Castrol vs Liqui Moly for a regular oil change? Motor oil functions as a much-needed vitamin for your vehicle because it provides additives and protectants to keep your engine running. To maintain the lifespan of your vehicle, you’ll need to pick the best type of motor oil.
There are three basic types of motor oils: mineral, synthetic, and part synthetic.
Mineral oils cost the least but provide less protection. Part synthetic oils are a mix of synthetic and mineral oils; they offer added protection at a lower cost than fully synthetic oils.
Finally, synthetic oils are highly refined with the best economy and safety but at a higher price. Liqui moly and Castrol engine oils are two of the most common full synthetic oils.
Castrol vs Liqui Moly
Castrol oil has a better variety of viscosity, temperature range, and lower prices. On the other hand, Liqui moly has better usability, quality, and customer reviews. So which is actually superior? Read on to find out.
In this article, we are going to investigate Castrol vs. Liquid Moly.
Liqui Moly
Liqui moly is the best brand oil of 2018 that enables engine protection. It is considered the best fuel for optimizing engine performance. Liqui moly contains liquid molybdenum sulfide, a graphite-like substance that removes corrosion and guarantees better protection for your engine.
Features
- It enables slick movements
- It provides sustainability, and it is environment-friendly
- Compatible with both petrol and diesel
- Liqui moly has compatible friction resistance and lubrication for preventing engine seizure. This makes it a better option for heavy vehicle users.
- Liqui moly has a thick density which reduces friction noise in your vehicle.
- Because this oil reduces friction, it produces less heat during operation. This is because friction is the main reason for heat production under the hood.
- Provides outstanding engine cleanliness
Disadvantages
- It lacks the variety present in Castrol engine oils
- It has a narrower range of operating temperature
- This oil is very expensive
- It works poorly against detergent, making cleaning very difficult.
- Nitrogen-based moly is not compatible with some vehicles
Castrol Oil
This advanced premium full synthetic motor oil offers strength under extreme pressure. It has an advanced ‘fluid titanium’ technology that improves performance and reduces friction by about 20%.
This engine oil is apt for petrol, diesel, and CNG cars, and it’s known for its ability to protect vehicles with modern start-stop technology. The change period for this oil is 10,000-20,000km.
Features
- Presence of vital additives
Castrol oil comes with very important additives that improve your engine’s lubrication, cleaning, and cooling operations. Some of these additives include antiwear oxidants(fight against the build-up of sludge), anti-oxidant(maintains proper viscosity in the engine), dispersants, and detergents( for cleaner operations).
- Equipped to combat sludges
Engine sludge simply means clogged substances or dirt impairing your engine’s proper functioning. Castrol GTX is specially formulated to combat the sludges with its double-action formula.
- It reduces engine repair costs.
Disadvantages
- It has reduced lasting power.
- According to some customer reviews, Castrol oil could be better for use in diesel, gasoline, and marine engines.
- It isn’t easily available in local stores.
- Some customers also complained of slugging in their vehicles while using Castrol oil.
Comparison Between Liquid Moly And Castrol
| Features | Liquid moly | Castrol oil |
| Mileage | 85% | 86% |
| Longevity | 90% | 90% |
| Suitability | All climates | Budget-friendly |
| Flavor | 88% | 85% |
| Sheerness | 90% | 88% |
| Ratings | 4.8 | 5.0 |
| Price | Expensive | Average |
This table gives a simplified comparison but we’ll break it down below.
1. Base
The base of liquid moly is synthetic, mineral, and hydrocracked oil. It will give your engine maximum protection and improve performance. Castrol oils( the ones used in BMW) are based on polyalphaolefin (PAO), which is also a synthetic oil. This base oil lacks solubility, film strength, and lubricity but it more than compensates with other additives.
2. Performance
Liqui moly promises fast oil delivery at low temperatures and high lubrication in all climates. It will improve the lifespan of your car while also increasing fuel efficiency and maintaining optimal oil pressure. This motor oil is officially certified by BMW.
Castrol oils meet the strict requirements of various car manufacturers and comply with the ACEA oil sequences. But, it creates a lot of heat and can reduce oil flow.
