Pennzoil Platinum - Made from or with NG?

[Dave1027]

I was looking at oil at Walmart yesterday and noticed many oils have jumped up in price. Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy is now $29 for 5 qt. Valvoline Restore and Protect is $30. But not really surprised. Everything has gone up in this economy. But I was surprised to see Pennzoil Platinum still at $24. But on closer examination I noticed the something changed on the PP bottles. They no longer state "Made from Natural Gas" indicating GTL base. Now they state, "Made with Natural Gas". Strangely, one of the PPs, the 0W-16 does still say "Made from Natural Gas". Not sure why.

Anybody know what's going on? Has PP been reformulated?

 

[JavierH19]

I always wondered what the ratio of ng and oil base they used. I never knew for sure if it was 100% or a mix of both.

 

[camrydriver111]

Were they the same bottle label revision?

I've seen both new and old bottles in store that say different things for the same grade

 

[Dave1027]

Were they the same bottle label revision?

I've seen both new and old bottles in store that say different things for the same grade

Not sure. I'll take a picture next I'm there.

 

[4wd]

Well, they have dealers choice to use or sell to some extent …

 

[wemay]

Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy is on rollback here for $24.67
Mobil 1 Extended Performance is on rollback here for $26.67

Valvoline ADV is not on rollback - $26.97
Valvoline Extended Protection is not on rollback - $28.97

PP is on rollback here for $23.97

On their website (PP) still says made from GTL.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

I was looking at oil at Walmart yesterday and noticed many oils have jumped up in price. Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy is now $29 for 5 qt. Valvoline Restore and Protect is $30. But not really surprised. Everything has gone up in this economy. But I was surprised to see Pennzoil Platinum still at $24. But on closer examination I noticed the something changed on the PP bottles. They no longer state "Made from Natural Gas" indicating GTL base. Now they state, "Made with Natural Gas". Strangely, one of the PPs, the 0W-16 does still say "Made from Natural Gas". Not sure why.

Anybody know what's going on? Has PP been reformulated?

Probably just legal issue that is slowly making its way through the product line. Modern synthetics aren't 100% of one thing anyways.

 

[kschachn]

I always wondered what the ratio of ng and oil base they used. I never knew for sure if it was 100% or a mix of both.

Since it is all Group III then it can be anything that complies with the interchange rules for Group III in API Annex E.

 

[kschachn]

Probably just legal issue that is slowly making its way through the product line. Modern synthetics aren't 100% of one thing anyways.

It’s complete marketing. They can use any Group III that has the an acceptable VI, saturates and sulfur content.

 

[tasch72]

How much GTL does API SP Pennzoil Platinum use? Hard to say without a gas chromatograph.

SOPUS likes to keep their cards close. If you look at their Material Safety Data Sheets they'll generally say 0-90% "Interchangeable low viscosity base oil (<20,5 cSt@40°C) *" for Pennzoil Platinum and Quaker State, with the exception of Quaker State Euro 5w40 which lists 0-90% "Distillates (Fischer-Tropsch), heavy,C18-50 – branched,cyclic and linear" aka GTL as per CAS number 848301-69-9.

 

[k1xv]

Well, additives are not made from natural gas, so 100 percent of the bottle contents are not made from natural gas.

 

[kschachn]

How much GTL does API SP Pennzoil Platinum use? Hard to say without a gas chromatograph.

SOPUS likes to keep their cards close. If you look at their Material Safety Data Sheets they'll generally say 0-90% "Interchangeable low viscosity base oil (<20,5 cSt@40°C) *" for Pennzoil Platinum and Quaker State, with the exception of Quaker State Euro 5w40 which lists 0-90% "Distillates (Fischer-Tropsch), heavy,C18-50 – branched,cyclic and linear" aka GTL as per CAS number 848301-69-9.

Could you tell with that? I’m guessing FTIR. Maybe.

 

[tasch72]

Could you tell with that? I’m guessing FTIR. Maybe.

I made a mistake and put GC when I meant FTIR. Thanks for catching that.

 

[esandes]

The base oil is 100% gas to liquid. No other oil is like this.

 

[wpod]

The base oil is 100% gas to liquid. No other oil is like this.

What is the advantage besides the marketing claims.

 

[OilUzer]

Nothing against the oil companies and I'm sure they are all wonderful. However, I sometimes wonder about some of these marketing tactics.

Do I think an average consumer (including me) knows or cares about what GTL is? I think not! It may take a long time to educate, convince or program people and maybe that's the plan.

Oil companies can re-formulate all they want. You can't constantly monitor and we don't have access to the data. Do we constantly monitor every product we buy? I don't.

The only protection the consumers have, is the licenses, certs, approvals and/or independent tests. Oil companies can tweak all they want. If you want an A40 oil, pick one that has the approval and cross your fingers.

Generally speaking, and this has nothing to do with the oil companies but you never want the fox guarding the henhouse. In case of oil, the ideal scenario would be an independent testing. If you can't get that, you move down a notch and see what's the next best available option and so on ... And don't lend nice tools to your cousin without writing it down!

 

[esandes]

What is the advantage besides the marketing claims.

The key benefit I saw personally was the extreme cold startup. I'm talking -40 with wind. The Pennzoil Platinum Euro didn't cause a metal to metal screech noise on startup compared to another leading oil that is, IMHO, all marketing hype.

The PP also keep my engines running like new. Another oil kept burning oil increasingly over time. I installed a rebuilt engine and used PP from day 1 and it never consumed a drop and could have probably ran forever. But I sold it after 16 years.

So, besides the benefits marketed, I like the film strength and low pour point of the PP. I never want to hear that screech again. If it protects at -40, it can protect at any temperature and cold starts are where the wear is mostly.

 

[RevvCats]

The base oil is 100% gas to liquid. No other oil is like this.

Pretty sure 100% GTL would be terrible for additive solvency, like a majority PAO oil you’d want some Ester or Group 2 blended in.

Valvoline Extended Protection High Milage has a very high GTL content along with a number of Mobil 1 oils especially their ESP and AFE lines. I’m sure there are other companies using GTLs too, Pennzoil just makes a point to advertise it.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

..... along with a number of Mobil 1 oils especially their ESP and AFE lines. I’m sure there are other companies using GTLs too, Pennzoil just makes a point to advertise it.

I'm surprised you entered the Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy oils and omitted the EP oils, as having high GTL content. I would have rated them..... EP - ESP - with AFE having a lowered amount of GTL.

 

[esandes]

Pretty sure 100% GTL would be terrible for additive solvency, like a majority PAO oil you’d want some Ester or Group 2 blended in.

Valvoline Extended Protection High Milage has a very high GTL content along with a number of Mobil 1 oils especially their ESP and AFE lines. I’m sure there are other companies using GTLs too, Pennzoil just makes a point to advertise it.

Actually, a lot of keen DIY oil guys have seen additives at the bottom of some PP containers. I saw it with the euro 0W40 but I would shake the bottle to get it back into suspension.

I haven't noticed it with Pennzoil Ultra Platinum 5W30 or Euro LX 0W30. I shake them all anyway before pouring them down the hatch.

There are a few youtube videos.