Pennzoil/Quaker State are no longer "companies", but merely a brand name under SOPUS (Shell). Makes one wonder what the actual differences are other than marketing. (Not to say they're not good!)

Similar to the situation in the U.S. tire industry.... Most of the past brands are history and merely a brand name still marketed by a foreign company.

Confusing, huh??

 

Due to Castrol winning a court battle vs. Mobil. Now a Highly refined and hydrocracked Group III petroleum base (dino) can be labeled as synthetic. Used to be only PolyAlphaOlefin (PAO) Group IV base stocks could be labeled synthetic, before the court case. Redline and Amsoil are Grp IV basestocks, and I believe Royal Purple is too. That's all I can think of. Mobil 1 used to be Grp IV but I think they're blending in Grp III now.

I'll stick with plain old cheapo Mobil Clean 5000 @ $2/qt for my meager 2.2 liter Ecotec. I run it to 50% on the OLM and change it (works out to about 4000 miles). I may stretch it to 25% if I keep this HHR.

If you really want to geek out over motor oil, head over to BITOG

 

But it doesn`t hurt

 

So far, my take on Pennzoil Platinum Full Synthetic is not to my liking.

I've only driving it 341 miles with 96% still left in oil life. Thought I would notice some difference in gas mileage, but haven't.

My figures between Havoline Conventional & Pennzoil Platinum:

Havoline Conventional 5w30:
I averaged 77.90 miles per percent of oil life. That figures to be around 7,790 miles when it hits 0%.
Gas mileage averaged 27.2 mpg.

Pennzoil Platinum 5w30:
I'm averaging 85.25 miles per persent of oil life. That figures to be around 8,525 miles when it hits 0%.
Gas mileage averaging 25 mpg.

This full synthetic oil change cost about $10 higher than the conventional change. Only marginal gains in the oil life. But I'm wasting more gas.

Got 56k on the clock so I'm probably going back to conventional(not anytime soon, gonna use this until it's life is gone), unless someone can convience me otherwise.

 

tooter1, I experienced similar results using Q Horsepower Full Synthetic. Both Q and PP are products of SOPUS.

 

I didn't know that until I looked online after buying it. I wont be buying that again.

Maybe Royal Purple next time. But that oil change will cost about $51, don't know if I want to spend that kind of money on an oil change.

 

Ya gets what ya pays for

 

The temp. went up too. It used to average 199 or so with a blip of 205, now it averages 203 or so and hits as high as 210.

I don't like this oil!!!

 

Drain it and put in some Mobil Clean 5000 5W30, you might be surprised at the results. MC5000 is a real sleeper among conventionals. @ $2/qt, its a cheap experiment.

If your HHR is a 2006 or 2007, MC5000 is the same as the factory fill GM used. 2008 I think Castrol got the bulk oil contract to supply GM, not sure but I believe the Goodwrench oils and the factory bulk is now a Castrol Professional OE labeled oil. But for 2006 and 2007 XOM (Exxon Mobil) was still supplying GM.

 

But it will go longer than 5000 miles wont it? I use the DIC info for all my oil changes.