Originally Posted by LubricatusObsess
This post is a bit dated in information, but I felt I owed it to BITOG to share it as the group influenced my choice of PCMO.
Having worked for Mobil, I was a die-hard Mobil 1 user for years. Until Shell bought Pennzoil and came out with GTL Ultra Platinum motor oil. BITOGers posted excellent reviews, UOA's, etc., and Shell's advertising with the cleanliness over M1 didn't hurt either. So I changed to PUP and have been with it ever since.
Here's what I noticed - my OCI's were fairly regular before I retired...3x per year on all vehicles @ 6k miles, except RV which averaged 3k miles per summer. The vehicles OEM Manual specs different SAE vis for each vehicle, which I stick with.
- oil consumption averaged app. 1 quart per OCI (@ 6k) on M1 per passenger vehicle. after change to PUP, there is no noticeable oil consumption on the dipsticks - on any vehicle.
- oil consumption on the RV averaged 1 quart per OCI (@ 3k) on M1. after change to PUP, there is no noticeable oil consumption on the dipstick.
- 1st oil changes with PUP had noticeably darker oil drains.
I don't have UOA to prove whether this is advantageous or not, but I would think so? Neither do I know why since I don't know the base stock recipes. I suspect PUP has a better base oil with lower NOACK and better DD additive package. If the rings and grooves are cleaner, the pistons are sealing better (less sticking)? Again, this is educated speculation based on what little is known about these oils.
Since PUP was first introduced, Mobil responded with "EP", but I haven't tried it. I've been pleased enough with PUP's performance and availability (now days) to not experiment further. The new GDI engines have me wondering what is optimal, though. I have one of these now, and surely more on the way.
I made a post about my vehicle here with it not consuming oil anymore which I personally think was caused by the italian tune ups more than oil but I think personally the 3 oci that I used PUP 5w30 had some sort of an affect too, and just like what you said the oil was noticeably darker when changing came and the engine for me did quiet the engine down. I bought the car with an unknown oil brand in it but I knew it wasnt a pennzoil platinum line because it had a darker golden color to the dipstick unlike the clear we get from pp or pup.
The first and second oci with pup 5w30 caused noticeably dark drains and I did consume oil, the first oil change I had with pup 5w30 nearing 5k the dipstick was low and I had to add oil which bummed me out. Then my next oci I noticed that the oil on the dipstick did not drop as low like my first change. My third oci came around and I was really suprised to see my consumption drop to half the dipstick at 5k but I thought maybe I drove less agressively/season differences, and now my current oil in it was done at walmart with just pp 5w30 not pup 5w30, and wow im shocked to see that nearing 5k my oil hasnt dropped on the dipstick!! I have the GDI 2gr-fse engine in the is350 and I remember also that the engine was noticebly quieter with pup than whatever was in it before, I have more info on my thread about it but thats my 2 cents.
