Shipping Fully Synthetic Oil from the USA to Europe?

[Swapped6n]

Hey guys!

I know the idea sounds crazy, but after hearing how much you guys pay for oil there, I'm extremely jealous.

I wonder: How much would a liter (quart-ish) of very high quality fully synthetic oil cost in the states?

Here in Holland I have to pay 25 euro per liter
(which is currently 32.77 USD) For 1 liter Castrol Edge-Sport, or any other comparable high-grade oil from a retailer.

Assuming that an R32 needs 6 liters (total guess, I have no idea how much mine takes), I'm looking at spending 150 euro, or 196 USD on Oil alone


Is it not an idea to buy it cheap over there, and have it shipped over and delivered? Or are there restrictions on shipping motor oil?
If it IS a lot cheaper, Anyone know a website that I could order oil from to ship to my place here?




Pictures for clicktures:

[leaftye]

If I remember domestic shipping standards, hazardous liquids like this cannot be shipped by air and have a 1 liter limit. It could still be shipped, but would be 6 shipments instead of one.

[NoDubJustYet]

Contact ECS Tuning... They might be able to send it slow boat. I've talked to them in the past but found other methods of obtaining my oil.

[Swapped6n]

Contact ECS Tuning... They might be able to send it slow boat. I've talked to them in the past but found other methods of obtaining my oil.

Boss maneuver

Sounds like something worth looking into

Thanks man

[lagunaroone]

Find 'Merican friend in Europe that works on a base
Get him/her to buy your oil
??????
Profit

[J-Tim]

Contact ECS Tuning... They might be able to send it slow boat. I've talked to them in the past but found other methods of obtaining my oil.

ECS tuning would be my guess as well though their shipping rates overseas are astronomical!

Try Pelican Parts too. I think they are a bit cheaper

[NoDubJustYet]

Find 'Merican friend in Europe that works on a base
Get him/her to buy your oil
??????
Profit

Selection isn't great for the good stuff... Plus there are a few other issues.

[NoDubJustYet]

ECS tuning would be my guess as well though their shipping rates overseas are astronomical!

Try Pelican Parts too. I think they are a bit cheaper

Shipping might actually negate any cost savings...

[Swapped6n]

Just use home heating oil. I know it's illegal and they have the red dye in it so car pumps out red exhaust... but still cheaper than 25 euros/liter, if you don't get caught. Or I guess not, just now learned that heating oil is more like diesel.

I was about to say..., "Isnt home heating oil meant for combustion purposes and not lubrication purposes" but it seems that you understand that point already


Dont think I'll be putting anything sub-standard in a car that I've saved years and years for haha


But: I do like outside-of-the-box-thinking! I'll give you that much

[NoDubJustYet]

ECS online quotes $91 shipping to Germany for 7L of Castrol Long Life Official VW 5W-30.

$153 total... so €116. That's actually not horrible.

[Swapped6n]

Hmm that is indeed not so bad!

Bit disappointing that the savings isnt more, but then again, sure as hell beats 150 euro for 6 liters.

Wonder why it costs so much more here.

I know fuel is taxed something crazy here in Holland, so I can understand the price for gas...but..wonder why motor oil costs so much



Thanks for the help so far, NoDubJustYet

[Swapped6n]

Write to Castrol, Valveoline, Aral, etc. about how you're a student at uni conducting research for a school project comparing the differences between synthetic and conventional oil.

Free oil... hopefully.

hmmm well, I could write to them and include my heart-break story about my racing license haha

Maybe I have my first real sponsor if I let them put a sticker or three on my car?

[mike minnillo]

Whatever route you take to get your synthetic, just watch out for hazardous shipping regulations. Many hazardous goods can be legally shipped, but must be packaged correctly. I've done some work with a friend who is a TSA HAZMAT inspector, and improperly packaged hazardous goods can carry fines upwards of $50,000. So, as someone who works in the air freight industry, please be careful with how you ship. Improperly packaged hazardous goods have brought down many aircraft and taken hundreds of lives over the years.

[NoDubJustYet]

I seriously doubt they can ship air freight, especially with EU regulations... you can't ship anything that contains a battery for instance.

IF he does this, it will have to be ocean freight.

[Swapped6n]

Yep too right, Air freight is a no-no.

I'm fine with slow-boat, since I'm in no rush to get the stuff.

