₦airaland Forum

VolvoS60:
The gentleman marketing US made Castrol on this thread gives a new meaning to the phrase "hard sell". . I like his style.

I committed the mortal sin of using Nigerian sold Castrol oil (the label stated it was EU manufactured but that was a whole new controversy on its own) and saying so publicly. Because of this I got into a long winded and completely unnecessary debate with another poster on another oil thread. In the rash of recent oil threads on NL, the major selling point of a number of US spec oils is that they are synthetic AND they also meet the viscosity requirements of most of the imported (new and used) cars sold in Nigeria today. But are these US oils really synthetic?

My limited research shows that US oil manufacturers are able to label their oils as synthetic only as a result of a court ruling arising from a trade dispute [/b]between Mobil and Castrol (Castrol again! ) and not because they developed these synthetic oils in a lab from scratch as the Europeans and the Japanese do. So are these US spec oils really special or they are mostly marketing hype?

While there may (and I must stress the argument may) be a strong argument that US spec oils go through stricter regulatory oversight than Nigerian manufactured/blended oils, it is Euro spec oils (as a group), Japanese oils and a few others that [b]truly meet the definition of synthetic (with all the so called advantages accruing to the label).

What has never been fully clear to me is why over the years, no major oil company in Nigeria took advantage of the gap in the market for mineral oils with viscosities of 5W 20, 5W 30, 5W 40 etc. Surely they must have seen the trends? There are thousands of used cars imported from North America into Nigeria annually which require these viscosities and they do not necessarily require synthetic oil with the most recent API rating. A number of car owners in Nigeria who started purchasing synthetic oil a few years ago were boxed into buying Mobil 1 because it was the only locally available oil with the right viscosities - but you had to pay heavily for its synthetic qualities and its high API rating. The truth is that thousands of car owners in Nigeria today do not necessarily need synthetic oils with 'SN' API ratings for their vehicles. They'll do just fine with mineral oil, regularly changed.

chillex8:
I will go home.

Epphy:
People no dey sleep?! Guys dey road for 3am!!!

GAZZUZZ:
Due to popular demand....

08033910382

EgunMogaji:
Thank you for that link. It proves what I’ve been saying all night.

Manufacturers can’t mandate a brand.

It’s really easy stuff.

“So when it comes to oil, use any brand that meets the American Petroleum Institute (API) specifications listed in your owner's manual. And when it comes to other replacement fluids, use anything that says it meets Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) requirements.”

https://www.cartalk.com/content/oil-it-ok-use-different-brand-name

EgunMogaji:
1) Any manufacturer can RECOMMEND any oil brand.

2) No manufacturer can deny your warranty because you did not use their recommended brand.

The key is as I’ve tried to explain is

1) Composition that manufacturers require. For my MY09 Jetta, VW requires an oil that meets their 502.00

2) weight, such as 0W40

3) change frequency, keep your receipt to prove

Do these things and no manufacturer will deny your claim because you didn’t use their recommended brand.

I’ve met with many factory representatives and this is first hand information.

EgunMogaji:
Google is not my friend, maybe it's yours.

Some of us create what Google captures in their database.

Castrol is simply low-grade oil. Someone else already said something similar.

Castrol with any of the other oil will work if it has the correct composition that meets the manufacturer's specifications and is of the correct weight. My issue is carrying it as if it's a premium oil. It's not.

EgunMogaji:
Are you pulling my leg here?

There's Castrol oil and there is Coastal oil. They are different. They are both just slightly better than junk to me. I use Mobil 1 exclusively in my garage.

EgunMogaji:
Gazzuzz and the other demeanors can provide the info on Lagos.

I am opening a boutique auto dealership in Ibadan and the info that I have is rather confidential market research.

EgunMogaji:
It's okay, others, maybe webmasters like me, may get my point about Google.

You can find Coastal oil at AutoZone for sure and maybe at Pep Boys. But for sure at AutoZone. I used it on my ride on mowers in a pinch.

EgunMogaji:
That is not a picture of my house in Nigeria or USA. I just used it to demonstrate what I needed to do.

This is a picture of my activities today.

EgunMogaji:
You are based in the US? Okay good. I live in California for the past 32 years.

There are very good dealerships in Nigeria that can attend to those who have the money to effect proper repairs. There are lots of returnees that have opened automotive repairs shops in Lagos and Abuja.

EgunMogaji:
I haven't bought a $150K car, yet. But when I do I will use any branded oil as long as it meets their composition specification.

There are consumer laws that protect consumers from this sham. Only non-astute consumers still believe and peddle the scare tactics that went out decades ago.

The manufacturers may know more than you, not sure of your education or your profession, but they don't know more than me or the average Autoist.

We have engineers from Ford, Nissan, Tesla, Chevrolet in my automotive and motorcycle clubs and on tech days they amongst other engineers from Dunlop, Metzeler, etc that sometimes give us lectures.

I will trust them before I trust a generic forum in some 3rd world country that their base meal are salvaged and flooded vehicles.

I also routinely do business with top engine builders in Southern California. These are guys that run vehicles with over 1,000 horsepower and they do know a thing or two about proper oil.

That is my bottom line.

PS: I am also an AMSOil dealer in Southern California by the way, where I have been since July 1986 and continuously.

EgunMogaji:
"Which Brand Should You Buy?

In short: It doesn't really matter. Pick between organic or synthetic, get the right weight, and then buy whatever's on sale at your local auto parts store.

