These Shavings Can Potentially Ruin Your Life (and How to Protect Yourself)

What you’re looking at is something that can ruin your life. And no, before you get any silly ideas, this isn’t the close up of someone’s pubes. Instead, what you’re looking at are fine metallic particles that shave off tiny bits of your engine one revolution at a time.

When car buyers look for better engine protection, the first (and likely, the only thing) in their mind is going for Grade A motor oil. And while the benefits of a good motor oil are well-documented, this is just a part of the puzzle. What if we tell you that you’ve been overlooking an important part of your engine—one that could use an upgrade as well?

What is this part? It’s the engine oil filter.

As far as engine upgrades go, oil filters aren’t necessarily the sexiest mod out there. That said, it plays an important role in keeping the engine free from contaminants that can accumulate over time. See, if engine oil is left unfiltered, it could become saturated with tiny, hard particles that can wear the surfaces of your engine, like in the lead photo above.

Despite its crucial role in protecting the engine, it’s funny (and surprising) how oil filter technology hasn’t changed for some time. The typical design uses a synthetic fiber that traps metal particles, and that’s about it. As the filter gets clogged, they’re replaced at fixed intervals.

Realizing that this sort of protection doesn’t go far enough, the boys at PIAA has come up with the Twin Power Oil Filter.

Aesthetically, it looks like any oil filter, but there are big differences inside.

First up, an enlarged oil inlet port achieves 170 percent better engine oil flow compared to an OE filter. This reduces the risk of power loss, even when the engine oil or oil filter’s nearing the end of usable service life.

Next is its proprietary two-layer filtration system (20 microns and 10 microns) that balances both flow and filtration, achieving 150 percent better filtration than the standard OE filter.

Finally, sandwiching the two filter elements is a high-power 1,000 gauss magnet. Capable of working in excess of 300 degrees Celsius (or hotter than the operating temperature of a car’s engine), it traps any metal debris that finds its way into the filter rather than allowing it to simply pass through right back into the engine.

With all the added benefits, it’s a pleasant surprise to know that the PIAA Twin Power Oil Filter won’t break the bank. Its prices start at a reasonable P 980—similar to prices the casas charge you with. And even if you find its less-than-a-thousand-peso pricier than your current non-name filter, just look at the lead photo again to remind you that these metallic particles are currently floating in your engine oil just waiting to create a mess. You surely want to stay protected, right? Right?

The Made in Japan PIAA Twin Power Oil Filter is now available with mostly Japanese fitments (European, American, Korean not so much). For availability and pricing, contact PIAA Philippines through their official Facebook page or drop them a text at +63 917 5754812.

Castrol Activ Provides 24/7 Motorcycle Engine Protection

Castrol Philippines launches a specially formulated motorcycle engine oil that provides maximum protection regardless of use: Castrol Activ.

“The number of motorcycle users in the Philippines has grown over the years, and we at Castrol, are fully committed to providing our consumers with more specialized products to suit their changing needs,” said Maria Tañada, Castrol Philippines Country Manager.

Thanks to improved Actibond molecules, Castrol Activ provides 24/7 protection across all three stages of the ride: startup, the ride itself, and engine switch off.

During startup, where most engine wear occurs, Castrol Activ lessens the risk of wear and tear of vital engine components by 75 percent. During the ride, the Actibond molecules fight against the buildup of deposits, promoting maximum engine cleanliness and reducing piston wear for a smoother running engine. Finally, as the engine is switched off, the Actibond molecules cling on to engine parts to protect from corrosion due to humidity.

Castrol Activ is tailored fit for the resilient Filipino rider, giving them the superior all-day engine protection they need, on and off the road.

“Inspired by the hardworking Filipino, Walang Bibitaw is our strongly held philosophy that drives us towards empowering riders with the means to protect what matters most. Whether they’re riding alone or with their loved ones, Castrol Activ is a reliable partner that ensures their motorcycle engine is always protected and ready for the road ahead,” said Tañada. “Today, riders can gain 24-hour maximum engine protection thanks to Castrol Activ’s improved Actibond formulation.”

According to the Motorcycle Development Program Participants Association Inc., there were 1,580,926 units of motorcycles sold in 2018, a 21 percent increase from the 1.3 million units sold the previous year. The spike in numbers, combined with challenging road and environmental conditions that riders and their bikes face every day, calls for products that offer greater engine protection prompting Castrol Philippines to introduce Castrol Activ motorcycle engine lubricants into the country.

Motul 300V vs 8100: What's the Difference?

This is one of the most frequently asked question of any car owner. When it comes to picking the right Motul engine oil, which is better suited for my car: the 300V or 8100?

