Pennzoil synthetic basic question

[neilLB7]

I now have three conventional oil changes in on my 2012 Jeep Liberty (10,000 miles). So I'm ready to switch to a synthetic. I had originally planned to use Mobil 1 as I have been doing since 1995 in my other vehicles...with good success.

But I had seriously considered Pennzoil Ultra 5W-20. Is Pennzoil changing both Platinum and Ultra Class synthetics to the new Natural Gas to liquid technology? And I assume this means the "old" versions wont be available soon?

I don't wanna start using "old" platinum then switch to "new" platinum. And I'm not sure I wanna test my Jeep on the "new" platinum. I'm sure it's fine...but it is a new product. And I trust Mobil 1 at this point without any hesitation.

 

[Clevy]

The new platinum is the same as the old platinum,only the jugs have changed. The oil is the same.

 

[danthaman1980]

Pennzoil Ultra has been GTL since mid-2012. I'd use that, or the new PPPP.

 

[JavierG]

I'm going to go back to using the Ultra that I purchased back in 2010 on my Ridgeline. In the RL it was defintely superior to the Mobil 1, Peak Syn and Durablend oils that I experimented with recently. The Ultra in my stash is SM, I think.

 

[SLATRON]

what's different from SM to SN for the PP&PU, NOACK because better base stock? I ask as I bought some PU at pepboys sale and some was SM, as most was gone when got there.

 

[Danh]

Originally Posted By: Clevy
The new platinum is the same as the old platinum,only the jugs have changed. The oil is the same.


Not sure exactly when the formula changed but current PP base stocks are natural gas-derived, which was certainly not the case a year or probably even 6 months ago. So there has been a change, and a big one at that: Noack volatility is much-reduced, for example.

 

[neilLB7]

I messed up in my original post. I am only considering Pennzoil Ultra. Not Platinum as stated in my last few sentences.

I'm confused. Pennzoil Ultra Class Synthetic is GTL already and it will be the same a month or 6 months from now as it's always been?

And Platnium is the same as it's always been, but for the new looking bottle? Yet the new bottles of Platinum I've seen say "made from natural gas" and my local parts store is saying that Platinum is all new and clear and etc etc.

At least it seems Platinum is going to be changing or already has. Why does
Pennzoil need two top notch synthetics?

 

[neilLB7]

I hope everyone understands what I'm saying. Some time ago there was pennzoil platinum and pennzoil ultra. Now it's appears pennzoil platinum is derived from natural gas (pure plus). The bottle is now silver and says pure plus on it.

But my plan was to use Ultra. And I didn't want to right now if it was going the way of pure plus and changing formulations soon. If ultra will remain as it always has I'll use it. Buy my luck Pennzoil will drop Ultra and focus on platinum with pure plus technology. Why would Ultra be needed?

 

[KCJeep]

Originally Posted By: neilLB7


But my plan was to use Ultra. And I didn't want to right now if it was going the way of pure plus and changing formulations soon. If ultra will remain as it always has I'll use it. Buy my luck Pennzoil will drop Ultra and focus on platinum with pure plus technology. Why would Ultra be needed?


That may indeed be the way things are going. The new Platinum is now similar to the older Ultra. Ultra has been hard to find for a while now and that will probably only get worse with the new Platinum moving into the market.

I'd suggest you save yourself the stress of trying to chase elusive Ultra and just use the new Platinum instead.

 

[danthaman1980]

What we think we know:
We believe SOPUS started blending some GTL into Platinum and QSUD maybe a year or year and a half ago, as suggested by the low NOACK numbers on in the March 2013 PQIA test (of the six synthetics with NOACK under 10, four of them were SOPUS oils). Now, it doesn't necessarily take GTL to get NOACK in the 9-10 range (Schaeffers and LubriGold did it presumably without GTL) but it does suggest that SOPUS was using some amount of GTL, which they had readily available, to get there... although probably less GTL than they were using in Ultra given Ultra's superior NOACK.

