How many use Castrol Edge ?
#22
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Most synthetics on the market today use a highly hydroprocessed mineral oil classified as Group III basestock by the API and allowed to be labeled as "synthetic" by the NAD. AMSOIL's SAE Synthetics use a Group IV basestock (polyalphaolefins or PAO) but nothing prevents any oil company from using them. AMSOIL's lower cost synthetics (OE and XL lines) use a Group III synthetic basestock similar to what most others use. Royal Purple doesn't state what they use. Red Line uses a Group V polyol ester basestock.
The additives primarly consist of anti-wear additives, detergents and disperspants. The detergents and dispersants are not limited by the API and this is where you see a large difference between oils, generally with those recommended for longer drain intervals with more. The primary anti-wear additive is ZDDP, or Zinc dialkyl dithio phosphate. Due to the phosphorus' impact on catalytic conveters, the API limits the maximum phosphorus to 800 ppm in API SM and SN 30 grade oils. It also limits the minimum to 600 ppm, essentially putting both a floor and a cap on the most common anti-wear additives. For comparison, API SL, the spec in existance when the C5 was made, allowed 1000 ppm phosphorus. What the oil companies due to offset the loss of ZDDP is a closely held secret.
For those will to stray from API SM/SN oils, higher levels of ZDDP can be found.
For example, many use diesel oils to get around this limit. AMSOIL has a 30 grade diesel oil with high levels of ZDDP:
AMSOIL Series 3000 Synthetic 5w30 Heavy Duty Diesel Oil
(Product Code HDDQT)
(zinc – 1379 ppm, phosphorus 1266 ppm)
I personally use AMSOIL's racing oil, which has no detergents or dispersants, but very high levels of ZDDP:
AMSOIL Dominator Synthetic 10w30 Racing Motor Oil
(Product Code RD30QT)
(zinc – 1575 ppm, phosphorus 1474 ppm)
All in all, there is a large variance in oils, both in the basestock and the additive levels. Some by choice, some by regulation.
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I've used Edge for the last 2 oil changes.
Their claims of 8x better wear protection are probably pretty much B.S.,but hey, if it's really only 2x,I figure it couldn't hurt...
And the price is pretty right at Wallyworld
Their claims of 8x better wear protection are probably pretty much B.S.,but hey, if it's really only 2x,I figure it couldn't hurt...
And the price is pretty right at Wallyworld
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Thank you for the heads up. I will switch to Castro Edge on my next oil change.
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What I would like to know is what criteria does Castrol use in determining their claims of 8X better wear protection? If this is fact then the other companies will need to get on the stick or risk losing many customers.
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i used it for awhile but then just went back to mobile 1 since thats what the cars says so you cant go wrong there. didnt notice any differance between the 2 oils
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I have considered changing to Castrol Edge (hate that thinking with your dipstick ad). You apparently had an oil analysis to determine the improvement in the lead ppm ratio.
What I would like to know is what criteria does Castrol use in determining their claims of 8X better wear protection? If this is fact then the other companies will need to get on the stick or risk losing many customers.
What I would like to know is what criteria does Castrol use in determining their claims of 8X better wear protection? If this is fact then the other companies will need to get on the stick or risk losing many customers.
#33
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No - my last real daily driver was an 06 CTS-V (LS2 engine) and I ran AMSOIL's best API SM (now SN) oil, the Signature Series 0w30 which complies with the API limits on phosphorus. But, I never tracked that car and I drove it relatively sanely. I sold that car after three years when I moved to DC and with two daughters now in their driving years and with college looming, I haven't replaced it. I'm currently driving our SUV, an 03 Chevy Trailblazer with the 5.3L V-8 for my DC commute. For that, I've been using the same 0w30 has I had a few extra cases after I sold the V.
If I had a Corvette daily driver and didn't track it, I'd probably use the same Signature Series 0w30 I did in my V.
If I had a Corvette daily driver and didn't track it, I'd probably use the same Signature Series 0w30 I did in my V.
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No - my last real daily driver was an 06 CTS-V (LS2 engine) and I ran AMSOIL's best API SM (now SN) oil, the Signature Series 0w30 which complies with the API limits on phosphorus. But, I never tracked that car and I drove it relatively sanely. I sold that car after three years when I moved to DC and with two daughters now in their driving years and with college looming, I haven't replaced it. I'm currently driving our SUV, an 03 Chevy Trailblazer with the 5.3L V-8 for my DC commute. For that, I've been using the same 0w30 has I had a few extra cases after I sold the V.
