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Castrol Edge Professional OW-20 VW Specification Oil Analysis
Last time I had my 2021 F Type R in for the scheduled maintenance the dealer used Castrol Edge Professional OW-20 oil, but not the previous Castrol Edge Professional EC5 formula, which was an exclusive blend for JLR and met the STJLR.03.5006 specification.
From what I can tell, the EC5 formula is no longer available. The oil they used and the oil they sell over the counter in the parts department is the Castrol Edge Professional Ow-20 that meets Volkswagen/Porsche specification VW.508 CO/509. I was curious and sent a few ounces of this VW/Porsche spec oil to Blackstone Labs for a virgin oil analysis and compared it to a sample of the factory fill oil that I pulled from my F Type at around 2750 miles.
The readings obtained from the VW/Porsche approved oil are close enough to those from the JLR STJLR.03.5006 specification oil as to be considered identical. Note that the Molybdenum content is much lower that the Universal Averages in both samples and the Titanium is much higher. Castrol markets their Edge Professional oil as having "Fluid Titanium Technology" and apparently both VW/Porsche and JLR feel that a high Titanium content is beneficial for their engines.
I have attached both Blackstone reports, one from my Jag with the old Castrol formula and the other for the virgin oil sample for the VW/Porsche specification. Hopefully this formula will be readily available and reasonably priced for those who want to do their own oil changes once their car is no longer qualified for the free oil & filter changes.
That's interesting and explains why everything quieted down when I added a little MoS2 to the factory fill on my FPACE SVR. I'm not a chemical engineer but I'm pretty sure molybdenum is softer than aluminum and titanium is harder so I'll stick with the universal consensus on which is better for my motor.
That reminds me that I need to get in touch with Blackstone. The last sample I sent got lost in shipment, so I need to have the analysis charge refunded. I was pretty disappointed about that since I missed getting an analysis for one service because I forgot when my appointment was moved up and now again with a missing sample. Things were looking quite good but I want to keep a record.
Appreciate the analysis. I can’t seem to find Castrol Edge Professional oil…even on online sites. Looked it up on Castrol’s site and it is not listed. Did they discontinue it?
Shouldn't the factory fill have more molybdenum from assembly lubes/greases though? Are they assembling the motors without lube? Glad I added some. No wonder there aren't any of these with 200K miles on them.
For the sake of pure pedantry I'd suggest having a virgin EC5 sample tested as this will give you an apples-for-apples comparison
Cool info though, I never thought of having my oil lab tested but I know what I'm doing every oil change from here 😂
Yes, for a true comparison I could send in a sample of some virgin EC5 formula. I still have about 6 or 8 ounces from a quart bottle that I bought at the dealer a couple of years ago when I drained the factory fill and did my own oil & filter change. That is when the sample of the factory fill oil was taken and sent to Blackstone Labs.
However I don't feel like spending another $35 at this point, the results of the two tests are close enough for me. Especially considering one can no longer buy the EC5 formula.
But pedantry is OK, I'm often accused of that myself
Here is a US source for the VW/Porsche specification oil, and you might also check with your dealer's parts department
Shouldn't the factory fill have more molybdenum from assembly lubes/greases though? Are they assembling the motors without lube? Glad I added some. No wonder there aren't any of these with 200K miles on them.
I'll get back to you on that. But, at the rate I'm going, I'd be 125 years old by then. Between the car and me, I think I know which one of us gives up the ghost first.
Here is some more data. To me, the TBN, viscosity, flash point and wear metals all look good. But even so, as cheap as oil is I always change the oil at 4,000 miles. These cars are pretty much toys, requiring a lot of attention unlike my Suburban with 200,000 miles and Palisade daily driver.
Last time I had my 2021 F Type R in for the scheduled maintenance the dealer used Castrol Edge Professional OW-20 oil, but not the previous Castrol Edge Professional EC5 formula, which was an exclusive blend for JLR and met the STJLR.03.5006 specification.
From what I can tell, the EC5 formula is no longer available. The oil they used and the oil they sell over the counter in the parts department is the Castrol Edge Professional Ow-20 that meets Volkswagen/Porsche specification VW.508 CO/509. I was curious and sent a few ounces of this VW/Porsche spec oil to Blackstone Labs for a virgin oil analysis and compared it to a sample of the factory fill oil that I pulled from my F Type at around 2750 miles.
