Unveiling the Superiority of Pennzoil Ultra Platinum Oil: A Detailed Analysis by Mr. Lake Speed Jr.

[Sienna dude]

Several subject matter experts on BITOG previously confirmed that all base oils (if all additives were removed) of the same viscosity will produce the the same level of engine wear. So base oil doesn't influence engine wear at all.

It's the anti-wear additives that influence engine wear.

So having low levels of phosphorous and zinc anti-wear additives might indicate less wear protection
given that the wear is the same from all base oils (if additives were removed).

Some manufacturers have very low levels of phosphorous and zinc (at or below 600 ppm).
I made an intentional choice not to use those brands for my own vehicles.

You have to look at the complete package. Pennzoil is a better oil than Quacker State, yet QS has more additives, Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc and Phosphorus. TGMO has more Moly and Znic, does it make it better than Pennzoil? Nah!

 

[Bill7]

You have to look at the complete package. Pennzoil is a better oil than Quacker State, yet QS has more additives, Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc and Phosphorus. TGMO has more Moly and Znic, does it make it better than Pennzoil? Nah!

You might be right.

But for my vehicles I prefer only buying oil with a generous anti-wear (phosphorous + zinc) additive package.

 

[Hohn]

Several subject matter experts on BITOG previously confirmed that all base oils (if all additives were removed) of the same viscosity will produce the the same level of engine wear. So base oil doesn't influence engine wear at all.

It's the anti-wear additives that influence engine wear.

So having low levels of phosphorous and zinc anti-wear additives might indicate less wear protection
given that the wear is the same from all base oils of the same viscosity (if additives were removed).

Some manufacturers have very low levels of phosphorous and zinc (at or below 600 ppm).
I made an intentional choice not to use those brands for my own vehicles.

I don't think this is correct, I'd be fascinated to see the evidence supporting this and have my skepticism enlightened. I doubt anyone would pay a premium for expensive co-base or tribase blends if there was no payoff in engine wear.

Additive concentrations in PPM only trick us in to thinking we know things we don't. I recall a recent LSJr video comparing M1 15w50 and VR1 20w50 in SP grades vs SN grades. Both adds packs are "weaker" for SP and yet both oils showed less camshaft wear in the SP formulations. Less wear with lower additive concentrations.

I seem to recall the striking finding that the new VR1 dino oil was actually better than the previous synthetic M1 15w50. So not only did the oils gets better with the "weaker" add packs, the improvement was enough that the newer dino outperformed the prior synthetic, and by a notable margin.


There are lots of ways to skin the cat and there are great oils out there with high boron levels (300+) and great oils with zero boron. Moly levels are all over the place. Higher SAPS vs mid SAPS might be better or worse-- one can find cases of each.

It's recipe vs recipe, not ingredient vs ingredient.

 

[ChrisD46]

No thanks for using Pennzoil PUP or readily available PPPP . Thd Pennzoil 5W30 is on the light side (below 10 cSt ) and you end up with yellow varnish - It’s M1 EP or ESP or Valvoline R&P oils for me .

 

[OVERKILL]

You have to look at the complete package. Pennzoil is a better oil than Quacker State, yet QS has more additives, Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc and Phosphorus. TGMO has more Moly and Znic, does it make it better than Pennzoil? Nah!

I mean, unless we are talking about non-ILSAC grades, whether it's Quaker State or Pennzoil, they are both limited to 800ppm of Phosphorous max. Quaker State is a more "value" tier product in the SOPUS product lineup than Pennzoil, but I'd be cautious drawing conclusions from variations in VOA's, particularly if they are from different labs.

TGMO may have more moly, but it's likely dimer, not trimer (Mobil and Shell both tend to use trimer) which requires a higher treat rate for the same degree of effectiveness. Historically, it's high VI meant that it was blended with extremely thin base oils and using lots of VII polymer plastic. Not the hallmark of a great product, but definitely cater to fuel efficiency.

 

[Sienna dude]

No thanks for using Pennzoil PUP or readily available PPPP . Thd Pennzoil 5W30 is on the light side (below 10 cSt ) and you end up with yellow varnish - It’s M1 EP or ESP or Valvoline R&P oils for me .

How do you know it leaves behind yellow varnish?

 

[Sienna dude]

I mean, unless we are talking about non-ILSAC grades, whether it's Quaker State or Pennzoil, they are both limited to 800ppm of Phosphorous max. Quaker State is a more "value" tier product in the SOPUS product lineup than Pennzoil, but I'd be cautious drawing conclusions from variations in VOA's, particularly if they are from different labs.