If I had a Corvette daily driver and didn't track it, I'd probably use the same Signature Series 0w30 I did in my V.![Cheers!](https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/images/smilies/cheers2.gif)
If I had a Corvette daily driver and didn't track it, I'd probably use the same Signature Series 0w30 I did in my V.
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-Alex
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I've been a loyal Castrol user for as long as I can remember. I used to use Castrol Syntec which did meet the GM spec. Then they came out with Edge at a higher price. At the same time the Syntec no longer carried the GM spec on the label. So I figured it was a marketing ploy to force Syntec users to the Edge brand. This ticked me off and I switched to Penzsoil Synthetic for a couple oil changes. After awhile Walmart dropped the price of Edge and that's when I went back to Castrol. It didn't do anything but I know it's in there.
#37
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This is the oil I used:
AMSOIL Signature Series Synthetic 0w30 (Product Code SSOQT)
This is AMSOIL's best API spec 30 grade oil and it only comes in 0w30.
As to why it is a 0w vice a 5w I don't know, but suspect that the 0w comes for free given its high quality synthetic basestock. There really isn't that much difference between a 0wX and a 5wX other than the kinematic viscosity at really cold temps (-30 to -35C). How this is achieved is another matter. Lower quality oils need to use large amounts of viscosity improvers to increase the spread in rating between cold and hot ratings, but that isn't so for the better synthetics. The problem with viscosity improvers is that they can rapidly shear down resulting in a loss of viscosity of the fluid.
As examples of how minor the difference is between AMSOIL's Sig Series 0w30 and AMSOIL's very similar SAE Synthetic 5w30:
100F viscosity
0w30: 56.5 cSt
5w30: 60.7 cSt
212F vicosity (the 30 grade rating)
0w30: 10.3 cSt
5w30: 10.8 cSt
300F viscosity (High Temp High Shear rating)
0w30: 3.2 cSt
5w30: 3.2 cSt
Cold Pour Point
0w30: -60F
5w30: -58F
I think the practical benefit of the 0w30 is that it has a flatter viscosity curve (if you plotted viscosity vs. temp) and thus it is going to flow better when the oil is cold, minimizing wear during engine and oil warmup, but provides the same high temp protection.
FYI, the specification to achieve a 0w rating is a maximum cold cranking viscosity of 6200 at -35C. For 5w it is 6600 at -30C.
AMSOIL Signature Series Synthetic 0w30 (Product Code SSOQT)
This is AMSOIL's best API spec 30 grade oil and it only comes in 0w30.
As to why it is a 0w vice a 5w I don't know, but suspect that the 0w comes for free given its high quality synthetic basestock. There really isn't that much difference between a 0wX and a 5wX other than the kinematic viscosity at really cold temps (-30 to -35C). How this is achieved is another matter. Lower quality oils need to use large amounts of viscosity improvers to increase the spread in rating between cold and hot ratings, but that isn't so for the better synthetics. The problem with viscosity improvers is that they can rapidly shear down resulting in a loss of viscosity of the fluid.
As examples of how minor the difference is between AMSOIL's Sig Series 0w30 and AMSOIL's very similar SAE Synthetic 5w30:
100F viscosity
0w30: 56.5 cSt
5w30: 60.7 cSt
212F vicosity (the 30 grade rating)
0w30: 10.3 cSt
5w30: 10.8 cSt
300F viscosity (High Temp High Shear rating)
0w30: 3.2 cSt
5w30: 3.2 cSt
Cold Pour Point
0w30: -60F
5w30: -58F
I think the practical benefit of the 0w30 is that it has a flatter viscosity curve (if you plotted viscosity vs. temp) and thus it is going to flow better when the oil is cold, minimizing wear during engine and oil warmup, but provides the same high temp protection.
FYI, the specification to achieve a 0w rating is a maximum cold cranking viscosity of 6200 at -35C. For 5w it is 6600 at -30C.
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#38
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Man and I thought I was doing perfect with their 5w30 LOL. I think for my stock LS1 I'll stick with that. Maybe once the swap build begins I will switch to their 0w30. Thanks Sub![Thumbs Up](https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
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I changed my oil to Castrol Edge a month before the whole BP thing in the Gulf. ![Ack!](https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/images/smilies/ack2.gif)
I wanted to try Amsoil and things were going from bad to worse for BP so for my next oil change I switched to Amsoil and I like it so far.
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I wanted to try Amsoil and things were going from bad to worse for BP so for my next oil change I switched to Amsoil and I like it so far.