Castrol Edge 0W-30 A3/B4 Oil Review
Content
An excellent oil that has not passed a single test. Perfect for residents of the northern regions of our country. Excellent performance in extreme conditions. A high base number will clean the engine even of old deposits. In general, I recommend. I'll tell you more in the review.
About Castrol
An old player in the market, founded in 1909, the country of England. The brand has been represented in Russia since 1991 and occupies a significant part of the domestic market. The philosophy of the company has always been to work closely with customers and continues to this day. Now production is scattered around the world, including Western Europe, America and China, but the largest production is in China. At the same time, the marketing policy is such that the place of production of the oil is hidden: there is no marking on the container indicating the plant where it was produced.
Castrol, supplied to the Russian market and to the shelves of Western Europe, differs significantly in composition. The manufacturer himself explains this by the fact that the quality of fuel in these countries is different. Russian fuel has a high sulfur content, so more oxidizing agents are added to the Russian fluid.
The quality of Castrol oil is evidenced by the fact that it is supplied to BMW factories for filling new car engines. The manufacturer also recommends this oil for use during and after the service period. The company develops its oil in conjunction with car manufacturers, so many automakers recommend it for their mechanisms.
One of the technologies thanks to which the oil maintains a high rating in the market is Intelligent Molecules, lubricant molecules settle on metal elements, form a resistant film and protect them from wear. The most popular Castrol oil line in Russia, Magnatec, is well suited for our climate, there are 9 different brands in the line, each of which we will consider in detail in separate reviews.
General overview of the oil and its properties
High-quality synthetics, the latest development of the company. The main difference between the oil and its analogues is the addition of titanium to the composition. TITANIUM FST technology - titanium compounds in the composition of the lubricant, thanks to this substance, the film is especially strong. The oil creates a powerful impact-resistant layer that protects the surface from scratches by 120%. According to the results of technical tests, the risk of film rupture is reduced by 2 times compared to similar oils. And these results were confirmed even in the most difficult conditions.
The oil shows good fluidity at low temperatures and stability at high temperatures. The composition includes anti-foam, extreme pressure, stabilizer and anti-friction additives. Mandatory package of detergents and dispersants in the required quantity. Rinse off any impurities and keep them suspended in the liquid. During the use of new deposits is not formed.
The oil is suitable for modern engines with increased lubrication requirements. An ideal formulation for engines operating under severe conditions and under heavy loads, but requiring the use of a low viscosity oil.
Technical characteristics, tolerances, specifications
| Corresponds to the class | Explanation of designation |
|---|---|
| API SL / CF; | SN has been the quality standard for automotive oils since 2010. These are the latest stringent requirements, SN certified oils can be used in all modern generation gasoline engines manufactured in 2010. CF is a quality standard for diesel engines introduced in 1994. Oils for off-road vehicles, engines with separate injection, including those running on fuel with a sulfur content of 0,5% by weight and above. Replaces CD oils. |
| ASEA A3/V3, A3/V4; | Classification of oils according to ACEA. Until 2004 there were 2 classes. A - for gasoline, B - for diesel. A1/B1, A3/B3, A3/B4 and A5/B5 were then merged. The higher the ACEA category number, the more stringent the oil meets the requirements. |
Laboratory Tests
| Index | Unit cost |
|---|---|
| Density at 15 ° C | 0,8416 g / ml |
| Kinematic viscosity at 40 ° C | 69,33 mm2 / s |
| Kinematic viscosity at 100℃ | 12,26 mm2 / s |
| viscosity index | 177 |
| Dynamic viscosity CCS | — |
| Freezing point | -56 ° C |
| Flash point | 240 ° C |
| Sulphated ash | 1,2% by mass |
| ACEA approval | A3/V3, A3/V4 |
| API approval | SL / CF |
| Main number | 10,03 mg KON per 1 g |
| Acid number | 1,64 mg KON per 1 g |
| Sulfur content | 0,214% |
| Fourier IR Spectrum | Hydrocracking PAO + VKhVI |
| PLAC | — |
Tolerances Castrol Edge 0W-30 A3/B4
- ASEA A3/V3, A3/V4
- API SL / CF
- Approval MB 229,3/ 229,5
- Volkswagen 502 00 / 505 00
Release form and articles
- 157E6A — Castrol EDGE 0W-30 A3/B4 1л
- 157E6B — Castrol EDGE 0W-30 A3/B4 4L
Test results
According to the test results, the oil showed the quality and stability of the Castrol brand in all respects, it can be safely rated as a solid five. Corresponds to its viscosity class. At 100 degrees, the indicator is high - 12,26, which is how ACEA A3 / B4 oil should be. Base number 10, acidity 1,64 - such indicators promise high washing properties of the oil throughout the recommended cycle and at the end.
