Castrol and Piaggio agreement

[pauldaytona]

From now Piaggio brands will advise Castrol for your motorcycle.

http://www.piaggiogroup.com/en/archive/press/piaggio-group-and-castrol-reach-global-agreement-supply-lubricants

[Zoom Zoom]

Interesting. I'm assuming the article is incomplete with regard to the various lubricants that will be available.

John Henry

[twodogs]

10w60???

[sib]

What a way to start another spirited oil thread.

[Two Checks]

BP was the highest bisser.

[Roebling3]

Good idea, in my view. A few years ago I tried doing business with Agip US. They haven't a clue! I'm puzzled as to what business they are doing that allows them to survive here.  R3~ 

[ITSec]

Castrol certainly produces the standard weight oils that have traditionally been used by Piaggio brands. They do produce a 10w60 for BMW M-series cars (spec oil), but its cost is astronomical - the BMW forums are full of discussion of what to use instead, mostly because of the cost of the Castrol offering.

I haven't seen their gear oil, but that's largely because their competitors in the US have dominated shelf placement in that area - Mobil1, Valvoline and so on are all over that part of retailer's space. Castrol certainly can, if it chooses, provide whatever oils and lubes they and their partners choose.

There are very few oil product suppliers that address the motorcycle market. There are fewer still (and AGIP is not one of them) who have worldwide distribution and marketing. As a business move, this makes sense.

[Kiwi Dave]

Castrol Edge 10w-60 was the only oil of this grade I could find for a long time, both here in NZ and in California.  Yes, it's expensive, but it's available.

[LowRyter]

10w60???

it sez 10-40 and 5-40   

[ITSec]

it sez 10-40 and 5-40   

They could take the oil they make for BMW M-series cars, put on a label that says "for dry clutch motorcycles" and no one would know the difference. 

[sib]

They could take the oil they make for BMW M-series cars, put on a label that says "for dry clutch motorcycles" and no one would know the difference. 

They could do that, but some people would notice that the Castrol oil is rated APS N, whereas the eni oil is APS G, signifying that it has more ZDDP, and is better for flat tappets.  Then we could have another spirited oil thread.

[slowmover]

I don't get it.I bought Castrol10-60 at a BMW car dealership and it's the same price as AGIP through the mail. Plus how often do you use it?

[Two Checks]

Why do flat lifters get called tappets? They dont tap anything. If its a roller they get called lifters. They do the same job.

[Rough Edge racing]

Why do flat lifters get called tappets? They dont tap anything. If its a roller they get called lifters. They do the same job.

 British call them flat tappets and roller tappets, or lifters in the USA unless speaking in camshaft talk...Technically it's   a cam follower ... and actually flat tappets used in OHV car engines are not flat but slightly convex...Along with offsetting the lifters  in relation to the cam lobe gives rotation to the lifter and push rod...I don't know if Guzzi "flat tappets" function the same..

[guzzisteve]

Well I wonder what the number will be for the drive train maybe just an approved 80/90, it's all about who pays them, not what the bike needs.

[Sasquatch Jim]

 What a slick way to introduce an oil thread.

[acogoff]

     I quit using castrol when they sneakily took most of their Z content away, as did other brands. I will not be going back no mater what the corporate agreements are with whoever.

[Two Checks]

The reason the zinc was taken away was due to EPA mandate citing long term damage to catcons.
I looked at the Castrol (BP) website and the only oil they have in 10-60 is for cars with catcons. And in their spec sheets they dont list zinc content.

[Triple Jim]

It's funny that the best oil brand for a motorcycle manufactured by a company owned by Piaggio, which gets recommended recommended by Piaggio, is the one manufactured by a company that has a business deal with Piaggio.  What does that tell us about making sure we use the recommended oil?

[Two Checks]

That is the same as the dexos/dexos2 spec. It is the same oil but testted to a different spec and the vehicle maker must pay the oil company to get the dexos approval.

[ITSec]

It's funny that the best oil brand for a motorcycle manufactured by a company owned by Piaggio, which gets recommended recommended by Piaggio, is the one manufactured by a company that has a business deal with Piaggio.  What does that tell us about making sure we use the recommended oil?

That it all continues as it always has.

All vehicle manufacturers have what are in effect 'sponsorship' contracts with oil and lube suppliers (among others). Just as with tire makers, battery makers and others, the oil companies negotiate a deal to supply the vehicle maker with first-fill and/or company branded products for retail distribution. The vehicle maker gets such products at a lowered (and sometimes non-existent) price in return for stating the brand as the 'recommended ' product, and sometimes putting a sticker with the brand name on the vehicle. In some cases, the oil, tire or battery maker also commits to making the product available for a certain length of time, or within certain regions of the world market, in order to guarantee support for the vehicle maker's products.

This is all most obvious with exotic vehicles - for example, some Porsches, Ferrarris, and so on have tires that are only available from the company that committed to make them for the original car at time of manufacture. Other tire makers just never saw the point for the small number they'd sell.

[kevdog3019]

OMG, are you saying they have to change out all their previous engines?   

[kirkemon]

but the Agip logo looks cool!

[dl.allen]

That was my main concern was the loss of the cool agip stickers on the bike

[Hittman]

That was my main concern was the loss of the cool agip stickers on the bike

I always referred to it as six legged dog oil!

[Two Checks]

Dog oil lubes transmissions better but engines need yak fat.

[Tobit]

Volvo does the same.  Castrol recommended.  In the last year I've bought an '08 V70 for wife and an '07 C70 for daughter.  After using Valvoline exclusively in everything for the last 25 years I just gave a WTF shrug and switched to Castrol for the cars.  Truck and Guzzi still get V.

Tobit

[SportsterDoc]

Castrol 10W-60 Edge is reasonably priced when ordered from O'Reilly's
District Manager offered a price reduction on a case of 6

[SportsterDoc]

Motoul makes a good oil, but the price is extreme
Note the SG-SH-SJ-SL-SM-SN rating

Dealer used this for the 811 mile service (at 4 weeks old, 7 Mar 2017) 2100 miles on the clock, now
I plan to use the remaining half at the end of the summer or 5,000 miles, whichever occurs first
Then switch to Castrol, probably next Spring or 10,000 miles, whichever occurs first

BTW, I have used Castrol for
7 Hondas
4 Yamahas
1 Triumph

Used H-D 360 for both Sportsters, but primarily out of convenience

[bad Chad]

You can get 4L of Motul 7100 for $50 and free freight if you buy through Amazon, and I suspect others.

And what exactly is titanium technology?