Both are 100 percent synthetic engine oils, synthesized and produced free of any mineral or crude oils. This ensures that Motul can control the quality of every drop of oil in the bottle, as opposed to having to refine the quality of mineral base oils.

Now, as Motul’s top-of-the-line, full synthetic racing engine oil, 300V is their most well-known product. But while 300V is cutting-edge stuff (and you can certainly use it in every application) it doesn’t mean you should do so. When it comes to protecting the engine, sometimes it’s not really the case of which is “best,” but rather, which is most suitable.

The most important thing to know is that 300V is truly a racing oil. Mechanics at the Dakar Rally or Le Mans endurance race pour it into the competition vehicles they service, and it’s the exact same stuff you can buy off the shelf at your Motul dealer or service provider.

Racing oils provide the same things that ‘street’ (or regular) oils do: Improve power, protect the engine, and improve the reliability and longevity of components. 300V is a very specific product, and there are even different formulations for different racing applications, from sprint races to endurance rallies.

300V does its job well, but unlike 8100, it’s designed, as is typical of a racing lubricant, to have a more frequent replacement interval than a street oil like 8100. 8100, as a high-quality lubricant, can be changed at your car’s stated service intervals while 300V would require replacing far sooner for the optimum performance.

So, besides those with actual racing cars, who should use 300V? Avid motorsport enthusiasts whose vehicle are in a high state of tune or which are used regularly at track days or sporting events such as time attacks, gymkhana, or drag races. And that’s not to say 8100 can’t do it either, those who attend occasional track days but do a majority of driving on normal roads will find 8100 up to the task.

Castrol's New Magnatec Oil Formulation Protects Engines Equipped with Start/Stop Tech

Castrol Philippines recently launched its latest line of Castrol Magnatec lubricants with the industry-pioneering Dualock Technology. Available for both diesel and gasoline applications (including one specially formulated for engines with idle start-stop technology), these new line of engine oils are now available in the market.

The new 2019 line of Castrol Magnatec lubricants are available in three grades: 10W-40 for gasoline engines; 10W-50 for diesel engines, and 5W-30 for both diesel and gasoline engines. All three oils are fully synthetic and come with the breakthrough Dualock technology.

A technological advancement resulting from ten years of research and development, Castrol Magnatec’s Dualock Technology brings forth a molecular innovation, in which a pair of protective molecules lock together to form a powerful shielding layer on engine components. This results in a 50 percent reduction in wear-and-tear from engine warm-up and stop-start operation, even for vehicles with the latest stop-start engine technology.

With the average driver experiencing 33 percent more time traveling and start-stop systems turning on and off as many as 18,000 times a year (that’s 49 times a day), increased microscopic engine wear is inevitable. This is why the new Castrol Magnatec formulation is made to protect engines traveling in heavily congested, highly-urbanized areas.

“We recognize the current congested traffic conditions drivers go through every day, and we know that our vehicles’ engines are put under constant stress. Because of this, we are more than excited to finally introduce a reinvented Castrol Magnatec with breakthrough Dualock Technology. We have built on Castrol Magnatec’s success, and once again, introduce innovative products that work best according to the diverse needs of our consumers. This is aligned with Castrol Magnatec’s promise of providing nonstop protection from every start,” said Maria Tañada, Country Manager, Castrol Philippines.

Castrol Magnatec has become one of the leading car engine oils, with more than 1 billion liters of oil sold in the past 20 years, making it among the most successful lubricants in the global market.

Caltex Philippines Kicks Off Street Borne Promo for Havoline 4T Motorcycle Oil

Caltex is kicking off the Street Borne campaign for their Havoline brand of lubricants for motorcycles and scooters. The promo, valid at participating workshops, outlets, and service stations has a campaign-themed box with a see-through window revealing the Havoline oil and Street Borne cap.

Participating products are Havoline semi-synthetic motorcycle and scooter engine oils which come with street-tested and proven proprietary technologies that address the concerns faced by urban commuters: high engine oil temperatures, hot and humid operating conditions, and challenging stop-and-go traffic.

Suitable for a wide-range of both air- and liquid-cooled four-stroke motorcycle and scooter engines, the Havoline Super 4T semi-synthetic comes with various viscosity grades: 10W-30 (recommended by Honda), 10W-40 (recommended by Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki), and 15W-50 (recommended by Ducati, KTM, BMW, Harley-Davidson).

“We are excited to kick off the year with this brand-new campaign: Street Borne. Well-aware of the challenges of urban motorists, we have a range of top-quality motorcycle and scooter engine oils that address their concerns through unique product formulation and innovative technologies. Caltex Lubricants has a long and established heritage amongst motorists, and we are always innovating new ways of conveying our brand promises to make their experience on the streets more valuable and enjoyable,” shares Hafiz Nasar, area business manager of Chevron lubricants for the Philippines.