Modern oil investigation
With the number of different oil brands, blends and brews on the UK market reportedly running into thousands, is there any wonder motorists and workshops alike face increasing challenges and confusion when deciding what’s best to pour into their engines, asks Alan Anderson.
It was all so simple way back in 1968 when Castrol and Esso launched their legendary GTX and Unif low household name engine oils – 10W-30 for winter months and the thicker 20W-50 for the summer.
But over the preceding 57 years, engines have advanced out of all recognition and their lubricants have had to follow suit. From staving off ‘Black Death’ in the 1980s, dealing with wet timing belt woes to now preventing hybrid harm due to their unique ‘duty-cycle’ which involves major working temperature swings leading to acute internal condensation problems. The cure is yet another dedicated brew joining the already bulging ranks – 0W-8 – to further confuse and confound motorists and workshops alike.
Not that the average driver is concerned about what oil they use for topping-up – indeed the majority can’t actually be bothered! A study by Kwik Fit revealed more than threefifths of drivers (62%) let at least three months pass by between oil dips and nearly 10% regard it as an annual chore. What’s more three million motorists don’t know to carry out this most simplest of maintenance checks – assuming a dipstick is still fitted, of course – placing lazy trust on a warning light instead when a visual look at the oil as well as its level can be a godsend.
Equally worrying is that a recent survey conducted by Mobil 1 in conjunction with the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) comprising 1000 motorists revealed two-thirds didn’t even know what oil their car needed and a staggering 96% didn’t much care either. So much for all the time, money and effort put into marketing and educating the end user?
Castrol, the UK’s most popular pick think not. It says brand loyalty stems back to the original launch of GTX, which has recently been relaunched as GTX Classic 10W-40 under the Castrol Classic Oils banner. “Despite this strong back catalogue, many drivers today won’t necessarily relate to these elements. They might not be car or motorsport enthusiasts, but that doesn’t mean they are any less keen on ensuring their vehicles continue to provide the performance and