TGMO may have more moly, but it's likely dimer, not trimer (Mobil and Shell both tend to use trimer) which requires a higher treat rate for the same degree of effectiveness. Historically, it's high VI meant that it was blended with extremely thin base oils and using lots of VII polymer plastic. Not the hallmark of a great product, but definitely cater to fuel efficiency.

Pennzoil is below the 800 ppm limit, QS is at that limit. Yet Pennzoil is a better and more expensive. It is 100% GTL, QS is not. I think the Pennzoil works better than the QS due to superior GTL.

 

[OVERKILL]

Additive concentrations in PPM only trick us in to thinking we know things we don't. I recall a recent LSJr video comparing M1 15w50 and VR1 20w50 in SP grades vs SN grades. Both adds packs are "weaker" for SP and yet both oils showed less camshaft wear in the SP formulations. Less wear with lower additive concentrations.

I seem to recall the striking finding that the new VR1 dino oil was actually better than the previous synthetic M1 15w50. So not only did the oils gets better with the "weaker" add packs, the improvement was enough that the newer dino outperformed the prior synthetic, and by a notable margin.

Were these tear-down tests or are we talking specific bench tests? According to Gokan in a thread on I believe the video you are referencing, when the SP M1 15W-50 first appeared, the bottle code showed it was not reformulated.

 

[Zee09]

I still upset the title said Mr.

 

[OVERKILL]

Pennzoil is below the 800 ppm limit, QS is at that limit. Yet Pennzoil is a better and more expensive. It is 100% GTL, QS is not. I think the Pennzoil works better than the QS due to superior GTL.

As I said, Quaker State is the more "value" tier oriented product in the SOPUS product portfolio, slotted beneath Pennzoil, but I think you are over-selling the differences in formulation here on the additives side of things.

Here's a Quaker State 5W-30 SP VOA:

Here's a Pennzoil Platinum 5W-30 SP:

 

[Sienna dude]

As I said, Quaker State is the more "value" tier oriented product in the SOPUS product portfolio, slotted beneath Pennzoil, but I think you are over-selling the differences in formulation here on the additives side of things.

Here's a Quaker State 5W-30 SP VOA:
View attachment 276118

Here's a Pennzoil Platinum 5W-30 SP:
View attachment 276121

QS is not GTL

 

[The Critic]

QS is not GTL

You do realize that GTL does not automatically make an oil better, right? It’s possible to achieve equal or better levels of performance thru a synergistic effect of the additive system, boosters, additional anti-oxidants, etc.

 

[Sienna dude]

You do realize that GTL does not automatically make an oil better, right? It’s possible to achieve equal or better levels of performance thru a synergistic effect of the additive system, boosters, additional anti-oxidants, etc.

And that's my point. More additives in QS don't mean anything.

 

[Patman]

You do realize that GTL does not automatically make an oil better, right? It’s possible to achieve equal or better levels of performance thru a synergistic effect of the additive system, boosters, additional anti-oxidants, etc.

All other things equal I would still prefer to have GTL over the other versions of group 3 base oils though…

 

[Glenda W.]

Another thing to consider is a UOA doesn’t show all the additives. Lots of magic goes on behind the scenes. Also from what I understand the lower the viscosity the more additives matter for wear protection.

 

[Sienna dude]

I know friends who have run mobil 1 0w-20 extended performance up to 25,000 miles. But the VOA numbers are pretty mediocre on that oil. But that doesn't mean anything, it is a fantastic oil.

 

[Sienna dude]

Another thing to consider is a UOA doesn’t show all the additives. Lots of magic goes on behind the scenes. Also from what I understand the lower the viscosity the more additives matter for wear protection.

I'll take the thin Pennzoil over the thick Quaker State

 

[Patman]

I'll take the thin Pennzoil over the thick Quaker State

Why? Both are made by Shell and aren’t exactly drastically different. Quaker State Ultimate Protection is a great oil at a great price actually, I would put it right up there with PP.

 

[Sienna dude]

Why? Both are made by Shell and aren’t exactly drastically different. Quaker State Ultimate Protection is a great oil at a great price actually, I would put it right up there with PP.

GTL

 

[Patman]

GTL

There is some evidence out there that QSUP uses GTL too though