Pennzoil Platinum now the same as Ultra?

[kaminski54]

So I have a bit of an obsession with clearing my entire area of 5 qt jugs of Ultra 10w30 and 5w30 at WMs. I went to the last store I hadn't raided and saw a guy in non-WM closes stocking platinum where the Ultra was just days ago before I cleared them out. I asked if he worked for WM and he said that he worked for a Pennzoil distributor. I asked what was up with Ultra and the apparent pulling of it from WMs. He stated that Platinum is now Ultra and has been repackaged due to consumer confusion. I wanted to clarify and asked again if Platinum is the GTL formula that Ultra used to be. He said, "Yes, Platinum is now our Gas to Liquid formulation." He actually said what GTL stands for, so I assume he was legit and had some oil knowledge above and beyond your average Joe. He said that starting with late April dates, Platinum is now Ultra.

Can anyone confirm?

Does Pennzoil even have reps or distributors that visit WMs?

This whole Ultra fiasco is ridiculous and I wish Pennzoil would just come out and state what the [censored] they are doing! I've read the statements by the Pennzoil rep on here, but the hotline she said to use leads to "lab" type people that have no idea why consumers are calling them. Also, Pennzoil's words are losing all credibility as the facts on Ultra availability are overwhelmingly destroying Pennzoil's words. A late April+ Platinum VOA would be nice if anyone has any... this Walmart did not or I would have been happy to do so.

 

[Trav]

I heard this also along with new PP that will have "with or contains Ultra technology" I forget exactly how it was put but something to that effect.

Who really knows. If we see the NOAK drop to 6.8 then we might have a better idea.

 

[buster]

Makes sense. There was article in the recent LNG that talked about product confusion due to to many product tiers.

 

[Donald]

From a consumer point of view I never saw the value in 2 tiers of synthetic oils.

 

[aquariuscsm]

I thought they were supposed to be coming out with Pennzoil Diamond?

 

[david_ES2]

Well that recent 0w20 platinum pds with the 9 or 8 % noack might prove this to be true

 

[kam327]

Seems unlikely they're phasing ultra out given the recent push of Pennzoil ads in all my car magazines touting Ultra as the best oil out there and Platinum as the next best. Ultra with 40% more cleaning ability than the nearest competitor and Platinum with 20% more or whatever the numbers are.

I doubt they'd spend all that money building the "Ultra" brand if they're currently phasing it out.

 

[aquariuscsm]

NOW,if only if Walmart will start carrying it in non-starburst 5 quart jugs

 

[demarpaint]

Wasn't it recently discussed here, one of our members emailed them and got a reply saying PP and PU, both will both continue to exist? I could have sworn I read something like that here within the past two or three weeks.

 

[Kool1]

The rumor mills are working overtime. Keep us updated.

 

[shinyWheels]

Originally Posted By: kam327
Seems unlikely they're phasing ultra out given the recent push of Pennzoil ads in all my car magazines touting Ultra as the best oil out there and Platinum as the next best. Ultra with 40% more cleaning ability than the nearest competitor and Platinum with 20% more or whatever the numbers are.

I doubt they'd spend all that money building the "Ultra" brand if they're currently phasing it out.


I agree. Got my latest issue of C&D and see the ultra and platinum ads in there as mentioned above.

 

[kaminski54]

Originally Posted By: Trav
I heard this also along with new PP that will have "with or contains Ultra technology" I forget exactly how it was put but something to that effect.

Who really knows. If we see the NOAK drop to 6.8 then we might have a better idea.


That's a good point regarding NOACK... I guess we should keep a lookout for an updated PDS on the Platinum.

 

[kaminski54]

Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
I thought they were supposed to be coming out with Pennzoil Diamond?

At this point, I wouldn't be shocked if they released "Pennzoil [censored]-on-a-stick." Personally, I don't believe a word Pennzoil says... I'll go with facts instead of words. The facts, at least, point to severe rollbacks of product nationwide (including online) while Pennzoil's words are towing the company line that the product is still being made. Sorry Pennzoil... your words are meaningless when the vast majority of your consumers are unable to locate the product.

The only place I have found the product being available is from closeouts at Walmart and at oilstore dot com. This includes Amazon (at least in 30w non-Euro) and Pennzoil's own website. I guess I should stop ranting...

 

[kaminski54]

Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Wasn't it recently discussed here, one of our members emailed them and got a reply saying PP and PU, both will both continue to exist? I could have sworn I read something like that here within the past two or three weeks.


I don't know if anyone else emailed them but here are my emails...

>On Fri, 19 Apr 2013 11:49:00 -0700 you wrote:
>
>>Why can I not find Pennzoil Ultra anywhere or buy it from you
>online? Please
>>do not email me my local dealers/retailers... I have checked them
>all. And
>>even if the supply is a local situation, there is no excuse for not
>being able
>>to buy it from the company that makes it! Your website sells the
>0-40 and
>>Euro... why not common weights of US oils? What is going on with
>Ultra?
>>Thanks!

