Pennzoil Yellow vs. Castrol GTX

[Falken]

I'm just surprised, compared these two side-by-side...

PYB is unbelievable for the price. LESS than half the NOACK of GTX:

http://www.pqiamerica.com/Nov2013/Castrol.htm

http://www.pqiamerica.com/Nov2013/Pennzoil.htm

I just remembered that GTX was a bit "worse" than PYB, but dollar for dollar I am glad I use Shell products after a few years of using GTX in a Cobalt.

PYB is pretty great, now I see why the Walmarts are picked clean now during a PYB sale.

Castrol should improve their product for the prices they charge. Poor value oil.

 

[BigD1]

That's old data. Here is the latest. http://www.pqiadata.org/July2016SAE5W20SidBySide.html

 

[PeterPolyol]

It was a steal in 2013and perhaps the couple years after.
PYB is now back to 'normal' NOACK loss levels according to the most recent PQIA analysis. It was hypothesized that Shells own GTL base stocks were more cost effective for them than crude oil was at that time prompting it's usage in the whole lineup from YB to PPP but the oil market has shifted dramatically since then.

 

[wemay]

Yup, and since Noack was the OP's main point, i guess he'll be going with GTX now that it tested better in this area than PYB.

 

[Falken]

woops thanks for the update...

I am fully stashed out on Shell products on sale... Wasn't expecting old data still up on PQIA didn't research it well enough.

Shame it isn't a sleeper oil anymore, at least I know so I won't stock up on PYB on sale anymore and just deplete my current stash.

 

[JC1]

I'll just stick with PP. I stocked up at Canadian tire last year when they had jugs for $26 and change. I have a few years worth for both vehicles.

I would have no issue using PYB. Castrol is good as well.

Falken, don't lose any sleep over this.

 

[crazyoildude]

I would still pick Pennzoil the only reason i stopped using it is because the jugs do not always have the same level of oil in them and a lot of them seem to be leakers because they do not use an inner security seal like most of the other brands.. I have pictures of 4 jugs on the shelf in the store and they all look to have slightly different oil heights. Castrol always seems to be on the money though..
I pretty much switched to Valvoline max life from Pennzoil High Mileage and so far so good. In reality oil is pretty much oil so but what is on sale or the one you get the best price on.

 

[Falken]

Won't loose sleep, just sad to see such an insane oil go back to being average.

Crazyoildude, are you sure you aren't comparing the 5L jugs to the 4.73L Value jugs (not sure of US vol equivalent packaging)?

Not sure of your format in the States, but there are two barcodes so they try to avoid price matches etc. from other places by having slightly different volumes.

That is what they do up here in Canada anyway, mainly Walmart.

I am "Crazy" enough to check oil levels on the shelf and compare them. This OCD I admit too, glad I am not alone.

When I compare I find Pennzoil is very accurate thought I'd mention the formats.

 

[aquariuscsm]

Castrol seems to be having the best uoa's here lately too.

 

[Chris B.]

Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
Castrol seems to be having the best uoa's here lately too.


Blackstone Labs told me I have the lowest wearing GM 350 V8 on file. I used Castrol GTX in it. I figure this is because I got a well put together engine and GTX is probably the best dino oil made. Do a search for my 1997 Tahoe to see the many UOA's I did on this engine.

 

[crazyoildude]

Im sure..
Actually a while back an employee at WM showed me when i asked him why are they always out of Pennzoil when everything else is stocked up? He said he tries not to put a lot of it out on the shelves because they leak and he has to take everything down and clean it up.. I can see his point to some degree.

 

[aquariuscsm]

Originally Posted By: Chris B.
Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
Castrol seems to be having the best uoa's here lately too.


Blackstone Labs told me I have the lowest wearing GM 350 V8 on file. I used Castrol GTX in it. I figure this is because I got a well put together engine and GTX is probably the best dino oil made. Do a search for my 1997 Tahoe to see the many UOA's I did on this engine.


Man that's awesome!! I'd keep on using it.

 

[Farmer]

Originally Posted By: crazyoildude
Im sure..
Actually a while back an employee at WM showed me when i asked him why are they always out of Pennzoil when everything else is stocked up? He said he tries not to put a lot of it out on the shelves because they leak and he has to take everything down and clean it up.. I can see his point to some degree.


I can't trust you since you freak out on just about anything.

