I have used Pennzoil off & on over many years in older cars mostly. One of those vehicles presented a DEFINITE problem with Pennzoil. It was a '76 Dodge with 318 engine. On a cold start it had a SEVERE valve train noise until completely warmed up & then it quieted down. Changed to a different brand of oil in the same grade & the problem immediately went away. After that I never used Pennzoil again. Now I have a Buick LaCrosse,'05 with a 3800 engine & I had been getting it serviced at the Buick dealer,assuming they were using GM(Goodwrench?)oil. Wrong! Found out they are putting Pennzoil in it. It has a slight noise on startup that seems to be valve train,but quiets down after running a bit. When I first got the car,it was serviced at a different dealer(Ford dealer where I had worked before I retired) & they always used Motorcraft oil & there was no noise. The other cars I had used Pennzoil in were all earlier models than the '76 Dodge. Any ideas as to what's going on here? By the way,the car has 107000 miles on it,but runs like new. I presume the Buick dealer is using the Pennzoil because of price,but I don't need any more problems if I can help it. Owned a '02 Park Avenue previously,3800 engine,but used the Motorcraft oil & never a problem with it at 160000 miles. Hope someone has some ideas.............Jim
problems with Pennzoil
- Thread starter oldtech
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More likely bad anti-drainback valves in some oil filters.
I used Pennzoil since the mid 70's, and I made a few switches along the way. Fast forward to 2017 and I'm using Pennzoil exclusively with no problems. In fact I never had a problem with their products. Go figure.
Originally Posted By: oldtech
One of those vehicles presented a DEFINITE problem with Pennzoil. It was a '76 Dodge with 318 engine.
The problem was the '76 Dodge at the outset.
One of those vehicles presented a DEFINITE problem with Pennzoil. It was a '76 Dodge with 318 engine.
The problem was the '76 Dodge at the outset.
Originally Posted By: HangFire
More likely bad anti-drainback valves in some oil filters.
Totally agree. I can't believe that an oil itself will cause the issues mentioned.I remember back in the 70's there was a sludging problem but I use penn and never had any issues.
More likely bad anti-drainback valves in some oil filters.
Totally agree. I can't believe that an oil itself will cause the issues mentioned.I remember back in the 70's there was a sludging problem but I use penn and never had any issues.
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It could be oil filter. Drivework seal their oil filter innard with a plastic film you could try those. Switch to 0% ethanol gas. Try Valvoline conventional oil. If these don't quiet your engine? Damage is already done
Sounds to me like a big case of NBD.
Spend the $20 and change the oil with a different brand like Castrol. Have a new oil filter on hand. If the oil doesn't make the engine quieter, change the oil filter. If that doesn't make make the engine quieter, nuke it from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.
Spend the $20 and change the oil with a different brand like Castrol. Have a new oil filter on hand. If the oil doesn't make the engine quieter, change the oil filter. If that doesn't make make the engine quieter, nuke it from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.
I wouldn't worry about it. GM V6 engines of your vintage and mine have a little noise at startup especially when it is very cold. I find with PYB and a decent filter it is reduced a little bit. The 3.8 is a great engine.
Originally Posted By: Lubener
Originally Posted By: HangFire
More likely bad anti-drainback valves in some oil filters.
Totally agree. I can't believe that an oil itself will cause the issues mentioned.I remember back in the 70's there was a sludging problem but I use penn and never had any issues.
+2 .... I used Pennzoil conventional (PYB) exclusively for many, many years and never had a problem. In my experience, Pennzoil is a very quiet, smooth-running oil, and it kept the engine very clean.
Originally Posted By: HangFire
More likely bad anti-drainback valves in some oil filters.
Totally agree. I can't believe that an oil itself will cause the issues mentioned.I remember back in the 70's there was a sludging problem but I use penn and never had any issues.
+2 .... I used Pennzoil conventional (PYB) exclusively for many, many years and never had a problem. In my experience, Pennzoil is a very quiet, smooth-running oil, and it kept the engine very clean.
Back then If the customer would change their oil every 1500mi., on Penz their motors were long running super clean. The ones that ran 2,000mi+ OCI had dirty problematic motors full of carbon and sludged.
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Originally Posted By: Tony10s
Originally Posted By: Lubener
Originally Posted By: HangFire
More likely bad anti-drainback valves in some oil filters.
Totally agree. I can't believe that an oil itself will cause the issues mentioned.I remember back in the 70's there was a sludging problem but I use penn and never had any issues.
+2 .... I used Pennzoil conventional (PYB) exclusively for many, many years and never had a problem. In my experience, Pennzoil is a very quiet, smooth-running oil, and it kept the engine very clean.
+3. Pennzoil has always had the reputation of being the smoothest most quiet oils you can use.
Originally Posted By: Lubener
Originally Posted By: HangFire
More likely bad anti-drainback valves in some oil filters.
Totally agree. I can't believe that an oil itself will cause the issues mentioned.I remember back in the 70's there was a sludging problem but I use penn and never had any issues.
+2 .... I used Pennzoil conventional (PYB) exclusively for many, many years and never had a problem. In my experience, Pennzoil is a very quiet, smooth-running oil, and it kept the engine very clean.
+3. Pennzoil has always had the reputation of being the smoothest most quiet oils you can use.
I have noticed ticking on a cold start ups in the past with my 3.8 but last fall I used Chevron conventional and it seems to be a little quieter. I'm putting some Mobile conventional back in this time so I'll see if it is louder.
Might not be a fair test because I am going back to a wix filter, I used a CQ Blue with the Chevron. I don't know enough about these filters to know it they would be the difference.
Might not be a fair test because I am going back to a wix filter, I used a CQ Blue with the Chevron. I don't know enough about these filters to know it they would be the difference.
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