All the brands you're likely to run into in the U.S. meet or exceed performance standards set by the American Petroleum Institute, or API. Therefore, any oil you buy will at least meet the standards required by your manufacturer."

https://www.dealnews.com/features/A-Guide-to-Selecting-the-Best-Motor-Oil-for-Your-Car/568237.html

There you go. Straight from the trusted and all-knowing Google

I have a friend, an old automotive guy that's been building race engines since the 60's. Well, he swears by Coastal Oil. Coastal Oil for those not in the US are those oil that you find at the bottom of the shelve, cheap as shit. Like the article says, if it's available in the USA then it's sufficient. If it's available in Nigeria, if it's from Total, Mobil then it's good enough for me.

EgunMogaji:
You are based in the US? Okay good. I live in California for the past 32 years.

There are very good dealerships in Nigeria that can attend to those who have the money to effect proper repairs. There are lots of returnees that have opened automotive repairs shops in Lagos and Abuja.

EgunMogaji:
I haven't bought a $150K car, yet. But when I do I will use any branded oil as long as it meets their composition specification.

There are consumer laws that protect consumers from this sham. Only non-astute consumers still believe and peddle the scare tactics that went out decades ago.

The manufacturers may know more than you, not sure of your education or your profession, but they don't know more than me or the average Autoist.

We have engineers from Ford, Nissan, Tesla, Chevrolet in my automotive and motorcycle clubs and on tech days they amongst other engineers from Dunlop, Metzeler, etc that sometimes give us lectures.

I will trust them before I trust a generic forum in some 3rd world country that their base meal are salvaged and flooded vehicles.

I also routinely do business with top engine builders in Southern California. These are guys that run vehicles with over 1,000 horsepower and they do know a thing or two about proper oil.

That is my bottom line.

EgunMogaji:
For anyone that is serious about learning about oil please go to https://www.bobistheoilguy.com, not Google.

EgunMogaji:
Of course, I follow manufacturers specification, not your convoluted specifications, and I have never had any failure related to oil in the past 35 years.

You only think I'm someone that you can teach about oil, vehicle maintenance and, manufacturers specifications. You're wasting your time.

No manufacturer will ever require that you use a specific brand in the USA. They can list their spec and weight, that is it.

You're also wrong about warranties. Even if you use the wrong oil and you have an oil related failure, you do not lose your warranty on the other components, only the oil-related ones.

One of the things that is also wrong with the Nigerian culture is people not taking time to do proper research.

Tyche:
Burnt my fingers on HP even after what I read here. Lesson learnt at a great expense.

Emekayoung:
What mistakes? Pls explain so we can all learn.

VolvoS60:
^^^
Well known names there...

So far I have used Mobil for my vehicles - also used Castrol a couple of times. About to try out several other brands to see how they fare in my engines - very unscientific experiment but the results should be interesting.

AutoElectNG:
The brands I never got to try but really want to are Havoline and Royal Purple.

I just couldn't justify the importation cost when the exchange rate skyrocketed

EgunMogaji:
This.

I will not use Castrol in my lawnmower. It’s a 3rd grade product. From my testing it looses oil pressure quicker. No time for trash.

I will use local oil but in the right formula and weight.

The most important thing is a prudent interval.

I will carry USA oil, Mobil 1 and AMSOil but used as special request on high echelon vehicles. The go to oil will be a local one.

EgunMogaji:
This is patently false information.

You might want to read up on the Magnuson–Moss Warranty Act.

nameo:
Just new here as a partner....

Can I get ya contact. Wanna learn from veterans like yourself

agborichard:
Bayo is not his monika, i gave him my 06 tokumbo camry on HP (N35k) weekly without any deposit. after 2 week he came up with stories of hw he can be paying 30k because of family issues, i told him to continue with 30k for 3mnths in other for him to to sort wat ever family issues he has and then go back to the agreed 35k after 3mnth. but wen it was time to strt 35k payment, he came with more family issues and i got tired and called for a meeting with him and my lawyer (meanwhile he carried forward 3weeks payment within that 3mnths he was paying 30k). after the meeting, we agreed 30k but he must make sure he doesnt not skip any week payment.

Before we left he told me he wanted to travel for 1week and he doesnt have somebody to secure the car with and as such he will like to park the car in my compound, and he explained to me that he will change the 2 damaged frnt tyre, spare tyre and the side mirror when he comes back because he was gng for an installation, only for him to call my lawyer after 2 days that the contract did go as plan and he wants to quite uber.

3 tyres are completely damaged, front shocks are gone, front and back bumper dented, passenger side mirror is damage, i am yet to ascertain other parts of the car because i traveled the following day he dropped the car. I have called my lawyer we are going to gt him arrested and also move against his guarantors because we agreed that his guarantor will be held responsible for any damaged caused by him that can not be taken care of by the insurance coy

Its painful because i knw he will still get a vehicle here on this platform..

TheCar:
Can you please share your story?

What happened or where did things go wrong?

What went wrong? Did he default? Did he damage your vehicle? Did he contravene any terms of the agreement? Or did he sublease your vehicle to other drivers?

If you have his moniker, tagged him to come say his side of the story.

Bayo is a very common name and we also have several Bayo (Moniker) on the thread.

We need to break the code of silence.

We need to praise, criticise and advise each other.

At least some people will learn the importance of collecting Verifiable Guarantors.

GAZZUZZ:
assurance, assurance.... And say no to HP.

datjohn:
I think it wud make a good one if U get a good one..

GAZZUZZ:
Let me save you a trip to the market and some disappointing results.

You have more than 1 Elantra, swap out the sensors and see the results.

Thank me later

Dovehorizon:
Yes the 03-05 is very strong don't know about the facelift.