 

[53' Stude]

I don't trust him either, first jugs without foil seal and then FU filters that look fine for use

 

[Popsy]

I had Shell jugs leak, but after I opened them, never when new and sealed.
I had Yacco jugs leaking unopened and sealed, only brand that really leaked on me.

 

[CATERHAM]

Originally Posted By: PeterPolyol
It was a steal in 2013and perhaps the couple years after.
PYB is now back to 'normal' NOACK loss levels according to the most recent PQIA analysis. It was hypothesized that Shells own GTL base stocks were more cost effective for them than crude oil was at that time prompting it's usage in the whole lineup from YB to PPP but the oil market has shifted dramatically since then.

Yes that seems to be the case.

The main difference now between PYB and GTX in the 5W-20 grade is that Castrol is heavier.
It's unfortunate that HTHSV spec's aren't provided, but in terms of it's KV and CCS spec's Castrol is about the heaviest conventional 5W-20 you can buy. With it's KV100 of 9.07cSt it's almost a 30 grade and in fact there are some 5W-30s that are only marginally heavier.

 

[Farmer]

Originally Posted By: car51
I don't trust him either, first jugs without foil seal and then FU filters that look fine for use


Don't forget the exploding engines with louvered filters.

 

[crazyoildude]

51 i don't expect you to understand certain things but i will post some pictures i have them on my old phone and if i cant get them off my old phone next time im in wal mart i will take some more, and when i do im sure you won't see anything wrong with those pictures either. See for yourself go to wal mart and just look at the pennzoil jugs they are sometimes at different oil levels... There are some people on here that don't believe things even when it is as plain as day and there are pictures to prove it.... I always believed that people that don't trust others can't trust themselves. And farmer i don't freak out about just about anything as you say im posting just like everyone else on here except i have an extensive background in the engine business owning a machine shop for many many years. I call it like i see it. In my business if it was not perfect in everyway it was not good enough for me .Do i have ocd.With certain things yes ..>Is ocd bad? sometimes but with ocd there are far far less mistakes. As for the louvered filters use them at your own risk and just assume and hope they dont spend 50% of the time in bypass.

 

[Errtt]

One of the vehicles (my DD) been using PYB, 110k+ on the clock and never add during the 5k OCI. Sometimes I wonder about going to a HM oil, but still have 2 jugs of PYB and never any issues. I have not had any bought & stored jugs leak.... yet.
Another been on Castrol GTX & also never add oil.
3rd vehicle currently Kendall Blend and never add oil.

 

[bbhero]

Well I have to agree with crazyoildude here on this one. After opening the Pennzoil containers they do not seal down at all. The top will tighten then if continued pressure is applied is pushes loose again. If by chance this previously opened container falls over it will leak out. Where as the Mobil Super Synthetic containers will tighten all the way down after opening and will not leak out at all. I have two 5 quart MSS containers that I use for old oil for transportation of used oil because if they fall over they will not leak out. In fact I have away a quart and a half of Pennzoil Gold and a 1/2 quart of Formula Shell due to the fact the 5 quart containers tend to leak. At the recycling center I asked a nice guy that worked there if there was a place to give away extra good oil. He showed me the area to put them and told me, "ohh yeah people will snap that right up." Which I was very pleased about because A. Feels good to help someone else out by giving them a good oil and B. I don't have to be concerned about having a problem if a leaky container gets knocked over and having a mess in my place or car.

I have noticed in the past that the Pennzoil oil section has in fact had containers that have leaked in the stores on the shelves. I will say that I haven't noticed as much recently but I certainly have seen it in the past. And it was only in the Pennzoil oil section where the containers were skating around like the escapades on ice due to leaking oil from their containers. When one could actually buy Pennzoil Ultra in Wally world I would always check the top to make sure it hadn't been fiddled with. I will also add that the Castrol containers do the EXACT same thing after being opened. They will not tighten down and will leak if knocked over as well. Also Havoline Pro DS 5 quart containers do the EXACT same thing as the Pennzoil and Castrol containers as well. Which is why I like the individual 1 quart containers from Havoline when in sale at AAP. The 1 quart containers do seal and tighten down properly and do not leak at all. Motorcraft individual quarts do not seal and tighten down but the 5 quart container does seal and tighten down properly. Go figure.

I just don't want to have to be concerned about a container leaking if it gets knocked over. Whether it be in the back if my car or in my closet. I don't have a garage so I need my stuff not to leak if it gets knocked over. My lady has the natural talent to knock over anything, anywhere, anytime. I have told her that she could knock over something if it was by itself, in the middle of a 40 acre open field.