You have been here long enough to know there are components in fully formulated engine oils that don’t show up on a spectrographic analysis.
Pennzoil Platinum HM 5W-30 VOA
- Thread starter himemsys
- Start date
So what were you looking at if not a cheap spectrographic analysis?
I am looking at what everybody else looks at when they look at the VOAs and the used oil analysis. The additive amounts.
Does that mean that their competitors don't also have the secret sauce but chose a better additive package instead? Maybe they in fact have both?
Well my point being that no one is looking at additive amounts, you are looking at certain mostly metallic elements from decomposed compounds. You can make a few "tea leaves" assumptions about the origin of some of those elements, but there are additives that aren't composed of metallic or tested elements. That's why licenses, certifications and approvals are based on a battery of definitive tests for everything from wear to oxidation resistance to 20 other things. No license, specification nor approval is based on a cheap spectrographic analysis but on much more representative tests.
Yes that's what everybody else looks at but nearly every time they are drawing wholly unwarranted conclusions. Go look at the Afton Specification Handbook and see what goes into every approval and license, even the widely disparaged API license. See how many of the requirements are based on a spectrographic analysis.
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4wd
$50 site donor 2026
Heard MAC-T is Earl Grey’s great-great-great-great grandson …
When my stash of Mobil 1 ESP 0w30 and the 5w30 ESP is about 2 be used up I will be asking RDY4WAR what oil I should be buying and using!
Carlostrece
$100 Site Donor 2025
I know this thread is old, but it's still relevant. I read the entire thread because Pennzoil Platinum High Mileage interested me.
I also watched multiple Youtube videos by Project Farm in which he said (paraphrasing) Amsoil Signature performed best of all oils he tested that year (2024 I think?) with Pennzoil Ultra Platinum a close 2nd, which would make PUP the best oil available from Walmart.
He went on to say all the other Pennzoil oils that he tested performed well, except Platinum. He was not inpressed with Platinum's performance in his various physical tests and he theorized it might be related to a weak additive package. He then show a VOA of PP and said it's additive package looked weak, but he like PUP's additive package better. He like all Pennzoil products (for their price, category) except PP.
Years ago I tried Pennzoil Platinum 5w30 in my 99 Jeep Cherokee. The oil pressure was lower than I was accustomed to from 5w30 Valvoline Synpower. It was obvious to me that PP was thinner than Synpower. PP claimed cSt looked normal, but IRL it was thin for a 5w30.
I realize this thread is about PP HM, but it probably shares same base oil and additive package as PP, except hopefully the HM version has more seal conditioners (especially considering how thin it seems to be).
I was considering Valvoline Extended Protection High Mileage vs Pennzoil Platinum High Mileage if I want a synthetic HM (instead of a Blend HM) because I had hopes that Pennzoil Platinum High Mileage would be much better than PP, but I'm giving up on that hope.
So far I have only read good things about Valvoline Extended Protection High Mileage. I'm also liking Maxlife HM Blend too.
I also watched multiple Youtube videos by Project Farm in which he said (paraphrasing) Amsoil Signature performed best of all oils he tested that year (2024 I think?) with Pennzoil Ultra Platinum a close 2nd, which would make PUP the best oil available from Walmart.
He went on to say all the other Pennzoil oils that he tested performed well, except Platinum. He was not inpressed with Platinum's performance in his various physical tests and he theorized it might be related to a weak additive package. He then show a VOA of PP and said it's additive package looked weak, but he like PUP's additive package better. He like all Pennzoil products (for their price, category) except PP.
Years ago I tried Pennzoil Platinum 5w30 in my 99 Jeep Cherokee. The oil pressure was lower than I was accustomed to from 5w30 Valvoline Synpower. It was obvious to me that PP was thinner than Synpower. PP claimed cSt looked normal, but IRL it was thin for a 5w30.
I realize this thread is about PP HM, but it probably shares same base oil and additive package as PP, except hopefully the HM version has more seal conditioners (especially considering how thin it seems to be).
I was considering Valvoline Extended Protection High Mileage vs Pennzoil Platinum High Mileage if I want a synthetic HM (instead of a Blend HM) because I had hopes that Pennzoil Platinum High Mileage would be much better than PP, but I'm giving up on that hope.
So far I have only read good things about Valvoline Extended Protection High Mileage. I'm also liking Maxlife HM Blend too.
PF is not testing all the dynamics of how an oil operates inside an engine & should be taken as entertainment only. Like many have said here I enjoy his videos but not to be taken seriously about oil. He does send out oil to test to a lab & that does give some value there though. If you want to try High Mileage oil just use it.
Project farm is a big joke. Wouldn’t trust him with anything.
Valvoline Extended Protection High Mileage is definitely use over any PP. Even is PP uses GRL, no excuse to skimp on additives.
I happen to have Pennzoil Platinum High Mileage in my 2005 Taurus and it looks like it may have cured an oil drip. I need to get under and take a look.
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