Originally Posted by dkryan
Originally Posted by RyanY
Originally Posted by walterjay
More time awake in the middle of the night trying to figure out if I used the right stuff in my car.
I'm going to argue that this is brilliant marketing! Think about a person of average abilities - at least, in the realm of auto maintenance - and note that half the population is on the low side of that. These are the folks that drive a hybrid, want better fuel economy, do a lot of start/stop driving, or just want their grocery getter to get there a little faster (just like everyone else does). These new oils just eliminate the decision process for the folks who dont want to overthink it!.
Uh, no!
"Average abilities........in the realm of auto maintenance.........and half the population is on the low side of that."
Most of the people you just referenced (about 85% is my guess) simply go to a dealership or a Quiki-lube and follow whatever "recommendation" is given to them by the $11 an hour employee.
Most of those same people could not remotely tell you about synthetic oils, the leading major brands, GF-5 versus GF-6, API ratings, etc.
Why?
Because they don't care. You should not expect the majority, to any degree, to educate themselves as to oil and related maintenance choices.
I like SOPUS oils but they have gone overboard with the marketing. Did you read that Gina Fishback?
You have provided way too many choices for a a huge segment of drivers who simply don't give motor oil a second thought once they leave the dealership or Iffy-Lube.
Get focused!
Yeah, but how are they at any disadvantage, in terms of their engine, than the BITOG guys who keep saying "buy the cheapest oil and filter and change it according to the OLM. It will do as well as that expensive oil you are using." Maybe they are happier because they don't spend hours upon hours overthinking which oil and filter give what in reality amounts to 1% advantage over the cheap bulk stuff.
Sometimes I think it can be an advantage to be ignorant and happy.
Pennzoil isn't aiming these at ignorant consumers. I think it is pointed directly at the experts right here on this forum. After all this cackling, BITOGers will start buying it, getting VOAs, will start liking particular additives, then the UOAs will come, which will be good, because it is Pennzoil, and then we'll start buying the one we like. Pennzoil laughs all the way to the bank. Oh yeah, there will also be the ones who secretly buy their favorite but don't tell anyone here.
I remember all the hooting and hollering and laughing over Rotella Gas Truck, then started seeing VOA's then UOA's pop up.
Come on, admit it. The curiosity about these formulas and their minute differences will be eating BITOGers up, in no time, once the noise settles.