So I finally found someone at Pennzoil who helped and replied to my questions. I first emailed Mark Ferner after seeing him in some Pennzoil Ultra commercials and he replied he moved onto Shell R&D and now heads up a group largely based in Europe that does much of the internal engine, transmission and component testing for Shell scientists on chassis dynos, engine dynos and in several field trials and he didn't know the details of the most recent motor oil to answer the questions but he still kept in touch with the Pennzoil team members that answered the Q&A from bobistheoilguy and he would forward them my questions.
So yesterday I get an email back from Chris Tamburino who is labeled Coyne Public Relations when I googled him and this is his email:
Hi Skip –
First of all, nice job tracking the team down for your inquiries! Second, we appreciate your patience as it took a couple of days to get back to you.
Answers to each of your questions can be found below. We hope this helps provide a deeper understanding of the advanced line of Pennzoil Platinum® Full-Synthetic motor oils with PurePlus™ Technology. Hope you have a great weekend and see you on BITOG!
Best,
Chris
Q1: If GTL based Pennzoil Platinum Ultra PurePlus (PUP) is much better than the old formulation of Pennzoil Ultra (PU), why do the spec sheets look much worse like NOACK (goes from 6.4 to 11.5)?
A1: NOACK is only one element of a motor oil’s design criteria. The performance of Pennzoil Platinum® with PurePlus™ Technology and Pennzoil Ultra Platinum™ with PurePlus™ Technology both exceed the general industry requirement of 15% NOACK, as per API SN, for example.
Pennzoil Platinum® and Ultra Platinum™ with PurePlus™ Technology were developed to provide complete protection (Cleanest Pistons, Better Fuel Economy, Horsepower Protection, Unsurpassed Wear Protection, and Excellent Performance in Extreme Temperatures) for your engine, while remaining within and exceeding the general industry requirements.
It is also worth noting that NOACK varies with SAE grade due to the different formulation shapes required to frame the different viscometric properties of each grade, for example changes in the balance of base oil and viscosity modifier used (ie. Pennzoil Ultra Platinum with PurePlus Technology 10W-30 quotes a NOACK of 5.7 on the current TDS).
Q2: If PUP is supposed to be better than Platinum PurePlus (PPP), why is PPP's NOACK (8.6) lower than PUP's (11.5)?
A2: As mentioned above, NOACK is not the sole determinant of motor oil performance. The difference between Pennzoil Platinum® with PurePlus™ Technology and Pennzoil Ultra Platinum™ with PurePlus™ Technology lies in the extra performance additives in Pennzoil Ultra Platinum to offer a higher level of clean performance and lower friction to benefit fuel economy.
For example, testing Pennzoil Platinum® with PurePlus™ Technology kept pistons 40% cleaner than the toughest industry standards. Pennzoil Ultra Platinum™ with PurePlus™ Technology takes that same improvement up to 65% cleaner. The difference in formulation changes the blend “shape” which has an impact on NOACK.
Q3: Advertising states that the old formulation of PU already kept pistons up to 65% cleaner than the toughest industry standard, yet PUP is stating the same thing. Isn't PUP supposed to be more advanced than the old PU? Significantly increased NOACK, marginally worse CCS and MRV, same sequence IIIG claims.
A3: Keeping your pistons 65% cleaner than the toughest industry standard is one of the best claims in the industry, so naturally we wanted to keep delivering that level of performance.
There are many benefits derived from converting pure natural gas into the first-of-its-kind synthetic base oil used in the Pennzoil Platinum® line of full synthetic motor oils. As compared to traditional group II and group III base oils, PurePlus™ Technology not only provides 65% cleaner pistons, but also excellent low temperature pumpability and enhanced viscosity, friction and volatility performance. The combination of these consumer benefits allows for Complete Protection.
Now with PurePlus™ Technology, Pennzoil Platinum premium motor oils keep pistons cleaner than any other leading synthetic, delivers better fuel economy, protects against horsepower loss, provides unsurpassed wear protection and delivers excellent performance in extreme temperatures. Thereby, this makes Pennzoil Ultra Platinum™ with PurePlus™ Technology our most advanced motor oil ever.
Q4: Is PU's formula different than PUP? Or are they the same oil just rebranded bottle?
