Imagine my surprise!

[TopCatGr58]

I'm a Castrol Devotee, have been for over 25 years!

I was shopping at Walmart the other day, they've added a new MC accessories section, helmets, tire flat repair kits, etc.. They had some special 2 stroke and 4 stroke Castrol MC oil, and farther down in the auto section was the auto oil. The MC oil was priced at about $0.30 more than the auto oil. The MC oil stated that it only met the SG and SH standards, whereas the auto oil met the SG/SH/SJ/SM standards!? Neither had anything in the lower half of the SAE stamp.

But what caught my attention was a little line at the bottom of the bottle......with a little flower symbol.....Yes, it said BP!

So....I went to the Castrol web page:
http://www.castrol.com/castrol/castr...ategoryId=3240 and down at the bottom left corner of the page was this:

© BP Lubricants USA Inc. 2007

I'm still going to use Castrol, but was a bit disappointed to see this!
T.C.

[GtrMn]

When did BP buy out Castrol..

[TopCatGr58]

Further info on the API standards, remember that the MC specific oil only met the SG/SH standards, whereas the auto met the SM!


The latest service category rating for gasoline engines is "SM", introduced in November 2004 for 2005 and newer engines. SM-rated oils along with the previous "SL" (2001) and "SJ" (1997) ratings, are backwards compatible and can be safely used in older engines. But the opposite is not true. Older obsolete service classifications (SH, SG, SF, etc.) may not meet OEM lubrication requirements for newer engines. Likewise, API SL oils should not be used in 2005 and later vehicles, and SJ oils should not be used in 2001 and newer vehicles.

API ratings history:
SG and SH: for 1993 and older, and for 1996 and older,both are considered OBSOLETE!
SL for 2004 and older, and SM for Current vehicles, introduced in Nov. 30, 2004 designed to provide imporved oxidation resistance, improved deposit protection, better wear protection, and better low=temperature performance over the life of the oil. Some SM oils may also meet the latest ILSAC(International Lubricant Standardization and Approval Committee)speciication and/or qualify as Energy Conserving.

However, even the SM rated Castrol didn't have anything in the bottom of the service donut, which means that it doesn't have extra ZINC additives which are what can cause the clutches to slip prematurely!

See www.api.org/eolcs
T.C.

[trapper_492001]

I used to drive over the road as an owner operater. Usualy I had my oil (Rotela) changed at a local dealer, but had been out long enough to have to have an oil change on the road at one of the super truck stops in Ariszona. The next time home I was just about due so had the oil changed and had the oil anilized. You have to tell them what oil you use. It came back that the oil was Rotela like but was not Rotela formula. I called the truck stop and they said they buy there oil bulk from Rotela but use there own formula. Sucks doesn't it.

[TADracer]

I have been using 20W-50 Castrol 4T motorcycle oil for a bit over a year now. Before that I was using Castrol GTX 20W-50. I noticed it on the shelf at Pep boys one day. It seems to work very well, my new clutch likes it. I decided to give it a try since it was supposedly designed specifically for 4-stroke motorcycle engines. I have not been disappointed.

[Dragonrider]

I've got about 3/4 million miles over several motorcycles on Castroil. 20/50w for the air cooled ones, 15/40w for the water cooled ones.

Ran it in my OTR trucks too. Good stuff...that.

[jetmechmarty]

Castrol

AFAIK, Castrol has always been produced by various refineries under license. It's made to Castrol specs, just like YAMALUBE or Harley-Davidson motor oil. It's still good stuff, even if BP makes it. I don't use Castrol, but not for that reason.