Will contact Pelican Parts to see what their rate is, and see if its any cheaper

[NoDubJustYet]

Here's another question: What kind of duty or VAT will Dutch Customs want to collect from you??

[Swapped6n]

Good question! I'm not sure how that works really.

I sort of think of it as an ebay buy from another country (not sure what happens, tax wise with that either).

As far as I know, I just pay the seller for the product+shipping and receive the goods at the door?


Good point though, I wonder how that would work

[mike minnillo]

Completely unrelated, but I just read through your R thread. In the first vid you posted, I can hear you talking, but can't really make out an accent. Where are you originally from?

[Swapped6n]

Completely unrelated, but I just read through your R thread. In the first vid you posted, I can hear you talking, but can't really make out an accent. Where are you originally from?

Haha my accent throws some people a lot.

I often get, "Canadian" "Irish" "American".


I was born in Holland but grew up on Long Island NY.

Went back to Holland when I was 18 and lived here for the past 6 and a bit years (crazy how fast time goes )


To summarize: Accent="Polite New Yorkian"

[gambit420s]

"Polite New Yorkian"

They have those?

In all seriousness, find someone that will ship it to you

[HwAoRrDk]

Assuming that an R32 needs 6 liters (total guess, I have no idea how much mine takes), I'm looking at spending 150 euro, or 196 USD on Oil alone

How about ordering it from here in the UK? Just looking at a website I regularly buy my oil from I can get 6 litres of Mobil 1 ESP 5W-30 (VW 504.00) shipped to the Netherlands for about 75 EUR. Other stuff like Shell Helix Ultra Extra or Gulf Formula GVX is similarly-priced.

[J-Tim]

Haha my accent throws some people a lot.

I often get, "Canadian" "Irish" "American".


I was born in Holland but grew up on Long Island NY.

Went back to Holland when I was 18 and lived here for the past 6 and a bit years (crazy how fast time goes )


To summarize: Accent="Polite New Yorkian"

I am in a same boat as you are. Born in Russia, spent quite a bit of time in Nu Joyzey before moving to Australia.
I get "WTF is he from" look, every time I open my mouth. Most of the time people think I am from Sweden, before switching to "Oh, you're Irish then"...... f*** off!

[Swapped6n]

How about ordering it from here in the UK? Just looking at a website I regularly buy my oil from I can get 6 litres of Mobil 1 ESP 5W-30 (VW 504.00) shipped to the Netherlands for about 75 EUR. Other stuff like Shell Helix Ultra Extra or Gulf Formula GVX is similarly-priced.

Wow, why didnt I think of the most simple solution first?
(Of course, the UK might have been cheaper)

THAT sounds like a much more simple solution


What is the name of this magical website you speak of, sir?

I am in a same boat as you are. Born in Russia, spent quite a bit of time in Nu Joyzey before moving to Australia.
I get "WTF is he from" look, every time I open my mouth. Most of the time people think I am from Sweden, before switching to "Oh, you're Irish then"...... f*** off!

hahaha funny, I totally know that feeling!

Chicks dig the stories though, its a very good conversation starter

[Swapped6n]

lol..some one else bumped my thread



Thanks? I think?

[smd3]

It can be shipped on a plane pretty sure. When I was in Italy I ordered a case of Amsoil and it came pretty quick, probably not more than 2 weeks.

Miliary members in Germany can buy Mobil 1, Royal Purple, and other oils at the base for essentially the same price we pay in America.

In Italy we have to purchase oil ration coupons, but it's still pretty expensive. You can't buy a true full synthetic with them either.

[DUTCHMANia]

Good question! I'm not sure how that works really.

I sort of think of it as an ebay buy from another country (not sure what happens, tax wise with that either).

As far as I know, I just pay the seller for the product+shipping and receive the goods at the door?


Good point though, I wonder how that would work

Expect taxes. Motoroil probably won't get past the commonly used "gift" label eBay sellers often use.

[HwAoRrDk]

What is the name of this magical website you speak of, sir?

Opie Oils

You can get extra discounts too if a member of a recognised club, but I doubt they have any Dutch groups listed.

[finklejag]

Motor oil isn't considered Haz mat . It has a flashpoint over 250F degrees. I shipped tons of oil by Fedex. I also work for an Airline.