The ash content is low - 1,20, which indicates a modern package of additives, in the process of use it will not leave deposits on parts. Temperature indicators are very good: at 240 they blink, at -56 they freeze. Sulfur 0,214 is a low figure, once again confirming the modern additive package.
Contains titanium compounds, acts as a modern type friction modifier, anti-wear antioxidant, reduces wear, prevents oil oxidation, makes the engine quieter and reduces fuel consumption. The rest of the additive package is standard: phosphorus and zinc as antiwear components, boron as an ashless dispersant. Oil based on PAO and VHVI hydrocracking.
Advantages
- Stability at very low and high temperatures.
- Good and long lasting cleansing properties.
- Thanks to the use of a high quality base oil does not contain sulfur and ash.
- Titanium compounds in the composition reliably protect parts even under heavy loads.
- The content of PAO in the composition
defects
- No oil defects found.
Verdict
High quality oil with a wide operating temperature range. It will show high washing properties throughout the entire period of use. A unique titanium compound additive package replaces molybdenum, which is used in most similar oils. Minus temperature allows the use of oil throughout Russia, even in the most northern regions. There were no downsides to oil.
In every way, Castrol is ahead of the competition, compare it to the likes of MOBIL 1 ESP 0W-30 and IDEMITSU Zepro Touring Pro 0W-30. In terms of viscosity, our product is higher than the named competitors: kinematic viscosity at 100 degrees 12,26, MOBIL 1 - 11,89, IDEMITSU - 10,20. The pour point is higher than all competitors: -56 degrees versus -44 and -46. The flash point is also higher: 240 degrees compared to 238 and 226. The base number is the highest of all, and the acid number is the lowest: very good cleaning properties for a long time. The only indicator that Castrol did not pay attention to was sulfur, but insignificantly, MOBIL 1 showed sulfur of 0,207, against 0,214 for our oil. IDEMITSU has much more sulfur.
How to distinguish a fake
The manufacturer has taken great care to protect its products from fakes. First of all, you need to pay attention to the protective ring:
- It has the company logo on it.
- The stiffening ribs on the lid reach the top.
- The applied logo has a yellowish color, applied by a laser printer, so it is quite difficult to tear it off.
- The protective ring is securely attached to the lid.
- At the top of the cap are three-dimensional letters representing the company logo.
- Silver protective foil under the cap.
Many counterfeiters have already learned how to counterfeit baseball caps, so the company has taken additional steps. A hologram with a unique code is applied to each pan, it can be sent to the company for verification. In addition, each container has its own unique code, which encodes information about the country of origin, the date of the oil spill and the batch number. The code is also applied using a laser printer.
There is another hologram on the back label: an image of a padlock. If you change the viewing angle, it glows with horizontal stripes. Fake holograms glitter all over the surface. There is a label on the back of the container that opens like a book. In the original, it opens easily and simply sticks back. For fakes, the label is removed with difficulty, does not lie flat.
The date of bottling the oil and the manufacture of the bottle should not differ by more than 2 months.
Video version of the review
