PUP's fall from grace over the last 10 years?

[kschachn]

Yes, GTL can have lower volatility, however as Overkill points out, it varies and you have to compare individual products.

Overall, GTL came to market as an attempt to cost reduce due to an abundance of cheap natural gas. If PAO were cheaper it wouldn’t exist.

Some people think that GTL base stocks are some kind of magical chemical when they are not. They are a Group III base like any other and are hydrocracked the same. Yes they have better properties with less hydrocracking but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t and can’t be other Group III bases with similar or superior properties.

As you note the whole genesis of GTL here was to utilize stranded gas that was otherwise being flared.

Regardless of what some breathless YouTube personality might state, as already noted PAO can and does have superior properties. For one thing Noack is not the end all, be all of oil characteristics. It’s generally something that uninformed individuals on here latch onto as some overall indicator of oil quality which isn’t justified.

Nothing wrong with GTL oil bases but it’s not the savior of the oil world.

 

[kschachn]

If you go back and search you find this debate over PAO/GTL crops up in multiple PUP threads.

Comparing base stocks in a vacuum seems like a pointless exercise, especially one arbitrary metric (volatility).

This.

 

[Sienna dude]

I'm reconsidering my Pledge of Allegiance. Sorry Mobil 1.
A free jug of Ultra

 

[Sienna dude]

When it first came out; PUP was a ‘long drain’ oil that specified it did 15k intervals. It had a lot of Ca detergent, and a lot of Boron (over 300ppm) to accomplish this.
Then, they dropped the long-drain claim and recommended OEM intervals, then API SN re-formulation too out the high Ca, the high Boron count, and the add-pack looked just like ‘regular’ Pennzoil Platinum….so it looks like just another synthetic at a higher price.
That said, Pennzoil does make really good oils, and UOA’s are usually really good, so it’s not a bad product, it’s just why bother with it over Platinum?

Ultra has more Moly, Calcium, and Boron than Platinum. The 0w20, at 8.8 centistokes, is among the tickest 0w20's out there. Mobil 1 EP 0w20 also has 8.8 viscosity unlike other Mobil 1 0w20's. Ultra is indeed different, it is not marketing.
Currently, literally buy one get one free deal is going on. Buy two from Walmart store for $53 and Pennzoil sends you a $30 rebate. That's two jugs for $23. Heck I am going to Walmart now to return my Mobil 1 hybrid stash and get 8 more jugs of Ultra instead.

 

[Sienna dude]

Noooooooooooooo, offer ended last month

 

[crashz]

Too many good oils to chose from? Heck, I even like the old school conventional yellow bottle oil. To me, it made every engine a little quieter.

The big issue for me is the price. Its either exactly the same as Valvoline, Mobil, Castrol, RP counterpoints or a bit higher. Maybe if I shopped it out online I'd go for it, but if I'm online buying oil its Amsoil. And frankly Amsoil is nearly the same price as the regular prices at the parts store (I never change oils during a sale it seems).

 

[odie]

I’m still waiting for my $10 check from Mobil 1 that I bought in March. I doubt I’m gonna see it now

Should be a toll free phone number to call for assistance like that of PENNZOIL . They're usually courteous and helpful . Never denied for 15 years .