A4: Pennzoil Ultra Platinum™ motor oil with PurePlus™ Technology is formulated differently than our original Pennzoil Ultra™ formulation. The new Pennzoil Ultra Platinum™ represents the use of 100% PurePlus™ Base Oil in the formulation.
So yesterday I get an email back from Chris Tamburino who is labeled Coyne Public Relations when I googled him and this is his email:
Hi Skip –
First of all, nice job tracking the team down for your inquiries! Second, we appreciate your patience as it took a couple of days to get back to you.
Answers to each of your questions can be found below. We hope this helps provide a deeper understanding of the advanced line of Pennzoil Platinum® Full-Synthetic motor oils with PurePlus™ Technology. Hope you have a great weekend and see you on BITOG!
Best,
Chris
Q1: If GTL based Pennzoil Platinum Ultra PurePlus (PUP) is much better than the old formulation of Pennzoil Ultra (PU), why do the spec sheets look much worse like NOACK (goes from 6.4 to 11.5)?
A1: NOACK is only one element of a motor oil’s design criteria. The performance of Pennzoil Platinum® with PurePlus™ Technology and Pennzoil Ultra Platinum™ with PurePlus™ Technology both exceed the general industry requirement of 15% NOACK, as per API SN, for example.
Pennzoil Platinum® and Ultra Platinum™ with PurePlus™ Technology were developed to provide complete protection (Cleanest Pistons, Better Fuel Economy, Horsepower Protection, Unsurpassed Wear Protection, and Excellent Performance in Extreme Temperatures) for your engine, while remaining within and exceeding the general industry requirements.
It is also worth noting that NOACK varies with SAE grade due to the different formulation shapes required to frame the different viscometric properties of each grade, for example changes in the balance of base oil and viscosity modifier used (ie. Pennzoil Ultra Platinum with PurePlus Technology 10W-30 quotes a NOACK of 5.7 on the current TDS).
Q2: If PUP is supposed to be better than Platinum PurePlus (PPP), why is PPP's NOACK (8.6) lower than PUP's (11.5)?
A2: As mentioned above, NOACK is not the sole determinant of motor oil performance. The difference between Pennzoil Platinum® with PurePlus™ Technology and Pennzoil Ultra Platinum™ with PurePlus™ Technology lies in the extra performance additives in Pennzoil Ultra Platinum to offer a higher level of clean performance and lower friction to benefit fuel economy.
For example, testing Pennzoil Platinum® with PurePlus™ Technology kept pistons 40% cleaner than the toughest industry standards. Pennzoil Ultra Platinum™ with PurePlus™ Technology takes that same improvement up to 65% cleaner. The difference in formulation changes the blend “shape” which has an impact on NOACK.
Q3: Advertising states that the old formulation of PU already kept pistons up to 65% cleaner than the toughest industry standard, yet PUP is stating the same thing. Isn't PUP supposed to be more advanced than the old PU? Significantly increased NOACK, marginally worse CCS and MRV, same sequence IIIG claims.
A3: Keeping your pistons 65% cleaner than the toughest industry standard is one of the best claims in the industry, so naturally we wanted to keep delivering that level of performance.
There are many benefits derived from converting pure natural gas into the first-of-its-kind synthetic base oil used in the Pennzoil Platinum® line of full synthetic motor oils. As compared to traditional group II and group III base oils, PurePlus™ Technology not only provides 65% cleaner pistons, but also excellent low temperature pumpability and enhanced viscosity, friction and volatility performance. The combination of these consumer benefits allows for Complete Protection.
Now with PurePlus™ Technology, Pennzoil Platinum premium motor oils keep pistons cleaner than any other leading synthetic, delivers better fuel economy, protects against horsepower loss, provides unsurpassed wear protection and delivers excellent performance in extreme temperatures. Thereby, this makes Pennzoil Ultra Platinum™ with PurePlus™ Technology our most advanced motor oil ever.
Q4: Is PU's formula different than PUP? Or are they the same oil just rebranded bottle?
A4: Pennzoil Ultra Platinum™ motor oil with PurePlus™ Technology is formulated differently than our original Pennzoil Ultra™ formulation. The new Pennzoil Ultra Platinum™ represents the use of 100% PurePlus™ Base Oil in the formulation.