With Two New Piston-Engine Aviation Oils

Castrol, we found out at Oshkosh, came to life as a brand in 1899, and by 1905 the company was making the first-ever aviation oil, Castrol R. High-performance aircraft were the proving ground for that product, which wasn't replaced until the 1930s, with a product known as Castrol XXL.

Castrol has decided to get back into that piston-aviation market, and has done so in a big way, with two brand-new oils. Maybe we should call these, "eight new oils," as each -- an ashless dispersant and a straight oil, are available in four weights: 65, 80, 100, and 120.

Castrol -- Aero BP -- wanted to re-enter the piston market (after getting a turbine oil in the Exxon-Mobil merger), and spent a lot of time finding out just what qualities potential customers wanted.

The list was short, sweet, and classically difficult. Customers wanted

• better rust and general corrosion protection
• improved lubricity
• improved thermal stability and
• better corrosion protection, especially on yellow-metal bearings

Since these are truly new oils, you can count on the Castrol products' having the new 'Lycoming additive' already in there, in proper concentration and properly suspended. Also, as new oils, you can count on the most-modern additives and base formulation.

Beyond all that, Castrol wanted to add pilot convenience in as many areas as they could control. Castrol Aviator is available through Air BP and Castrol distributors in the US, with the rest of the world available within weeks, through the same channels.

To add to convenience and make their product popular, Castrol's bottle is a nice departure from what we're used to: it's in a very heavy plastic bottle that won't be easily cut or punctured, topped by a unique internal pour spout. Yes, Matilda, it's resealable, with a screw-on cap that's part of the whole package.

You'll note two handles on the bottle, too, which make dispensing the oil a little less-likely to result in smudged wrists and cuffs. With two handles, there's always a way for you to tie the bottle, out of the way, and not loose in the back of the plane.

It comes in liters, to satisfy European Union requirements, so remember, when you're buying a case, you're getting about 6% more oil than you're used to getting.

FMI: www.bp.com