Pennzoil Q&A - Engine Operation and Motor Oil Performance

[wwillson]

Edit November 19, 2025 - answer for these question posted here:
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/t...ion-and-motor-oil-performance-answers.401804/


Hello BITOG Members:

Pennzoil here! Welcome to another virtual community event as we continue our technical discussions on engine operation and motor oil performance. This time we’re focusing on how full synthetic motor oils protect and clean modern engines - particularly how formulation chemistry can help maintain or restore cleanliness while meeting the latest performance standards.

Pennzoil Ultra Platinum™ provides unbeatable wear and sludge protection and cleanliness, while Pennzoil Platinum® High Mileage maximizes engine protection for engines with 75,000+ miles and is proven to reduce oil burn off and help stop leaks.

Even well-maintained engines can develop varnish or sludge over time. Pennzoil full synthetics resist new deposits and help gradually dissolve and suspend existing contaminants, restoring internal cleanliness over successive oil changes without aggressive flushes or short-term cleaning additives.

Pennzoil Technical Scientist and Automotive Lubricant Specialist Sean Nguyen will be answering questions on topics including:

• How Pennzoil full synthetic motor oils protect and clean engines
• Preventing and cleaning engine deposits
• The role of base oil purity in deposit control
• The importance of oxidation control
• How the ILSAC GF-7 specification advances engine cleanliness and protection

Sean has been with Shell for over 25 years and has held various positions, including Lubricant Technical Advisor, Lubricant Product Research and Lubricant Technology Trainer. He holds an MBA and a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Houston and a B.S. in Biomedical Science from Texas A&M University.

The thread will be open for submissions from 12:00 PM ET on Thursday, October 30, until 6:00 PM ET on Friday, November 7. The Pennzoil team will provide answers to your questions. The responses will be posted in a separate thread on Wednesday, November 19.

Please note:

• Use this thread only to submit questions.
• We may not be able to answer proprietary or product formulation details.
• Responses will be shared in a follow-up thread later in November.

We appreciate the BITOG community’s ongoing engagement and technical insight. Let the questions begin!

— The Pennzoil Team

 

[Snagglefoot]

I'm wondering what makes Pennzoil Ultra Platinum better than Pennzoil Platinum in say, 5w30 and what benefit I might see from it. Thanks.

 

[buster]

Thanks to Sean Nguyen & Pennzoil. This has been a hot topic the last several years.

Valvoline claims their Valvoline Restore and Protect line of oils is the first and only motor oil that can clean up to 100% of piston deposits. Other oils simply capture carbon and prevent deposits from forming but can't clean them. Most oils can however clean existing sludge. What is your response to this claim, and can Pennzoil Synthetics clean existing varnish and piston deposits?

Some of the theories thrown around on this forum are that oils containing significant group V ester or alkylated naphthalene can clean existing piston deposits. Is there any truth to this and if so why is Valvoline claiming their oil is the only oil that can clean existing deposits? Valvoline makes an oil called Premium Blue Restore which is Group IV and V (62% ester/AN) which can be used in diesel applications where piston deposits have impeded piston ring seal. This suggests that a very high level of solvency, strong detergent package and certain aniline point that exceeds any GF-7 oil can also clean piston deposits. However, it is also said that esters "run clean" rather than clean. What is your opinion on that? From the people/experts in the industry I have spoken to, esters don't clean existing carbon but run clean.

Do Pennzoil's formulations take a preventative approach, or do they now have chemistry that can remove existing piston deposits? If so, how was this proven or validated? The Sequence IIIH tests measures piston deposit formation which falls on the preventive side. Cleaning existing piston deposits is not part of this test and to date has not been proven possible other than Valvoline Restore and Protect which showed piston photo evidence going from extremely dirty to 100% OE clean.

Their exact wording:
"From the moment it starts for the very first time, critical parts of your engine begin building up harmful deposits that are nearly impossible to reverse - until now. Valvoline Restore and Protect™ is the first and only motor oil that prevents future deposit formation and restores pistons to factory clean by removing up to 100% of engine- killing deposits."

It should be noted that user experience here suggests that other oils cannot clean existing piston deposits as Valvoline Restore and Protect has been the only oil in real world use that has reduced oil consumption in engines previously ran on other brand synthetics, including Pennzoil Platinum and Pennzoil Ultra Platinum.

 

[GW.]

With conventional and syn blend oils passing GF-7, how far beyond GF-7 standards does Pennzoil Ultra Platinum clean or keep clean engines and pistons?

 

[Ericm]

In a North American port injected gasoline engine with typical 5k mile OCIs which 40 wt oil would you recommend to provide cleanest pistons: Ultra Platinum 0w-40, Platinum Euro 0w-40, or Platinum Euro 5w-40? Thank you.

 

[wwillson]

Please compare the cleaning ability of current Pennzoil oil formulas compared to Pennzoil formulas from the past. We would like to know how much better the current formulas can clean.

 

[jadmt]

curious why every 5 qt jug of Pennzoil Ultra Platium 0W20 and 5W30 has dark residue in the bottom of the jugs...I have bought several sealed cases and I notice at the bottom of every just there is dark residue. Is it just additives settling out? thanks..

 

[4wd]

curious why every 5 qt jug of Pennzoil Ultra Platium 0W20 and 5W30 has dark residue in the bottom of the jugs...I have bought several sealed cases and I notice at the bottom of every just there is dark residue. Is it just additives settling out? thanks..

I just saw that a few days ago - have not seen it with other oils - had to use both a jug and quarts - so used the quarts and a good shaking to get it off the bottom of the jug …

 

[jadmt]

I just saw that a few days ago - have not seen it with other oils - had to use both a jug and quarts - so used the quarts and a good shaking to get it off the bottom of the jug …

I have been using PUP since it came out and always bugs me but I am buying sealed cases so I know it is how it is coming. I have started shaking the bottles before using it...but really wonder about it.

 

[johnnydc]

Sorry, I know this thread is about engine oil but I would like to know if Pennzoil still makes Pennzoil Platinum Axle gear lubricants? I can't seem to find them anywhere.

 

[altaylar]

Some detailed comparison of Pennzoil Platinium, Pennzoil Ultra Platinium, and Pennzoil Platinium Euro would be really helpful. I am a big believer of your products but still don`t know the exact differences.
Thanks!

 

[wwillson]

Thank you for participating.