Has GTL proved itself?

[Sienna dude]

Not a silly question at all. It’s only silly because none of us really know the answer.
Let’s talk about why:

It has been reported that less than 1% of all vehicles make it past 200,000 miles. Now if you drive certain Toyota, Honda, and Ford Panther based vehicles, it really doesn’t matter much what motor oil brand or base is involved. (Unless you really do something stupid).

However, if you own certain problematic US branded small turbo charged engines, Jag, Mercedes, VW or BMW engines that there is a high probability of required engine wear work around the 150,000 mile mark - we are talking about you. No need to name names.

Now, if you knew in advance, that a higher percentage of Pennzoil primarily GTL based + additive package owners were getting well over the average mileage:

1) Would that affect your decision to buy and use it?

2) Or, would you use any other available choice, since it won’t make a difference at all? Just blindly grab Super Tech or Mobil 1.

The point of the question is we hear of the benefits of Pennzoil Platinum/Ultra Platinum. However, we very rarely hear from the long term, real world 300,000 mile boasts from such owners.

Empty vessels make the most noise and fools are the most confident, lots of them on this board. Thanks for being reasonable.

 

[kschachn]

The point of the question is we hear of the benefits of Pennzoil Platinum/Ultra Platinum. However, we very rarely hear from the long term, real world 300,000 mile boasts from such owners.

I have nearly 500K on my old Sienna and have rarely if ever used a SOPUS product in that vehicle. How much of my longevity is due to the motor oil? Real-world tests are full of uncontrolled variables and it is difficult to ascribe an outcome to one isolated variable.

 

[RooflessVW]

Empty vessels make the most noise and fools are the most confident, lots of them on this board. Thanks for being reasonable.

LMAO just because he's the only one that agrees with your premise doesn't mean he (or you) is reasonable or correct.

 

[RooflessVW]

required engine wear work around the 150,000 mile mark - we are talking about you. No need to name names.

No, let's.

The BMW N63 is the only engine that comes to mind that frequently needs "engine wear work" or has oil-related failures with regularity, many of which can be negated by just changing the oil more frequently.

 

[ATex7239]

Dunning Krueger effect. When you start learning new information, it all of sudden becomes the reason behind everything. It happens to everyone.

 

[cptbarkey]

Empty vessels make the most noise and fools are the most confident, lots of them on this board. Thanks for being reasonable.

You are complaining about the lack of data. OK. Go find it, post it. Just because you are here asking questions doesnt mean there is an issue either. Get over yourself, seriously.

 

[edyvw]

Not a silly question at all. It’s only silly because none of us really know the answer.
Let’s talk about why:

It has been reported that less than 1% of all vehicles make it past 200,000 miles. Now if you drive certain Toyota, Honda, and Ford Panther based vehicles, it really doesn’t matter much what motor oil brand or base is involved. (Unless you really do something stupid).

However, if you own certain problematic US branded small turbo charged engines, Jag, Mercedes, VW or BMW engines that there is a high probability of required engine wear work around the 150,000 mile mark - we are talking about you. No need to name names.

Now, if you knew in advance, that a higher percentage of Pennzoil primarily GTL based + additive package owners were getting well over the average mileage:

1) Would that affect your decision to buy and use it?

2) Or, would you use any other available choice, since it won’t make a difference at all? Just blindly grab Super Tech or Mobil 1.

The point of the question is we hear of the benefits of Pennzoil Platinum/Ultra Platinum. However, we very rarely hear from the long term, real world 300,000 mile boasts from such owners.

I am dying to hear more about this. Please do tell us, fools who don't know.

 

[Sienna dude]

You are complaining about the lack of data. OK. Go find it, post it. Just because you are here asking questions doesnt mean there is an issue either. Get over yourself, seriously.

Lol. I just asked a question. Take a chill pill

 

[ATex7239]

In before the lockdown.

 

[edyvw]

I was having a private chat with a fellow member inquiring about my experience of using Pennzoil Ultra P 0w20 in my van. Then he asked if I know anyone who ran GTL Pennzoil for hundreds of thousands of miles in a vehicle. I said no. Honestly I don't know any. I know many that made it well over 400k miles running Mobil 1. But I don't know any on Pennzoil.

So my question is, has GTL Pennzoil helped vehicles hit big miles? Or base oils don't matter and it is the end product that really matters?

I would give it 50-60 years at least.

 

[53' Stude]

Lol. I just asked a question. Take a chill pill

I’d stop while you are ahead. You don’t get the answers you want Yku complain. Seriously dude: you ought to go chill out.

 

[Sienna dude]

I’d stop while you are ahead. You don’t get the answers you want Yku complain. Seriously dude: you ought to go chill out.

Ok

 

[cptbarkey]

Lol. I just asked a question. Take a chill pill

I'm quite chill considering post 21, You look to have insulted the entire forum because of confirmation bias. k

 

[ltslimjim]

Dunning Krueger effect. When you start learning new information, it all of sudden becomes the reason behind everything. It happens to everyone.

This is the truth. It happens to all of us; and it’s one reason many of the more senior board members here usually hesitate to make claims or definitive statements regarding comparisons in real world as opposed to “typical properties” on paper and in theory.

