RX - 1st Gen (1999-2003) Discussion topics related to the 1999 -2003 RX300 models

German Castrol 0W30

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Old 01-28-07, 07:50 AM
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Lexmex
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Default German Castrol 0W30

I had heard about this oil from Bobistheoilguy.com in their forums, http://theoildrop.server101.com/foru...=0&Board=UBB51

However, did not find much reason to give it a try though some track friends had used it, https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=223347 TunedRX300 sums it up very well what is the issue with other oils right now, good reading I want to thank him for rebringing up the subject.

I wasn't having really an issue with my Mobil 1 0W40/5W30 and additives until recently when I started reporting some consumption issues I didn't have before.

Now I wanted to try the stuff, but after having contacted Castrol once and not getting a positive reply, I contacted Castrol Mexico again this and finally I got an answer from them that BMW dealers nationwide sell this product. My cousin called the dealer nearest him and we picked it up. More expensive of course than in the U.S, where it retails for just under $6 USD a quart.

Though these products are labelled BMW, a picture of the how the bottle looks in the U.S. on the front and on the back is shown by one of our Corvette colleagues at http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1468080

You can get them at AutoZone in the U.S., but I am not sure about Canada.

A post here, http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...0&postcount=18 talks about this product being the German Castrol even though labelled BMW

So what was the result?
Attached Thumbnails German Castrol 0W30-img_1978.jpg  
Old 01-28-07, 07:53 AM
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Lexmex
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Well, first we used a LiquiMoly Engine Flush (10 minutes at idle), changed the oil and filter with an HP-1002 from K&N and added the Castrol. No sludge or any other accumulation came out.
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Old 01-28-07, 07:56 AM
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This is a picture of adding the flush.
Attached Thumbnails German Castrol 0W30-img_1976.jpg  
Old 01-28-07, 07:57 AM
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And here finally is the oil. Gold in color, smells as my cousin described it like gummy bears...perhaps an apple scent but with just a very slight sweetness. Felt very light in my hand and poured like water. Filled it up to 4.7 Ls and it went right to the dipstick mark like a charm.
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Old 01-28-07, 08:09 AM
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Backside view of the bottle, note Made in Germany at the bottom. I am not sure if the U.S. BMW dealers carry this.

A few things I noticed after I started up the vehicle and got out on the highway (and keeping in mind I remember somewhere on bobistheoilguy that someone says this oil is addictive...I soon found out):

1. The engine ran much, much quieter, not quite how my RX was when stock, but I put on an XM Radio Classical station and COULD NOT HEAR the hum of the motor, whereas normally I could in idle or in drive.

2. When I was on the highway and took my foot off the throttle, the vehicle felt as if it was gliding over silk.

3. When I would accelerate rather than feeling as a light oil should (practically no sensation of torque)...I actually felt the torque (very nice feeling) and the acceleration was smoother, even the gear changes felt better. Last time I felt an improvement there was when I changed out my gear fluids to Royal Purple.

TRACK

Didn't hit a record, but I swear, for full crowd and a lot of vehicles my RX ran a best last night of 17.991 (record still at 17.931) and against competition did not go above 18.050. This is a remarkable achievement that I would not even seen on cold nights where there were only less than 5 vehicles when we open the track at 9 p.m. I was running at least 10 times, even waiting in line and the RX blew out a Nissan and Chevy 2500 V8 right off the line. Normally under such conditions, I would be losing a few tenths of a second with all that heat, even on the same day as my other oil changes with Mobil 1. One more thing, I had a 1/4 tank of gas, not 1/8.

Thus far, it is a winner, but I will be evaluating consumption, MPG and in my case track performance over the long term.
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Old 01-28-07, 05:11 PM
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TunedRX300
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Lexmex,
You beat me to try out GC, good to know this 100% true PAO based Group IV oil is a winner in your book.
I had similar experience when I used Mobil 1 0w-20 from 5w-30. The performance gain before engine reaches to operating temperature is noticeable. Of course, Mobil 1 5w-30 EP now is proven to be watered down to a Group III dino oil, who knows what makes up the rest of its M1 lineup?
Picked up 3 cases from Autozone and during the summer I will fill my RX, after I complete Auto-RX treatment of my leaky seal. I am ready to switch to GC.
Old 01-28-07, 09:59 PM
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Well, I have to tell you I was VERY pleased at this afternoon's monthly bracket competition at my track. Won another 1st place trophy (along with 2,000 pesos (about 200 USD)), this time by .006 seconds in the final. That Castrol kept my warm up times very consistent (in fact a little more than the Mobil 1 and additives did). So it paid off so to speak.

I also ran off an 18.091 in high 70 degree weather with a track full of people and cars. Quite impressive as normally I would do 18.2s to 18.3s best under these conditions.
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Old 01-30-07, 09:56 AM
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this is what I use on my bimmer. I had never noticed any difference before and after oil change (I do oil change every 4k miles). But after switching to Castrol 0w30 (German made), I felt the difference .. well .. that could all be just in my head .. but I think I am not the only one who feel the difference.
Old 01-31-07, 11:06 AM
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Also noticed much easier in starting up hills, feels like it doesn't lose a step when going from a flat road to a sharp rise as occurred with the Mobil 1.

One other thing I wanted to add is that I have 117,250 miles at the moment on my RX.

Last edited by Lexmex; 02-04-07 at 11:58 AM.
Old 02-05-07, 08:49 AM
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A few other comments:

1. In the past week, after a M to F commute, I noticed 1 mph more on the trip computer since I filled up on the Sunday night after that competition, plus I was only down 1/2 a tank, where as previously I would have gone through 3/4ths of a tank.

2. Whether cold or hot, the engine oil has no smell and I have not seen any movement on the dipstick in terms of consumption.

Wanted to race this weekend, but we had rain Saturday night and our track was occupied for a concert on Friday night, so will have to wait and see next weekend.
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