Performance Oils

Castrol Classic Oils

Established in 1899, originally as C.C.Wakefield, Castrol launched their first lubricant for cars in 1906 and have been at the leading edge of motor technology ever since. Choosing the right lubricant for your cars' engine, gearbox and axle is essential for ensuring peak running condition and maximum wear protection. The technology of older vehicle engines is dramatically different from today's modern cars. So to assist the owners of older vehicles, Castrol has reintroduced their older brand names in a range of "Classic " lubricants to the correct formulations and importantly, to the precise viscosity as originally recommended; by the vehicle manufacturers themselves.

Please contact us for the current prices, on 01963 363353 or email brc@unicornmotor.com

UK Delivery (only) can be arranged - Please ask Brian for a delivery price.

Prices are subject to variation.

For today's owners, selecting the appropriate lubricant is simply now a matter of referring to the vehicles' original handbook and using the named Castrol brand listed therein. Until now owners of older vehicles have been forced to choose from a confusing array of multigrade oils on garage forecourts and in recent years, from oils offered by lesser known companies, offering multigrade formulations purporting to be suitable in instances where monograde lubricants of particular viscosity were originally stipulated by the vehicle manufacturer.

Castrols' oil recommendation records date back to the late eighteen hundreds and detail all lubricant specifications for engine, gear oils and greases right through to today's modern day classics, so to find out which oil grade and viscosity of lubricant is most appropriate owners can simply refer to their vehicle handbooks or telephone the Castrol Classic Oil technical help line.

The Importance of Using the Correct Viscosity Lubricant Using oil of the viscosity that is recommended for a particular vehicle is important, as it is the oils' viscosity that determines its ability to flow. A quick flowing oil (one of low viscosity) deposits a thin film on the engines' internals, whereas a slow flowing oil (one of higher viscosity) deposits a thicker film. Furthermore, temperature will affect oil viscosity and thin the oil at higher temperatures and provide less protection than required. To compound matters even further, some oil viscosities are more affected by temperature than others and therefore using the correct viscosity oil is important: Too high a viscosity and excessive oil drag will cause the oil to heat up, additionally when starting an engine using an oil of too high a viscosity the lubricant will be unable to reach areas requiring lubrication quickly enough and rapid wear will result. Too low a viscosity and the oil will provide inadequate lubrication and protection at high temperatures, when under pressure - in fact at all times. The viscosity classification developed by the Society of Automotive Engineers of America (SAE) is universally adopted by both oil companies and motor manufacturers and recognises the following grades:

Monogrades: SAE 5w, 10w, 15w, 20w, SAE30, 40, 50, 60
Multigrades:
SAE 5w/20, 5w/50, 10w/30, 10w/40, 15w/40, 15w/50, 20w/50, 10w/60
(The "W" following the number denotes Winter and indicates these grades being suitable in cold climatic conditions)

The secret of good oil is its formulation - the blend of base oil and the chemical additives which provide it with its particular character and safety margins. Choosing the Correct Oil for Your Classic. The formulations required for modern vehicles are very different from those
needed for older vehicles. Oils for modern engines comply with the latest API ratings of SG and SH and are ideal for the design of a modern engine i.e: use of neoprene seals, high delivery oil pumps, narrow oil galleries, high revving with overall tighter machine tolerances. A classic car engine has the opposite characteristics with cork/graphite/rope seals, low pressure cog driven oil pumps, wider oil ways with greater dependence on "splash" and "cling" lubrication, lower revving with lesser machine tolerances. Such a widely different specification demands a totally different lubricant. The Castrol Classic Oils range offers formulations for older vehicles which have been specially blended for the work they have to do. Two oils of the same viscosity, supplied
by different oil companies can have radically different formulations, and thus have significantly different performance characteristics. The particular quality of the oil depends ultimately on its formulation - the special range and quantities (sometimes critical) of additives that are blended with the base oil.

Therefore as a guide, remember that low cost oil cannot be quality oil as inevitably additives, blend and research may be reduced or omitted to achieve the price, and that a high API rating does not denote suitability for your classic. Hotter engine components - too much detergent can cause a build up of metallic ash in the combustion chambers of older engines. In older engines with traditionally high oil consumption, this will cause detonation and pinking. In older engines where the carbon has built up over a number of years the detergents can also have a scouring effect causing the carbon to flake off, blocking up oil galleries and spray jets.

High levels of detergent will "wash" traces of carbon from seals and gaskets, revealing oil leaks. Inadequate anti-oxidant and the oil will permanently thicken during high temperature motoring, with large amounts of gum and varnish clogging filters and piston rings. Inadequate anti-wear additive and the oil film between moving parts breaks down prematurely, resulting in metal to metal contact and irreparable damage. Inadequate corrosion inhibitors and engine internals become pitted with corrosion and rust from acids and water formed during combustion. Inadequate dispersing results in soot, wear metals and the by-products of combustion settling out in the sump to form a thick sludge, that will block filters and oil ways. Inadequate pour point depressant and the oil ceases to flow at low temperatures, with excessive strain on the oil pump or in certain cases, oil starvation on start-up causing complete failure of the lubrication system.

Castrol Classic Oils are formulated in the style of the original products but using the most appropriate additive technology to provide the best protection for your classic engine. The Castrol Classic Range is available from Unicorn Motor Company.