First reply:

>Dear xxxx xxxxxxx,
>
>We thank you for your interest in Pennzoil products and apologies if
>you are unable to find them in your local retailers.
>
>As I do not know which retailer you've checked, you may access our
>Pennzoil Locator tool online for a complete list of our retailers at
>www.PENNZOIL.com. On the upper right corner, simply click on
>'Pennzoil Locations'. Select either 'Oil Change Locations' or
'Retail
>Locations', enter your zip code and click on Find. The locator will
>then show you the nearest Pennzoil locations from where you are.
>
>You may likewise check www.amazon.com for online purchasing.
>
>Also try our other brands! For more information please visit
>www.shell.us; www.quakerstate.com; and www.rotella.com.
>
>Hope this helps. For further assistance, please respond back to this
>email or call our Customer Service hotline and you will be assisted
>as soon as possible.
>
>Sincerely,
>
>Carol Alamo
>Consumer Customer Service Team
>Phone: 1-800-237-8645
>Email: [email protected]

My response:

On Fri, 19 Apr 2013 16:09:07 -0400 you wrote:

>As I stated in my original email, I used your locator... all do not
stock it.
> Also, you did not answer my question as to buying on your website
or the
>status of the product. Please do so.

Reply 2:

Dear xxxx,

Good day!

What we have in the website are stores that carries Pennzoil
products. We actually don't have the exact inventory of each store
that carries the Ultra line. Regarding buying online, we just
recently added these products to the website and we're hoping we can
add more in the coming time. I can also tell you that this Ultra is
an active line. I recommend you checking again in the stores near you
if they have or will replenish their stocks.

If you have any other queries, please don't hesitate to email us at
[email protected] or call us at 1800-237-8645.

Thank you for contacting Shell and have a great day!


Sincerely,

Fred Amagna
Shell Customer Service Center

The material in this email may be confidential, privileged and/or
protected by copyright. Use of this e-mail should be limited
accordingly. If this email has been sent to you in error, please
contact us immediately.
Shell Shared Services (Asia), B.V.
21st Floor, Solaris One
130 Dela Rosa Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City
1229 Philippines

End of emails.

In today's modern age, you, Pennzoil, are "working on" adding your product to your online page. Again... words that mean nothing while the facts remain consistent.

I hope someone is getting a kick out of my anger!

 

[kaminski54]

Pennzoil's new jingle... heard it on the radio... now I BELEIVE!

I get by with a little help from my friends....listen with your eyes....it's the ONLY way to believe what you hear...

 

[147_Grain]

Well, perhaps the Pennzoil rep was mistaken.

NOACK in PU is 6.6 and PP's is 9.3 and PP needs a little more VI to achieve a similar viscosity at 100*C.

http://www.pqiamerica.com/March2013PCMO/Marchsyntheticsallfinal.html

I still believe that PP is mostly Group III and PU is better (Group III+) with more GTL in it.

 

[Danh]

In Mach 2013, the PQIA tested a number of synthetic 5w30 motor oils. The tests gave Ultra a Noack of 6.6 and Platinum 9.3, so no, they do not seem to be the same formulation. That said, Platinum and Quaker State Ultimate Durability do have Noack values lower than competing products, so they could have some GTL in their base stocks. Just not as much as Utra.

 

[mitsuman47]

Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
I thought they were supposed to be coming out with Pennzoil Diamond?

Aw, [censored]. Time to sell my stash.

 

[kaminski54]

Originally Posted By: Danh
In Mach 2013, the PQIA tested a number of synthetic 5w30 motor oils. The tests gave Ultra a Noack of 6.6 and Platinum 9.3, so no, they do not seem to be the same formulation. That said, Platinum and Quaker State Ultimate Durability do have Noack values lower than competing products, so they could have some GTL in their base stocks. Just not as much as Utra.


I've seen that study and agree the oils you mentioned may have some GTL in them due to their lower NOACK. This "Pennzoil Guy" stated that the change was made starting late April... after the March study. (Thanks 147_Grain for the link) I guess we'll have to wait and see.

 

[tommygunn]

Originally Posted By: Donald
From a consumer point of view I never saw the value in 2 tiers of synthetic oils.
ding ding ding....lol. And they've all done it. Castrol Syntec/Titanium.....Mobil 1 regular, and "High Mileage".....Pennzoil Ultra and Platinum,,,,,,,,,,,just adds confusion for the consumer...

Originally Posted By: Trav
I heard this also along with new PP that will have "with or contains Ultra technology" I forget exactly how it was put but something to that effect.
lol, reminds me of the Castrol Titanium/Syntec scenario