Castrol GTX
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 804
Likes: 5
From: Fresno CA
I've never had a problem with Castrol. I run it (10w-40) in my new 408 and haven't had any breakdown issues. It depends on how many miles you have on your engine though, Mobil 1 is so good you probably shouldn't run it for 1-2k miles so your rings can seat in first. Break your engine in on conventional oil then switch over to M1.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 295
Likes: 0
From: Kempner Texas
Originally Posted by eguyett1985
I've never had a problem with Castrol. I run it (10w-40) in my new 408 and haven't had any breakdown issues. It depends on how many miles you have on your engine though, Mobil 1 is so good you probably shouldn't run it for 1-2k miles so your rings can seat in first. Break your engine in on conventional oil then switch over to M1.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,951
Likes: 3
From: Mount Vernon OH
There are other options other than Mobil 1. Royal Purple and Amsoil are both amazing oils. I personally use Royal Purple in my higher horsepower engines and their oil works. I am not telling you to switch but be aware there are other options beyond mobil 1.
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Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
Rob,
Use the Castrol. It is not going to hurt anything.
You are building a new engine and you need dino oil to aid in break in.
Once you get about 6000 miles on it, then switch over to Mobil 1.
As for Castrol being "designed for 4 cylinders," that does not exclude it for a V8. It just means that is capible of dealing with the stresses inside a 4 cylinder.
Use the Castrol. It is not going to hurt anything.
You are building a new engine and you need dino oil to aid in break in.
Once you get about 6000 miles on it, then switch over to Mobil 1.
As for Castrol being "designed for 4 cylinders," that does not exclude it for a V8. It just means that is capible of dealing with the stresses inside a 4 cylinder.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
Originally Posted by Hot Rod 90
I broke my engine in on the Castrol GTX dino stuff. 5w-30.
And I will continue to use it for the life of the engine.
And I will continue to use it for the life of the engine.
Unless you have an external oil cooler with the additional volume that comes with, I would switch over to Mobil 1. The thermal advantages are just beyond words... and with the heat issues within a C4 are so serious... damn...
It would be worth it...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 295
Likes: 0
From: Kempner Texas
Originally Posted by bogus
With your engine, I would switch to Mobil 1.
Unless you have an external oil cooler with the additional volume that comes with, I would switch over to Mobil 1. The thermal advantages are just beyond words... and with the heat issues within a C4 are so serious... damn...
It would be worth it...
Unless you have an external oil cooler with the additional volume that comes with, I would switch over to Mobil 1. The thermal advantages are just beyond words... and with the heat issues within a C4 are so serious... damn...
It would be worth it...
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 22,209
Likes: 12
From: OBAMA IS HITLER
Originally Posted by bogus
With your engine, I would switch to Mobil 1.
Unless you have an external oil cooler with the additional volume that comes with, I would switch over to Mobil 1. The thermal advantages are just beyond words... and with the heat issues within a C4 are so serious... damn...
It would be worth it...
Unless you have an external oil cooler with the additional volume that comes with, I would switch over to Mobil 1. The thermal advantages are just beyond words... and with the heat issues within a C4 are so serious... damn...
It would be worth it...
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 96,443
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From: Fort Knox, KY
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I have used Castrol Syntec when I couldn't find M1 in the five-gallon convenience size jugs. It's meet GM's specs and I've never had a problem.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
Originally Posted by robs87vette
I may after about 4 or 5k miles, I guess I'll cross that bridge when I get there. Thanks for all the info, I figured Castrol was a good choice for break-in!
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
Originally Posted by Hot Rod 90
i do have a factory oil cooler at least. the oil temp maxes out at 210-220* on a hot day. i have a 180 t-sta and fans reprogrammed accordingly.
What is synthetic oil? It's conventional dino oil with the various waxes removed and friction modifiers added. Those waxes are what build up causing sludge. Sludge stops oil flow and does bad things to the inside of a motor.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
Originally Posted by onedef92
I have used Castrol Syntec when I couldn't find M1 in the five-gallon convenience size jugs. It's meet GM's specs and I've never had a problem.
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 5,364
Likes: 38
From: King George VA
Originally Posted by robs87vette
I was told castrol was developed for 4 cylinder cars and should not be ran in my vette. Any truth in that? Or rather do I need to switch oils?
That said, in this AMSOIL commissioned comparative motor oil test of Nov 05 the Castrol GTX actually performed pretty well for a non-synthetic:
Comparative Motor Oil Test
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Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
Originally Posted by Subdriver
I believe your owner's manual specifies an oil meeting GM Standard 4178M. I've never seen a non-synthetic meet this standard, but several synthetics meet it.
That said, in this AMSOIL commissioned comparative motor oil test of Nov 05 the Castrol GTX actually performed pretty well for a non-synthetic:
Comparative Motor Oil Test
That said, in this AMSOIL commissioned comparative motor oil test of Nov 05 the Castrol GTX actually performed pretty well for a non-synthetic:
Comparative Motor Oil Test
back in 1955, Chevy had a problem with the rings... the engines were sucking in more oil than gas, I think!
The fix? run some bon-ami into the carb whilst the engine was running! That set the rings!
This is also back before an oil filter was STANDARD.
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,336
Likes: 12
From: Chicago Executive Airport, formerly known as Palwaukee
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Chevy has been using Mobil 1 as the factory fill since 1992. With the new LT1 engine, the engineers removed the oil cooler because of the reverse flow cooling system and the use of Mobil 1 synthetic oil.
My question is this: If synthetic is used at the factory, how did my rings seat on my 92, 94 and 96 Vette?
My question is this: If synthetic is used at the factory, how did my rings seat on my 92, 94 and 96 Vette?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,142
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From: Athens AL
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M1 was instituted with the deletion of the oil cooler and the Gen II SBC has much tighter build tolerances, thats how it gets away with using M1 from the factory.