Castrol J-Max

[MacFamily]

The father inlaw picked up a 20lt drum of J-Max for $10 bucks at a garage sale, drum is only 3yrs old never been opened.

Ive been using Castrol RX super for the last 40k since we bought it and she's done 365k.

Just wondering if I can use the J-Max for my next service and would it meet the requirements for the 300Tdi?

I know a little about oils but not sure on the specs.Have read both product data sheets below, ive come to the conclusion that J-Max may be a better grade!!!

http://www.castrol.com/liveassets/bp...r_B1619_03.pdf

http://www.tds.castrol.com.au/pdf%5C...216_200611.pdf

I know some people dont like Castrol and have there own preferences but just need a opinon from someone that knows more about oils.

Gearbox
Just another quick question should I use CASTROL TRANSMAX M or CASTROL SYNTRANS 75W/85? I dont do alot of heavy towing

[stig0000]

cant say about the first oil,

but the syntrans, its brilent stuff, its not to keen in the realy cold but its not that cold up here,, its the sunshine state,

im running syntrans,

[rick130]

J-Max is for large Japanese diesels, ie. usually over 300HP

The original 300Td oil spec, ACEA B2:96 was deleted years ago and i can't find what it entailed, but the later B3 spec specifies a maximum sulphated ash level of 1.5% (A3/B4=1.6%) whereas J-Max has a sulphated ash level of 1.7%
The API CE spec (the alternate spec) is also obsolete, the CF-4 spec supersedes it but I can't find any sulphated ash specs for either oil.

{edit} all I can find is that B2 was a really basic oil spec, B3 is for 'high performance' diesels and B4 for high performance, direct injected diesels, which actually sounds like a Tdi.
With a 1.6% SA level for B4, I'd run the J-Max.
I would've loved to see before/after oil tests just for the hell of it.{/edit}

The higher sulphated ash levels are designed for improved anti-wear/anti-sludge/anti-scuff performance, but there is a possibility that in a really hot, hardworking engine the higher ash levels may contribute to more deposit formation in the chamber or on the exhaust valves too.

FWIW, the E2/4/7 heavy duty Euro diesel engine specs dictate a sulphated ash level at <2%, so it isn't just the heavy duty Japanese engines that require these levels of additives.

Interestingly most US based HD diesels require oils in the mid ash range, somewhere around 1.2-1.3%, ring land depth/piston design dictates this to a large degree.





Oh, and use Syntrans, most (but not all) R380's shift better with it rather than an ATF, and in theory bearing and gear life should be much better with Syntrans.

[MacFamily]

Cheers Nick will go the Syntrans.

Rick I was hoping you were going to make a post, Ive always found your knowledge of oils very useful thanks again and I will give the J-Max ago.

I doubt the J-Max will cause any harm to the block.These oil test were would one go to get it tested.As I can always keep a current sample of the RX then get the J-Max tested down the track after 5k, and also $$$ cost of a sample.

[rick130]

[snip]
These oil test were would one go to get it tested.As I can always keep a current sample of the RX then get the J-Max tested down the track after 5k, and also $$$ cost of a sample.

Save your money, you'd really need a few tests with RX, then a few with J-Max to establish trends, I was only thinking out aloud.

[C H T]

FWIW

When I fitted the 4BD1T to my Defender I contacted Castrol to ask about oil specs for the Isuzu (I have used RX Super for years now and have had excellent results) Castrol informed me that if the 4BD1T did not use oil on RX Super continue to use it, and only change to J Max if experiencing problems with oil consumption. Apparently RX Super has a higher degree of lubricity than J Max (Castrol's term). The higher sulphated ash content of J Max helps reduce oil consumption - no comment was made as to how.

C H T

[MacFamily]

Well J-Max is in the sump, see if we notice any difference.

Tell ya what that bloody Syntrans is not cheap, and had to buy 3 x 1lt bottles cause I was told it dosent come in 4lt or 5lt

Anyway young bloke at Bursons was good, they had $31.50 per bottle on the shelf but he charged me $27.00 a bottle and the saving's went towards a Torx T55 socket from Trade tools $14.

Also Rave states 2.67lt in gearbox but all I could get in there was 2.3lt? That was on level ground in my shed, also there was alot of crap stuck to the magnet on the drain plug..

[rick130]

The Japanese engine manufacturers specified very high levels of calcium, IIRC in excess of 3000ppm.
This came about when the API introduced the CG-4 oil specification, Japanese diesels started to experience dramatic wear.
The API rectified it quickly with the CH-4 standard, but the Japanese developed their own oil spec.
Even now, most Japanese light diesel manufacturers will void warranty if anything other than a CF/CF-4 oil is used, even though the modern formulations work brilliantly.

In smaller %'s calcium is used as a detergent, it's very effective at lifting deposits and keeping them suspended but in higher concentrations it also adopts a multifunctional role and becomes an effective anti-wear additive too, which is why the Japanese spec is so high.
There will be other additives in there too, additives have to be synergistic, they have to be combined to work together creating a package greater than the sum of its parts.

I just don't know enough as to why it would reduce oil consumption ?
The only thing I can think of it reduces bore glazing ? (high detergency)

[rick130]

Geez Syntrans has gone up in price, I don't think I paid $30/litre for Motul Gear 300 ?