Pennzoil/Quaker State/Shell, what gives?

[Matchlight]

Hello All,

First of all, I'm new to this forum, sorry if I ask many stupid questions. It all starts when I bought a can of Fix-A-Flat at Wal-Mart, a Pennzoil product. I notice on the back of the can that it's made by Pennzoil-QuakerState, odd, didn't know that they had merged? I've been using Pennzoil dino oil forever, and was told to avoid QuakerState because of the issues that they had back in the '70's. I started reading the back of the bottles and found out that both brands are distributed by Sopus Products in Houston, TX. Same deal with Shell brand motor oil. Is it safe to assume that all three are the same product? Are the additive packages any different? I've been hearing that the Wal-Mart brand Super-Tech is QuakerState, any truth to that? This is a dumb nubee question, but is there a dino oil that stands out above the rest for gas engines, or just buy any oil that has the API/SAE service donut on the back and starburst on the front? Thanks in advance!

Adam.

 

[Thermactor]

To answer the last question, Chevron Supreme is supreme among dino oils.

 

[Chevynut67]

I thought Havoline was the all-time dino favorite?

 

[AndyH]

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Hello All,

First of all, I'm new to this forum, sorry if I ask many stupid questions. It all starts when I bought a can of Fix-A-Flat at Wal-Mart, a Pennzoil product. I notice on the back of the can that it's made by Pennzoil-QuakerState, odd, didn't know that they had merged?

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Yes, SOPUS is Shell, QuakerState & Pennzoil:

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On On October 1, 2002, the acquisition of Pennzoil-Quaker State Company by Shell Oil Company, an affiliate of the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies, was completed. In May of 2003, Pennzoil-Quaker State Company began doing business as SOPUS Products. Combining Shell lubricant's networks and infrastructure and Pennzoil-Quaker State Company's leading motor oil brands, portfolio of car care brands and Jiffy Lube stores, the new company is a leader in the U.S. lubricants and car care business.

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I've been using Pennzoil dino oil forever, and was told to avoid QuakerState because of the issues that they had back in the '70's.

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Any old issues that Pennzoil or QuakerState may have had in the past are long gone, both are good-quality oils with the nod going to Pennzoil as the better of the two.

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I started reading the back of the bottles and found out that both brands are distributed by Sopus Products in Houston, TX. Same deal with Shell brand motor oil. Is it safe to assume that all three are the same product? Are the additive packages any different?

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No, all three are not the same product, and yes the add packs are different between them. Out of the three, I think Pennzoil is the best followed by QuakerState and then Formula Shell.

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I've been hearing that the Wal-Mart brand Super-Tech is QuakerState, any truth to that?

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That is a recent rumor, but hasn't been confirmed as of yet (IIRC).

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This is a dumb nubee question, but is there a dino oil that stands out above the rest for gas engines, or just buy any oil that has the API/SAE service donut on the back and starburst on the front?

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Any SM rated oil will likely be fine for a "normal" interval of say 3,000 - 5,000 miles. However, some favorites on this forum include:
* Havoline / Chevron
* Pennzoil
* Castrol GTX
* MotorCraft / Kendall / TropArtic (all semi-synthetic blends)
There may be a few more as well.

BTW,

to BITOG!

 

[AndyH]

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I thought Havoline was the all-time dino favorite?

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Havoline more or less equals Chevron, although Chevron tends to be slightly cheaper. Some folks give the nod to Havoline is being slightly superior to Chevron. Honestly they're probably too close to really call one superior to the other. Use whichever you can source locally for the cheapest price.

 

[Chevynut67]

Agreed!

 

[Matchlight]

Thank you all for your quick responses. My experience has been in the marine industry, where ExxonMobil was the standard, BP was to be avoided(due to sludge issues), Chevron/Texaco was somewhere in between. Actually, the Texaco name was dropped in favor of Chevron. Same with ExxonMobil, Mobil was retained, Exxon was dropped. I guess I'm surprised that Chevron/Havoline is regarded as the upper echilon as far as dino oils go. I would have guessed that it would be Mobil or Pennzoil, but the automotive market is different. A lot more players. Thanks again!

Adam.

 

[The_Jeff]

A general consensus is Walmart's store brand PCMO used to be Quaker state (or a clone) back in 1999 ish, a couple of API grades ago, when it was still Tech2000 in the USA.

It's since changed to one of the three Warrens and here in the northeast to exxonmobil, a superflo clone. Now I'm noticing 5w30 is starting to show up in warren narrowmouth bottles again.

Nothing endures but change...