Given the current spec sheet, it appears that new PPPP is very very similar to the PP that was coming out of the bottle about a year ago, although last year's PP out of the bottle was indeed better than the then current spec sheet would have indicated.

To be sure, Ultra was and still will be the premium product over Platinum, given similar dates of manufacture.

Ultra = more (or better quality) GTL, less 'other stuff'.
Platinum = less (or lesser quality) GTL, perhaps more 'other stuff' like Grp III, IV, and V.

But this is just one man's opinion.

 

[Danh]

Originally Posted By: neilLB7
I hope everyone understands what I'm saying. Some time ago there was pennzoil platinum and pennzoil ultra. Now it's appears pennzoil platinum is derived from natural gas (pure plus). The bottle is now silver and says pure plus on it.

But my plan was to use Ultra. And I didn't want to right now if it was going the way of pure plus and changing formulations soon. If ultra will remain as it always has I'll use it. Buy my luck Pennzoil will drop Ultra and focus on platinum with pure plus technology. Why would Ultra be needed?


While Platinum has changed, it seems Ultra will not (other than a name
Change to "Ultra Platinum). Ultra has used GTL/natural gas base stocks since 2012 or so. Platinum and the rest of Pennzoil's lineup is changing as GTL base stocks are used more broadly.

Pennzoil has new packaging and a new name for Ultra, so it doesn't look like it will disappear. Now whether we'll be able to find it at WalMart...

 

[jrustles]

This is all very exciting and confusing!

Yay, more GTL in SOPUS products- woot!

But, now we have to find the differences between the products all over again!

I mean, PYB is now showing synthetic style NOACK values, GTL in that? PYB already performs great, GTL PYB expected to perform even better, so how much better will PPPP perform? Will it be perceptible? What are the benefits (better oxidation? longer OCI?) Now PP is PPPP with GTL and it already performed fantastically, now will PPPP perform as well as Ultra GTL 1.0? Is Ultra Platinum GTL a further revised Ultra GTL 1.0?? IF so, how is it different?????

SO Confused!!

 

[SilverC6]

I believe you are overthinking it.

EOM could change the formulation of M1 tomorrow announcing their own GTL assuming they have the technology and refinery to produce it. Motor oils must necessarily change to meet this specification or that one.

I'd get started with whichever Pennzoil product (PU or PP) you choose and then go forward.

So head down to the store and pick up 4 or 5 jugs of the current Ultra.

After you are through using that, the GTL will be "debugged" enough for you to be confident in it.

The Pennzoil Ultra that is on the shelf right now is great stuff. It has a more robust add package than the M1 you have been using.

 

[aquariuscsm]

I wonder what "born on date" on the bottles of the PYB will guarantee the newest base stock formulations? I stopped by O'Reilly over the weekend to grab something and their stock of PYB was ancient.

 

[SilverC6]

Wally World probably has the most inventory turnover on YBP of all local retailers.

And I can't see them warehousing a backlog of stock on something as popular as YBP.

O'Reillys $22.XX dollar YBP deal with a Microguard filter probably isn't making their customers line up in the parking lot.

 

[gizzsdad]

Originally Posted By: neilLB7
But my plan was to use Ultra. And I didn't want to right now if it was going the way of pure plus and changing formulations soon. If ultra will remain as it always has I'll use it. Buy my luck Pennzoil will drop Ultra and focus on platinum with pure plus technology. Why would Ultra be needed?


You do know your engine doesn't care one whit if you change brands from one OCI to the next, don't you?

 

[neilLB7]

Yes I know that. But life is short and I want to believe that I'm doing something perfectly at least once.

My walmart has "old" style Ultra in 5qt jugs for $25.17. In fact every name brand of synthetic is exactly $25.17. Pretty good deal to get Ultra for $5/quart. It's nearly $9 in individual quarts.

So I'll just go with Ultra 5W-20 for now and if it changes formulations then I'll just pour that in next.