Motor oil and lubricants supplier Castrol launched its new Castrol EDGE motor oil, boosted with TITANIUM Fluid Strength Technology (FST), in June and linked the launch with a series of world-first driving trials, designed to demonstrate the performance of the product.

South African racing driver Adrian Zaugg led the domestic ‘Titanium Strong Blackout’ trial, which was conducted on a track drenched in complete darkness, visible only by beams of light. Four drivers worked together to race against these lights at speeds of up to 120 mph. Similar trials were held around the world.

TITANIUM FST, which was developed at the Castrol Technology Centre, in Pangbourne, England, is designed to double the film strength of motor oil, prevent oil film breakdown and reduce friction. It physically changes the way oil behaves under extreme pressure and helps form a protective shock-absorbing film that prevents damaging metal-to-metal contact.

The oil has been developed in response to car manufacturers’ downsizing, turbocharging and advanced engine designs, such as direct fuel injection and variable valve timing. This has resulted in engine pressures tripling in the last 20 years, causing greater stress on the oil, equivalent to five hatchback cars stacked on a stiletto heel.

Castrol technology manager for Africa Rob Bowen reported that the development programme took nearly seven years of extensive research, laboratory, in-house and engine testing.

“Top scientists and engineers have worked on the development of the motor oil and it has undergone rigorous testing in hundreds of individual car engine tests, equivalent to completing nearly 1.9-million miles, or more than three-million kilometres,” he explained.

Castrol EDGE Professional will be the first engine oil to be certified globally as carbon dioxide neutral and is also manufactured to the new Castrol Professional quality standard. Its advanced technology team worked with scientists in renowned academic institutions and more than 2 400 lubricant blends were tested using hundreds of different tests and processes.