3. Lasting Power
Castrol 5W-40 oil comes with a fluid titanium technology and can be used for up to 20,000 miles. Liqui moly combination of innovative base oils guarantees reduced fuel and oil consumption. Oil change intervals of up to 40,000km are possible with this oil.
4. Viscosity
Castrol oils are available in grades 0W-20, 0W-30, 0W-40, 5W-30, and 5W-40. All of these meet the requirement of BMW Longlife 01.
Liqui moly is only available in grades 5W-40 and 5W-30. But it is only the 5W-40 that meets the requirement for BMW Longlife 01. Castrol oil takes home the win in terms of viscosity variety.
5. Operating Temperature
Liqui moly functions ideally at temperatures ranging from -20 degrees Celsius to 140 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, Castrol engine oils are proven to work optimally between temperature ranges of -35 degrees Celsius and 150 degrees Celsius. So, one more Castrol oil takes the lead!
6. Quality
These brands don’t joke with their quality. The liquid moly oil has a cool-start behaving feature that is engine-friendly. Liqui moly produces less heat during operation and can last for 30,000km. On the other hand, Castrol oil has balanced additives that reduce engine repair costs by a wide margin.
7. Customer Reviews
90% of customers using Liqui moly have given this product a solid five-star rating. There are no major complaints concerning this oil besides its high price. Castrol engine oils have about 90% of positive reviews. But, some customers complained that their product still needs the BMW LL-01 approved stamp.
8. Usability
Liqui moly can be used in any climate. Castrol is a better choice if you own an Audi car.
9. Price
Liqui moly has very high price ranges, while Castrol’s prices are far more affordable.
Is Liqui Moly better Than Castrol?
It depends on what parameters you use to decide and the specifications you require for your engine. For example, Castrol oil beats liquid moly regarding longevity, price, and viscosity. Liquid moly has a better performance review, but it may be way out of your budget.
What is special about liquid moly? Nothing out of the ordinary except that it can opt-out evaporation resistance, which enables it to withstand lengthy and vigorous operations. It is also a recommended oil for the top-ranked BMW, which is known as BMW oil.
Is Castrol Oil The Best?
Castrol motor oil is a lubricant manufacturer trusted by motorists for over one hundred and twenty years. I can’t really say that one of these motor oils is clearly superior to the other. But here are some situations where Castrol oil would be the best option for you;
- If you have a high-performance vehicle like Porsche or BMW
- If you have a luxury vehicle
- If you want to get high mileage from your car
Can You Mix Liqui Moly With Castro?
Though there seems to be no glaring problem with mixing two different oil brands, it is definitely not recommended in the long run. This is because even though the oils may have the same viscosity, they do not have the same composition-especially in terms of additives.
We, as customers, cannot be absolutely sure of the chemistry of these oils. Since we don’t know how these oils affect one another, who is to say that when combined, the additives won’t cancel each other out? However, it is okay to fill up with a different brand of oil when your motor oil is drained.
Does BMW Use Liqui Moly?
I know we’ve been on the neutral ground throughout this article, and now we’ve come to a point where to want to know what brand of oil BMW recommends. Liqui moly 5W-30 is officially approved for use by BMW for the Longlife 01 standard.
This approval represents the manufacturer’s certificate of acceptance of the oil’s quality and approved usage for keeping the vehicle within the required warranty standards.
At the same time, the Castrol oil brand was also selected as the engine oil partner for BMW. As a result, BMW Group vehicles require engine oils that meet the stringent requirements of BMW.
Naturally, this will depend on the vehicle’s make, model, and year. If you need clarification about the engine oil specification for your vehicle, consult your owner’s manual for all the necessary information.
Read Also: How Long Can I Run Car With Too Much Oil
Final Thoughts
It takes a lot of work to pick a clear winner in this showdown. Each brand of oil has its share of advantages and disadvantages. Liqui moly will protect your engine and reduce engine noise and movement hassle.
Castrol is considered the best in some countries with its vital additives that offers maximum protection for your engine. It will also reduce your annual engine repair costs.
So, the best oil at the end of the day will depend entirely on your needs and budget. Don’t be under a lot of pressure to pick a side; go with the flow.
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