Mar 05, 2007 05:02 PM
9176 Views
(Updated Mar 05, 2007 05:12 PM)
Initially I wanted to write this as comment to my last review where we were discussing Power1 engine oil.But becoz of the word-limit in a comment, I am writing this as a review.
I refrained from writing this conclusion about Castrol Power1 until I had done 2000 kms on a different engine oil.As I said, circumstances had thrice made me the unwilling user of Power1.At the end of 2nd time use I was sure something was wrong with Power1.But in-spite of my protests the Service Centre guys gave me the same for a third time coz they kept no other.
Now I hear that more people have complained against it and my TVS Service Centre has stopped giving Power1 during servicing.
Well, about my experiences with Power1, I kept a very close watch on the engine behaviour, sound, performance this 3rd(and final) time.Performance was perfect for first 500 kms.Sound was smooth.Pick-up was slightly more and warm-up time in the morning was less - may be due to lower resistance to piston movement.We were discussing viscosity grade - I found no markings on the Power1 bottle.Neither could the shopkeeper say for sure.
Anyway things changed drastically from 550kms onward(Anand was right).By 600kms the engine started the same unmistakable strange laboured breathing(like an asthma patient) that I had experienced the earlier 2 times also.The sound had increased to an unhealthy beat.By 650kms the resistance to piston movement had increased so much that I could almost feel the piston getting held up and toiling to move itself.Mileage had fallen.Gear changes had become exceedingly stiff.The bike was kicking up every time the clutch was engaged.All this on my Fiero Fx which I always prided for the low silk smooth noise, smoothest gear & clutch! Enough to give u sleepless nights!
Enough is enough I told myself.Whether all these problems were due to the Power1 or not, I was determined to find out at any cost.I personally threw that stuff out and filled Castrol 2-wheeler engine oil 20W40(Rs 138/=).Shows I still had some trust on the Castrol name - in case u think something else.I was a bit tense when passing the 500-600 kms mark with it.Now, after 2000kms on this Castrol oil, all my doubts have been cleared.My bike is performing as well as ever and all those problems have simply vanished.This Castrol oil is the same good old Castrol oil that I have mentioned having used earlier before Power1 came along.So there is only one conclusion to be drawn about synthetic Power1: Released without sufficient testing! I am writing this review with full responsibility and confidence that the same results can be reproduced on my bike(God forbid that I ever have to fill that stuff again!)
