Castrol Power 1 OIL - any experts?

[stuartasutherland]

Hi, I was wander around Tesco last night and spotted some Castrol Power 1 (Scooter) 2T Oil for sale at half price (£4.99).

It doesn't say fully synthetic anywhere on the label.

I took a photo of the code on the back to compare to my usual tipple of Power 1 (Racing) 2T which does mention fully synthetic.

Both bottles have the same code of API TC+;JASO FD;ISO L-EGD

I was told by a chap in Halfords a while ago that if the codes are the same, it is the same oil inside.

Even the two smaller codes underneath are the same - P820180-01 834360/10

So anyone have any experience of this?

Are Castrol just differentiating the market to get some more value out of the branding for the "Racing"

Would you risk it? I have a new Zenith coming and won't risk it until I am confident. But the price is pretty good!

[Guest]

Nice find!

Call Castrol support, tell them that you have a bottle with only the number part of the label remaining... please could they identify the oil inside?

Maybe? Worth a go... Or even just ask the question, would be be the same oil if it was the same spec number.??

This is very interesting! again, nice find!

PS the advice from Halfords should be ignored in my experience

SW

[stuartasutherland]

Some info I found online.

Looks like the cheaper stuff (Scooter) meets all the same standards as the expensive stuff (Racing).

I'll try to get hold of some customer technical support today!

Two-Stroke Oil Ratings

Even today, there continues to be a huge number of questions regarding which oil is the one to use, which oil is better than another, and which oil is good enough. Let’s review the two-stroke lubricant standards; API TC; TCW; TC-W2; TC-W3; JASO FC; and ISO-L-EGD.

Non-racing two-stroke oils are usually given ratings from the API (American Petroleum Institute) “TC”, the BIA (Boating Industry Association) “TC-W” and currently the NMMA (National Marine Manufacturers Association) “TC-W2 and TC-W3”. The TC, TC-W and TCW2 standards are not current and do not meet the standards of today’s performance engines.

For a lubricant to receive one of these ratings it must pass certain levels of cleanliness and film strength. The lubricant is run at ratios up to 150:1 for specified times and loads. The engine is then examined for carbon deposits and for bearing and cylinder wear. If it meets the test criteria, the lubricant passes.

The Japanese Automobile Manufacturers Organization (JASO) developed a series of tests aimed at presenting more real-world conditions that a lubricant used in a motorcycle, snowmobile, ATV or PWC would encounter in use by consumers. They test for exhaust valve cleanliness, lubricity, exhaust smoke/blocking and initial torque. The highest JASO standard is FC. These tests are very difficult to pass and are a better indicator of a lubricants level of protection and performance that TC-W3 in non-marine applications.

European engine manufacturers tested TC-W3 and JASO lubricants and determined that their engines needed a cleaner lubricant and one that would withstand higher heat conditions. They established the ISO international standards for two stroke engine lubricants. Their first standard, ISO-L-EGB was comparable to the JASO FB standard. They later developed the ISO-L-EGC which is similar to the JASO FC rating.

They felt they needed an even tougher standard for the newest generation of performance two stroke engines. The ISO-L-EGD+ was created to establish a higher standard of detergency and ability to withstand higher levels of heat. The new test runs for 3 hours vs 1 hour for the previous test.

If a lubricant is certified ISO-L-EGD+ it has passed the most stringent tests set by American, Japanese and European engine manufacturers. Polaris recommends TC-W3 lubricants, Yamaha JASO FC and Ski-Doo/Sea-Doo requires ISO-L-EDG+ lubricants.

Examine the oil bottle of any oil in question and see what the highest level of certification is. It is generally accepted that if you use a lubricant that meets the ISO-L-EGD+ standard in your new snowmobile you will provide certified warranty compliance and protection.

AND this in later issue?

Two-Stroke Oil Ratings: Confusion

A small article titled “Two Stroke Oil Ratings” found in the Spring 2006 issue of SnowTech has created some confusion. Don Friedrich of Performance Parts informed us that there was no “ISO-L-EGD+” rating for two-stroke oils, as mentioned in the article.

Don is correct. Technically, the proper nomenclature is “ISO EGD”. This is the technically accurate spec per ISO, the use of the “L” and the “+” appears to be the cause of the confusion. Klotz uses “ISO-L-EGD+” on their oils, and that is where it came from.

ISO EGD is the “European” specification that slightly exceeds the “Japanese” JASO-FC. There is a new JASO-FD spec, as the ISO and JASO testing sequences have come closer together with the latest ‘FD’ and ‘EGD’ designations. Previously, the only difference was a 1 hour and 3 hour detergency - lubricity - ring groove - sticking test with JASO-FC and ISO-EGD respectively. Now, they are the same set of tests.

Manufacturers tend to ignore the JASO and ISO standards for marketing reasons. If they make specific recommendations to their customers to use an oil that meets a certain standard, then companies that specialize in lubricants can meet these standards and then claim “Factory Approved”. Therefore, the statement that “Ski-Doo/Sea-Doo requires ISO-L-EGD+ lubricants”, also found in the above mentioned article, is not completely accurate.

Ski-Doo/Sea-Doo has recommended the use of ISO EGD lubricants, but more specifically suggests the use of their own proprietary XPS lubricants as “no known equivalent is available” in reference to their SDI engines.

Meanwhile, you can quit looking for oils with a rating of ISO-L-EGD+. Instead, look for the ISO EGD or the new JASO-FD as the highest ratings available to 2-stroke oil manufacturers and users.

MY TEXT*****

soo

the real question is, if im reading this right

is ISO EGD/ JASO FC the same as ISO EGD+/JASO FD ?

from above

ISO EGD is the “European” specification that slightly exceeds the “Japanese” JASO-FC. There is a new JASO-FD spec, as the ISO and JASO testing sequences have come closer together with the latest ‘FD’ and ‘EGD’ designations. Previously, the only difference was a 1 hour and 3 hour detergency - lubricity - ring groove - sticking test with JASO-FC and ISO-EGD respectively. Now, they are the same set of tests.

[Guest]

I think I need to read that once or twice and after I have had my second coffee.!!

SW

[stuartasutherland]

Spoke to Castrol.

They say that the Scooter oil is partially synthetic and Racing is fully Synthetic.

He said they meet the same specifications (ie the API TC etc)

When questioning the product codes at the bottom he said he didn't know.

He was sticking to the Castrol line. For all we know it could be exactly the same stuff. But who wants to risk it?

[outkast]

Its not like it is going to do your motor any harm, years ago when we all thrashed about on mopeds i doubt any of us gave a shit about product codes etc

We just chicked any ols shit in them as long as it was 2 stroke oil

Then we abused them day and night and they were fine

[shaggydec]

I aggree with Outcast....I think we re getting a bit "P.C" about oils....Like he says , years ago when we were thrashing up and down the streets on singles , twins and triples , no one had a clue what type of oil we used .

I even remember the little oil pump that was kept by the petrol pumps.....You filled up and the attendant squirted the required amount into the tank....EEEE , Them Wert Days !

P.S....Local plant hire shop , Makita Semi Synthetic 1ltr , just over £4.00 . If its good enough for a chain saw doing a Zillion Revs.......

[enzo200500]

But then I would not try flying with a chainsaw......