Castrol R...Ummmm The Smell Of it!

[Lordbenny]

Anyone who's been around motor sport for the last 50 years will know the amazing smell that Castrol R gives off. For me, the smell provokes memories of Mk1 Escorts and Minis at Brands in the 70's.

A couple of questions....

1) Who uses it these days and what with all the amazing modern oil technology around why would anyone use a castor based oil?

2) How can I get my car to smell like that? I've heard a spoon full of castor oil in your petrol tank does the job!

3) Once its been used once does an engine have to been completely stripped down & cleaned before a modern oil can be used?

[Shurv]

I can't answer your questions, but that smell......................................................

[catman]

I heard years ago, that if you used ordinary oil after Castrol R, it formed a type of glue...

Tim

[grahamr88]

I've got a bottle of it somewhere in the garage that I occasionally used to mix with the petrol on my old 2 stroke bike. Trouble was, the lovely smell was always behind me so I could never appreciate it. Thankfully I found a solution; stick it in the lawnmower! Cutting the grass became a pleasure with the combined smell of Castrol R and freshly cut grass!

[chopper602]

You always used to get that smell at Speedway meetings . . .

[wolf1]

Ipone used to do a 2 stroke oil that smelled of strawberries

[morgrp]

Goodwood revival - go and you get a whole weekend of the smell

As for running it in a modern road car? -
don't

[Fleckers]

guess the only option is to build an Escort with a 1680 on 45's

[300bhp/ton]

The chap who owns this runs it on Castrol R

[Notshortnottall]

I love this smell! Reminds me of parting, scramble bikes and other assorted awesomeness from my youth.

I have a little 2-stroke genny that I start up on occasion and sit outside my garage like an idiot just for kicks!

I need to get out more!

[DreadUK]

Came across this old post after reading the comment on another forum "what does Castrol 'R' smell like?"

Racing!

[RDMcG]

As a youngster in Ireland I would hang around the special sections of the Circuit of Ireland. I have vivid memories of the smell of Castrol R as the rally cars came skittering by.....loved it..

[icepop]

Sunday morning Karting meets, at Boot Hill on the Ponderosa track, Flookburgh, Cumbria......or Lancashire as it was then.

Me @ 17, on my 350 Suzuki Rebel, following mates on their 200 Invader, and 350 RD Yamaha.

Lately, my lads 2 x 10cc 1/10th Touring Car Nitros, well run in and turning around 20k revs.

A dab behind both ears for old times sake, should prove interesting in a confined space.

[Wacky Racer]

Used to live near Belle Vue Speedway track in the 60's, the smell in the air on Saturday nights was....

[mybrainhurts]

grahamr88 said:

I've got a bottle of it somewhere in the garage that I occasionally used to mix with the petrol on my old 2 stroke bike.

I used to do that.

Also had a squeezy bottle of Redex feeding into the carb. I could make our shopping centre disappear in a cloud of smoke in one pass....

Them wuz the days.

[mikial]

Two instant memories concerning Castrol R , seeing Paul Smart racing at Cyrstal Palace late sixties and Mick Hill in that Capri at Brands Hatch " Run Baby Run " .

[Nobby Diesel]

Not only is the R a great blast from the past, butt "Holy Resurrection" Batman!
Two and a half years, between comments!

[ging84]

did they actually used to put castor oil in race car engines ? or is this some gibberish from the generation that needs hearing aids?

grandpa simpson said:

I first took a fancy to Mrs. Bouvier because her raspy voice reminded me of my old Victrola. Oh, it was a fine machine with a vulcanized rubber listening tube which you crammed in your ear. The tube would go in easier with some sort of lubricant like linseed oil or doctor...

[Denis O]

Pre65 trials were wonderful as the smell of Castrol R hung heavy in the woods.

The legend Sammy Miller

[anonymous-user]

Go to the Manx GP, you can smell it everywhere you go. Great holiday too!