Penz. Plat. 5w30 European

[ericthepig]

I was unaware (till yesterday) of the existence of Pennzoil Platinum Euro - a grp III long drain oil w/ all the nice features required to meet certain European car stds.

After being bombarded with post indicating that if I switch to PP (from Mobil 1) I will no longer be able to tell my engine is running - this apparently superb grp III is becoming very intriguing to me. But I wasn't interested in reg. PP, because I am in the long drain camp (10-12k min.)

A run of Pennzoil Platinum Euro - testing it's "noise" level, used oil analysis, consumption, etc could be worthy run after my present Mobil 1 OCI. I was likely going to Mobil 1 0w40 next (due to consumption), but another worry is my van is presently barely crawling up the steeper hills here in west Little Rock when our family of five is inside (and my 8, 7 and 5 yr old kids are only going to get bigger) - so going to a 40 wgt is worrisome.

Anyone have input on Pennzoil Platinum Europe? Is it handling long OCIs? Having good used oil analysis? It's a grp III and it'll be in a known harsh engine (98 Sienna) for approx. 12k.

Thanks!

 

[ericthepig]

Perhaps I've called the PP guys' bluff.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Quote:

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After being bombarded with post indicating that if I switch to Pennzoil Platinum (from Mobil 1) I will no longer be able to tell my engine is running

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Hmm... not sure about that. I couldn't really tell a difference when I switched from Mobil 1 5w30 to Pennzoil Platinum 10w30. Only when I switched from Pennzoil Platinum to GC did I notice slight difference in engine noise, but even that may just be in my head.

Then again, the Pennzoil Platinum 10w30 has viscosity of 10.5 @ 100C while this new Pennzoil Platinum 5w30 Euro - 11.7. It appears to be meeting the BMW LL-01 spec as well. Sounds like an interesting alternative. I wonder if any local stores will carry it. Hopefully you can at least order it through your local NAPA, even if they don't stock in normally....

http://www.pzlqs.com/Tech/Pdsheet/Domest...lationUltra.PDF

 

[mikeg5]

why not run amsoil if you are in the 10k-12k oil change clan??? we all know amsoil can go that long. M1 is questionable sometimes and so are others aside from amsoil.. why dont you just make the swithc and get it over with lol

 

[JAG]

I doubt you'll find that oil in the U.S. You can find Pennzoil Platinum 5W-40 but it doesn't meet the longest drain MB and VW specs (MB 229.5 and VW 503.01). IIRC, it meets MB 229.3 and VW 502.00 which has been obtained by some so-so synthetics.

I doubt that Mobil 1 0W-40 will make a bit of difference in making your vehicle go oven slower up steep hills. It is highly friction modified and not all that thick in terms of HTHS viscosity. It gives better gas mileage than every other 40 weight oil I've used in my VW 1.8T engine and also more than Gold German Castrol did. If it does make engine lose power, you'll have to see if the long drain advantage over-rides the power loss. There's always one of Amsoil's long drain oils to choose from.

What should most concern you is whether the oil you choose can last 12k miles in a harsh engine. Noise level shouldn't even be on your radar. Oil consumption is a worthy trait to be concerned with.

 

[ericthepig]

Pete, thanks for the info on chking with NAPA, I didn't even know that was an option.

Mike, if there was an Amsoil dist. ctr. here in LR I might consider that. The premium $ + shipping is what sent me to Mobil 1 in the first place (also quick availability).

JAG, thanks for the friction info - that was my only concern with going to Mobil 1 0w40 - IMO Mobil 1 0w40 is the oil of the gods.

At my next OCI I will have been on Mobil 1 products for about 80k. The itch to try (at least once) something different may get me, may not. (very happy w/ Mobil 1).

 

[mikeg5]

if you are happy and have confidence in M1 why dont you save yourself the trouble of trying to find an alternative?? lol

 

[ericthepig]

Because there's that possibility that with PPE - I won't be able to hear my engine, I will have an iron reading of 0.001 ppm, my mpg will increase 20%, and I will use 1/4 Qt in 12k. That's why!

 

[Quattro Pete]

By mpg increase do you mean mpg improvement? Considering that the Pennzoil Platinum 5w30 Euro does not meet the ILSAC GF-4 Engergy Conserving standards (like some of the other PP grades do), I highly doubt you'll improve mpg. If anything, the opposite may be true.

 

[ericthepig]

I was kidding with that post - but I would really druther not lose any MPG. I get 24.5 mpg HW (brand new the van is rated at 24 mpg HW - more evidence that Mobil 1 has been a fine oil these last 75k). City is pretty bad - I think it was around 14 mpg (I haven't chked City much). Even w/ JAGs post I'm still a bit concerned that w/ 0w40 I might take a hit in power and mpg w/ this v6. On my present OCI, starting at about 6k I started topping off with Mobil 1 0w40 (1 Qt so far - original fill was Mobil 1 Extended Performance 5w30) - as I take the van on out to 10-12k and continue to top off, I should get an indication of mpg and power issues (and if 0w40 helps consumption) - so I should be able to make a good decision by chg time.

 

[ericthepig]

BTW, I didn't mean to indicate I've used 1 Qt in 6k. That was the 4th Qt I've had to add (first 3 qts were EP 5w30) - thus what I meant by "consumption". So by the time I get to OCI I should have one or two more qts of 0w40 in the engine.

 

[pp_rp]

I'm a PP fan. I run the Amer. I go 6,000+ miles. I use a Mobil 1 Extended Performance filter with great results. I pull alot with a Titan.