German Castroil, RED US/German label not the same!
German Castroil, RED US/German label not the same! In recent oil discussion it was declared that the newest red labeled castroil 0w30 made of us and imported products was exactly the same as the GC 0w30 since the front of the bottle has the same label, same sku ect.
I decided to buy the newest red label can to compare to real GC 0w30 and in fact it is not the same! This is bad news for some of us that thought we found a replacement. Not only is the color different, I'm not sure it smells the same. lol...
I purchased a bottle of the us imported stuff for a side by side compairson.
GC is on the left, Imported blend on the right
The GC is dark green, and the blend isn't doh
I decided to buy the newest red label can to compare to real GC 0w30 and in fact it is not the same! This is bad news for some of us that thought we found a replacement. Not only is the color different, I'm not sure it smells the same. lol...
I purchased a bottle of the us imported stuff for a side by side compairson.
GC is on the left, Imported blend on the right
The GC is dark green, and the blend isn't doh
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BAD NEWS !!!!!!!
PATMAN just informed us on another board that even if it says "made in Germany", if it is made in 2005 (you can check the bottle on the bottom ... it should begin with m05) then, it is not the right stuff.
It's confirmed, I just checked my m05 batch and even though it says made in germany, imported by Castrol, it is the wrong stuff and it is brown in color like in your picture and not green
PATMAN just informed us on another board that even if it says "made in Germany", if it is made in 2005 (you can check the bottle on the bottom ... it should begin with m05) then, it is not the right stuff.
It's confirmed, I just checked my m05 batch and even though it says made in germany, imported by Castrol, it is the wrong stuff and it is brown in color like in your picture and not green
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So I guess the better question is where to find GC now? My next oil change is coming up and I have GC in the car now, but why switch to an inferior oil if I don't have to? I don't want to go back to oil consuming M1.
You just have to open up each bottle and check the color, make sure it is green and also check the bottom for M05. If you find it, try not to get that one and go for m02, m04, and previous oils
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 7,234
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From: Mississauga, Ontario
Yep, if it's not green, it's most likely not the same stuff as the good stuff I've been using. I would make sure it's the proper green stuff before using it. The M02 to M04 batches were all green. There is some green M05 stuff, but I think it might just be the early production stuff. So if you do spot M05, avoid it if you can, but if there is no M04 or older, then open up the bottle of M05 first to make sure it's green oil inside. Castrol strikes again, radically changing their formula without telling anyone!
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,216
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From: Wichita KS / Rancho San Diego
Originally Posted by Patman
Yep, if it's not green, it's most likely not the same stuff as the good stuff I've been using. I would make sure it's the proper green stuff before using it. The M02 to M04 batches were all green. There is some green M05 stuff, but I think it might just be the early production stuff. So if you do spot M05, avoid it if you can, but if there is no M04 or older, then open up the bottle of M05 first to make sure it's green oil inside. Castrol strikes again, radically changing their formula without telling anyone!
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Joined: Nov 2001
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From: I-L-L-I-N-O-I-S
Damn Patman, you scared the $hit out of me! 
I too recently purchased 12 quarts from a local Autozone thinking it was the "correct" stuff since it said Made in Germany on the back. Luckily for me, they read M04 on the bottom and I could see the oil was green from the side window slot too!
I'm going back tomorrow to load up again, so hopefully they'll have some...
Mike
I too recently purchased 12 quarts from a local Autozone thinking it was the "correct" stuff since it said Made in Germany on the back. Luckily for me, they read M04 on the bottom and I could see the oil was green from the side window slot too!I'm going back tomorrow to load up again, so hopefully they'll have some...
Mike
Originally Posted by SSCamaro99_3
Why would they make a drastic change to such a popular product? Unless the manufacturing cost was that out of line.
Did I miss anything else that you guys check for?
So the manufacturers don't think anybody will notice the difference.
Last edited by 01_SuperSlow; Mar 28, 2005 at 04:49 PM.
So once it is gone off of the shelves, it is no more??? Are they not making this formula anymore??? Oh shat. What oil should we move to now oh wise and powerful Patman
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 7,234
Likes: 1
From: Mississauga, Ontario
I'm honestly not sure if the oil is still going to produced the way it previously was or not. Time will tell. I'm not sure which oil I would switch to, but Mobil 1 0w40 would be one of the top choices on my list, or Castrol Syntec 5w40 from Belgium. In Canada we've also got a 0w30 made by Esso which looks similar to GC in that it's on the thick end of the 30wt scale.