind that too much of a one good thing, can throw other good things off.

Again, no significant difference between the two, I am going with Mobil 1 since it has :

  1. Been around longer
  2. Is cheaper
  3. Is more widely available
  4. Is more widely used
  5. Live in the the Northeast US

My Car: 2002 North America BMW 325i / 115K Miles driven lightly.

-Marc
 
Discussion starter · #56 ·
Read some stuff that Mobil 1 sued Castrol a long time ago for falsely claiming it's oils were not 100% synthetic. They said they were derived at least partially from highly refined Group III Mineral Oil (highly purified "dinosaur" earth oil). Then shortly after the definition of 100% synthetic was changed to allow some Group III.

Maybe that is what is why it is now Edge and not call Syntec anymore? Who knows.

Still not sure whether that means Castrol is worse, or how much of a publicity stunt it was, etc. Mobil 1 is supposed to be fully Group IV PAO (Polyalphaolefin) as far as I know. Again who knows.
 
#58 ·
marcsilva said:
Read some stuff that Mobil 1 sued Castrol a long time ago for falsely claiming it's oils were not 100% synthetic. They said they were derived at least partially from highly refined Group III Mineral Oil (highly purified "dinosaur" earth oil). Then shortly after the definition of 100% synthetic was changed to allow some Group III.

Maybe that is what is why it is now Edge and not call Syntec anymore? Who knows.

Still not sure whether that means Castrol is worse, or how much of a publicity stunt it was, etc. Mobil 1 is supposed to be fully Group IV PAO (Polyalphaolefin) as far as I know. Again who knows.
Click to expand...
Didn't happen. Old wives tale that just refuses to die!
 
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