What about this…Is GTL causing early failures? @Sienna dude

That’s the other end of the spectrum of the original question. Can you see how it’s a pointless question? That’s like saying is oil a problem for engines. The answer is complex. No, oil is needed. Is one final product oil better than another? I think understanding general characteristics of a fully formulated oil is more important to deciding what one engine may benefit more from, but it’s one insurance. In the real world, variables are hard to control. The best oil for one vehicle could be a problem for others based on factors too long to list but relate to a specific engine in a specific usage pattern. There is no one size fits all. GTL is a relatively modern process of the same molecules at the end of the day. The more you dig in, the more questions you will ask, because it’s far more than GTL good or bad (the root here)… There is more importance to the quality of ingredients, the attention to details in a final blend, and its overall robustness at providing a given engine what it needs; as each blend has differing areas of typical characteristics. GTL can serve many purposes. Like any other common base oil. But, we aren’t all just running 100% base of anything, are we?

 

[ATex7239]

This is the truth. It happens to all of us; and it’s one reason many of the more senior board members here usually hesitate to make claims or definitive statements regarding comparisons in real world as opposed to “typical properties” on paper and in theory.

What about this…Is GTL causing early failures? @Sienna dude

That’s the other end of the spectrum of the original question. Can you see how it’s a pointless question? That’s like saying is oil a problem for engines. The answer is complex. No, oil is needed. Is one final product oil better than another? I think understanding general characteristics of a fully formulated oil is more important to deciding what one engine may benefit more from, but it’s one insurance. In the real world, variables are hard to control. The best oil for one vehicle could be a problem for others based on factors too long to list but relate to a specific engine in a specific usage pattern. There is no one size fits all. GTL is a relatively modern process of the same molecules at the end of the day. The more you dig in, the more questions you will ask, because it’s far more than GTL good or bad (the root here)… There is more importance to the quality of ingredients, the attention to details in a final blend, and its overall robustness at providing a given engine what it needs; as each blend has differing areas of typical characteristics. GTL can serve many purposes. Like any other common base oil. But, we aren’t all just running 100% base of anything, are we?

I know a very well educated and knowledgeable person who jokingly says “no one in a given field knows more than a first year grad student.” It’s funny but also true.

 

[Sienna dude]

This is the truth. It happens to all of us; and it’s one reason many of the more senior board members here usually hesitate to make claims or definitive statements regarding comparisons in real world as opposed to “typical properties” on paper and in theory.

What about this…Is GTL causing early failures? @Sienna dude

That’s the other end of the spectrum of the original question. Can you see how it’s a pointless question? That’s like saying is oil a problem for engines. The answer is complex. No, oil is needed. Is one final product oil better than another? I think understanding general characteristics of a fully formulated oil is more important to deciding what one engine may benefit more from, but it’s one insurance. In the real world, variables are hard to control. The best oil for one vehicle could be a problem for others based on factors too long to list but relate to a specific engine in a specific usage pattern. There is no one size fits all. GTL is a relatively modern process of the same molecules at the end of the day. The more you dig in, the more questions you will ask, because it’s far more than GTL good or bad (the root here)… There is more importance to the quality of ingredients, the attention to details in a final blend, and its overall robustness at providing a given engine what it needs; as each blend has differing areas of typical characteristics. GTL can serve many purposes. Like any other common base oil. But, we aren’t all just running 100% base of anything, are we?

I asked a question, I didn't make any claims. I was asked if I know a high mile car that primarily was on GTL Pennzoil. I said I don't know one.

 

[Brian123]

Lol. I just asked a question. Take a chill pill

When you ask a question on this Forum you will get an answer! When someone gives you a response that you do not like, check out how long they have been here!

 

[ltslimjim]

I know a very well educated and knowledgeable person who jokingly says “no one in a given field knows more than a first year grad student.” It’s funny but also true.

Yep. Overly enthusiastic newcomers by nature lead to inaccurate conclusions from a lack of context and nuanced understanding of a given data point.

I think it’s best we all remain life-long learners; even if we are self-aware experts, it’s good to remain humble and willing to learn more or adjust our current understanding when more information that could be credible comes to light.

I consider myself a tribology enthusiast; a layman that wants to learn from those with an actual working knowledge.

 

[Sienna dude]

how long they have been here!

It doesn't mean anything.

 

[ltslimjim]

I asked a question, I didn't make any claims. I was asked if I know a high mile car that primarily was on GTL Pennzoil. I said I don't know one.

It’s an honest question. I didn’t add my own reply to be critical or dismissive. I think shaming you for the question would be the wrong approach. Stay curious, that’ll get you far, and try not to take anything stated here personally. I’m sure there are plenty of high mileage engines that have ran PP or PUP most of their life, heck throw in some M1 EP and QS products that have been known to use GTL…I think the answer is obvious when you consider how flooded the market is on GTL. Likely more popular and used compared to PAO due to cost alone. But, since even GTL is often used in a blend of other base oils, do you see how the question being assigned an answer based on the GTL alone isn’t really a question we can answer and give the credit or blame to just that one piece to the final blend?