Interesting E-Mail with Pennzoil concerning PP/PU

[strongt]

I sent a E-Mail asking why they don't recomend a PU for my application. My application is a Jeep with the 4.0L with over 100,000 miles. Here's the Email:

"To whom it may concern:

I've got a 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee with the 4.0L I6 engine that has over 100,000 miles. I live in a hot climate (100+ day's in the summer)and do some towing with the Jeep. I've noticed that you don't recommend your Ultra product for my application. I looking for the best protection in motor oil and I was looking into using your Ultra line of oils.

My question is, why don't you recommend the Ultra as the premium oil for my application? Is there some reason that I should not use your Ultra line of oils in a high mileage application such as mine?

Thank you for you time in this matter,

Tim"

Their answer:

"Dear Tim;

Thank you for your interest in our products. Our litereature indicates that Chrysler recommends an SAE 10w30motor oil for your 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee with th 4.0L engine. If you have been running your vehicle using a full synthetic motor oil prior to your inquiry there is no problem in switching over to the Pennzoil Platinum or Pennzoil Ultra Full Synthetic Motor Oils.
The concern is that if you have been running a conventional oil until now with over 100,000 miles on the vehicle there is likely some engine wear on the piston rings and valve guides. The properties of synthetics make them "slipperier" than conventional oils. Because of this there is a tendency for synthetic oils to work their way aroundworn piston rings and valve guides or old dried seals and gasketsthat conventional oils do not. This results in oil consumption and adds to the myth surrounding synthetics. Should you desire to speak with a technical representative to discuss this issue in more detail please call Pennzoil-Quaker State Technical Information at 1-800-237-8645.

Sincerely Product Technical Service"


So it looks like they don't recommend using PP or PU in a high mileage engine thats just used dino in the past. Just though I'd past this email along. Thoughts on this ?

 

[Tempest]

Quote:
The properties of synthetics make them "slipperier" than conventional oils.

 

[mechanicx]

I think what they are saying about synthetics can have higher oil consumption might be true. However, I have a '97 Malibu with a 3100 since new that never had synthetic until 126,000 miles. PP was ran for 4K miles and oil loss/consumption was about 1/2 quart. About the same as with conventional, and seems about the same oil seepage.

 

[Pablo]

It's really hilarious since we all know conventional oil stops all wear.

 

[daman]

I gota say what kind of response is that? LOL!!!

 

[Johnny]

You should call that 800 and actually talk with a person and read them the reply you received. What email address did you send that email to?

If you did not send it to this email, no telling who replied to you.

[email protected]

 

[The Critic]

Conventional wisdom, eh?

 

[d00df00d]

Their explanation seems to make sense. If it were my car, I'd accept the possibility of higher oil consumption if I thought I'd get better protection and fuel economy. That's a big "if," of course.

If I were in your shoes, I'd use the Ultra anyway, and just keep track of things with good UOAs (i.e. better than the standard Blackstone report). But that's probably more of a headache than it's worth unless you're just curious to see how it'll go.

In all honesty, you'll probably be totally fine going with whatever Pennzoil recommends.

 

[strongt]

Originally Posted By: Johnny
You should call that 800 and actually talk with a person and read them the reply you received. What email address did you send that email to?

If you did not send it to this email, no telling who replied to you.

[email protected]


Johnny, that was the email address that I did send this to. I'll have to give them a call and see whats up. It almost sounds like they don't want me to buy their higher-end products. lol

 

[buster]

I've heard far worse.

 

[dave1251]

I think this a CYB answer. But I have heard worse. Just sounds like SOPUS does not want you to bang on thier motor oil that the motor oil would not have any problems caused by the motor oil.

 

[addyguy]

Pennzoil is really stuck in the 1970's, aren't they?

We accuse Valvoline of this, but they aren't alone - this is the the kind of advce you'd get in a car advice column in 1977!

Don't think so? Got to google books, look up old issues of Popular Science and Popular Mechanics - lots of letters about this when the PS syn oil article came out in 1976.

 

[bkbenjy]

Originally Posted By: Tempest
Quote:
The properties of synthetics make them "slipperier" than conventional oils.

Slipperier is a word.
http://east.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slipperier

 

[Johnny]

I don't think they are stuck in the 70's at all. The only problem I have with the reply the OP received is this statement; The properties of synthetics make them "slipperier" than conventional oils.

Not knowing what type of conventional the OP used or the maintenance habits, how the vehicle was driven, etc., we do not know the exact condition of that particular engine. If there is any deposit build up around the piston ring area, valve stem area, or the front and rear main seals and the synthetic were to clean the deposits up, there would be a good possibility of oil consumption that has not been experienced.

I do not disagree with the answer he received, just the way it was worded.

 

[Gary Allan]

Yeah, they can't "remote view" the consumer's engine. CYA with some consumer level digestible "filler". To do otherwise usually results in more questions and a protracted dialog exchange. I have them all the time ..pages. I don't mind it ..and I enjoy that sorta thing, but it would probably be too costly in time for training and the number of staff you have available to handle emails.

That all aside .. in contemporary terms, the question might as well have been, "I've been debating on switching my Ford N8 tractor over to synthetic. Would Pennzoil Ultra work? What weight would you recommend?". Not to suggest that the OP's question was funny/lame/stupid, just how it may be viewed in terms of low tech.

 

[StevieC]

All questions to big oil companies should be directed to a BITOG forum where even the newest members would know more to answer the question properly.

 

[gfh77665]

If nothing else, this should validate the fact that syns DO have advantages over dino (with the exception of use in a worn engine).

 

[purelux]

It sounds like the tech was probably just trying to over simplify his answer. What was expected a 600 page document with technical docs only an engineer would understand outlining why this may be a bad idea.

 

[Paulson]

I added synthetic to my Blazer at 196K... so far all I can see is it's managed to find a way to drip faster out of the leaking drain plug (have a new one for next oil change.)

I haven't put it in my suburban yet but will at the 210K mile mark (currently at 199K) and the only reason I'm waiting is because I had plenty of conventional oil left I wanted to use.

 

[MPosey]

I actually have seen this firsthand. With my Autocross Civic with 185,000 miles on it, it was run on dino all of its life. I put Mobil 1, and Royal Purple in it for two seperate oil changes and it started burning oil and spitting soot. I changed to Castrol GTX and the burning and soot has pretty much stopped.

This may not happen 100% of the time with every engine on earth, but for my Civic is has proven true.