The readings obtained from the VW/Porsche approved oil are close enough to those from the JLR STJLR.03.5006 specification oil as to be considered identical. Note that the Molybdenum content is much lower that the Universal Averages in both samples and the Titanium is much higher. Castrol markets their Edge Professional oil as having "Fluid Titanium Technology" and apparently both VW/Porsche and JLR feel that a high Titanium content is beneficial for their engines.
I have attached both Blackstone reports, one from my Jag with the old Castrol formula and the other for the virgin oil sample for the VW/Porsche specification. Hopefully this formula will be readily available and reasonably priced for those who want to do their own oil changes once their car is no longer qualified for the free oil & filter changes.
I hope you guys find this information helpful.
Some useful information.
I just wonder why they didn't report the Total Base Number, as it provides an indication of additive package consumption.
Early 5.0 engines had the oil weight changed from 0-25 to 0-20w, weight plays a very important role in longevity. I use Mobil 1 in all my modern cars, my vette had over 300+k miles and my t5r had almost 400k miles. My xk8 had almost 175k miles and the Mobil 1 was not spec, exotic manufactures need your service to keep dealers in business, hence they make stuff up. Just like Jiffy lube got you to believe oil needed to be changed every 3k miles. Till Jiffy and the like came around, no one thought to change oil that frequently.
exotic manufactures need your service to keep dealers in business, hence they make stuff up
The service interval on my XE is 26,500km which is longer than most... if what you say is true, they would be making the interval shorter to get my car in more often to "keep dealers in business."
Why does there have to be some sort of conspiraratorial malicious intent?
Last edited by dangoesfast; 10-09-2023 at 12:19 AM.
Mecheng1, I did not request a TBN report on either of my samples as it is an extra charge and I didn't feel it was necessary, especially on the factory fill which only had around 2750 miles on it.
Question: Was you oil sample actually 5W/20 ? Or was that a misprint ?
I find it interesting that you sample showed 72 PPM of Molybdenum, my two samples had very tiny amounts of Moly compared to the Universal averages. Our Titanium readings were pretty close.
If you oil was in fact 5W-20, perhaps Castrol formulates that weight with Moly levels closer to average and the 0W-20 with much less ???
The service interval on my XE is 26,500km which is longer than most... if what you say is true, they would be making the interval shorter to get my car in more often to "keep dealers in business."
Why does there have to be some sort of conspiraratorial malicious intent?
I guess I did not explain enough, I was saying they have special oil requirements, i.e. you have to but their oil and get serviced at the dealership.
Mecheng1, I did not request a TBN report on either of my samples as it is an extra charge and I didn't feel it was necessary, especially on the factory fill which only had around 2750 miles on it.
Question: Was you oil sample actually 5W/20 ? Or was that a misprint ?
I find it interesting that you sample showed 72 PPM of Molybdenum, my two samples had very tiny amounts of Moly compared to the Universal averages. Our Titanium readings were pretty close.
If you oil was in fact 5W-20, perhaps Castrol formulates that weight with Moly levels closer to average and the 0W-20 with much less ???
I have a 2014 V8S and on the oil fill neck it states Castrol 5W-20, which is what I use and what my lab tests were done on. I now realize that JLR subsequently changed their recommendation on later models to 0W-20, which I assume starts with a lower viscosity starting synthetic oil base stock. Then they add additional VI improver like polymethacrylate in order to meet the -20 viscosity spec.
I have stated this a few times before but after mucho research on the interwebz I am convinced that the main reason (95%) that JLR switched the recommended oil weight from 5W-20 to 0W-20 was to eke out a couple more mpg and reduce the emissions of that eeeevil CO2 a tiny bit, in lab tests mind you not real world, so as to meet ever more swingeing CAFE and Euro regulations and hence reduce "gas guzzler" taxes. The other 5% of the reason for switching was to reduce timing chain wear a tiny bit on cold (really cold, less than 0C) start up.
10-04-2023, 06:23 PM
Castrol Edge Professional OW-20 VW Specification Oil Analysis
