Choosing the right type of engine oil for your car is essential because of several reasons. One reason is that having the correct motor oil improves engine performance. Another is that the motor oil helps clean your car’s engine.
That’s why a lot of people choose Pennzoil for their vehicles. Pennzoil’s motor oils are all synthetic, which means they have not undergone the same process of production as conventional oil. Also, synthetic mechanical lubricants do not contain any impurities, which affect engine performance in the long run.
Currently, Pennzoil has two brands in the market: Pennzoil Platinum and Ultra Platinum. Both offer the same benefits to a vehicle’s engine, so there is barely any difference between the two products.
So which one is ideal for your car? To answer that question, we will dig deep and find out the major distinctions that set Pennzoil Platinum apart from the Ultra Platinum. For that matter, we’ll examine their specifications and how they affect a car’s performance.
Pennzoil Platinum and Ultra Platinum: A Quick Overview
Before Pennzoil became a part of the Royal Dutch Shell (commonly known as Shell) in 2002, the motor oil company enjoyed a long successful stint as a motor oil manufacturing company. In 2014, the firm released the Platinum and the Ultra Platinum synthetic motor oils. Pennzoil marketed both brands as derived from natural gas, which is a first in motor oil technology. Pennzoil Platinum and Ultra Platinum products provide improved engine efficiency through better mechanical lubrication.
Apart from that, Pennzoil offers a limited warranty for consumers who use either product, which also extends to other Pennzoil motor oil brands. There are certain qualifications that regulars should comply with before availing of the benefits. To know more about the warranty, you may check Pennzoil’s website: www.pennzoil.com/en_us/warranty.html.
What Makes Natural Gas an Ideal Element of Synthetic Oil?
Synthetic oil is purer and distilled as compared to conventional oil, which means it has fewer impurities. The refining process involves the purification and distillation, which in turn results in a purer byproduct. Moreover, these mechanical lubricants have undergone an engineering process that involved the infusion of chemical additives to further reduce impurities. These additives offer protection to the car’s engine and even clean its internal components.
As a result, natural gas-based synthetic oil has decreased volatility rate and improved temperature oxidation stability. These compositions are key factors for the efficacy of synthetic oil.
With regards to Pennzoil Platinum and Ultra Platinum, these products offer increased engine protection and allow engines to perform better even in extreme temperatures since these motor oil variants are derived from natural gas. These results are ideal for modern engines. Likewise, the same can be said of direct injection or turbocharger high-performance engines.
Key Benefits of Using Pennzoil Platinum and Ultra Platinum
Apart from protecting the engine from wear and enabling the internal mechanical components of a vehicle to work properly even in extreme temperatures, Pennzoil Platinum and Ultra Platinum maintains piston cleanliness. Because of that, your vehicle—whether it’s a common family van or a high-performance race car—has excellent fuel economy. As a result, your car will have a significant decrease in loss of horsepower. These factors are what make Pennzoil’s synthetic oil products sought-after mechanical lubricants.
What’s the Difference? Pennzoil Platinum Vs Ultra Platinum
Since Pennzoil Platinum and Ultra Platinum provide the same advantages to your car, does that mean that they are the same? The answer is both yes and no. To find out why we should look closer to identify and explain the properties that make the Ultra Platinum distinct from the Platinum.
Industry Specifications for Pennzoil Platinum and Ultra Platinum
To meet industry standards, the particular engine oil product should provide an expected rate of reliability in terms of performance as well as other factors, such as its effects on the environment.
In the case of Pennzoil Platinum and Ultra Platinum, both synthetic oil products meet the criteria of the industry associations responsible for the classification of engine performance, such as the API, ILSAC, and ACEA. The specifications for both variants are as follows:
| Industry Associations | Pennzoil Platinum | Pennzoil Ultra Platinum |
| API | SN, SM, SL, SJ | |
| ILSAC | GF-6 | Exceeds GF-6 engine protection and cleansing requirements |
| ACEA | A1/B1-10, A1/B1-12, A5/B5-10, A5/B5-12 |
As shown in the table, both variants have the same classification in relation to fulfilling the required engine oil specifications. As indicated above, Pennzoil Platinum and Ultra Platinum are compatible for use in new and old car engines alike, specifically those models that go back to 1996.
Moreover, Pennzoil Platinum and Ultra Platinum are classified as both low viscosity engine oils that are suitable for high-performance gasoline and diesel engines according to ACEA. Before using these variants, however, be sure to check the engine oil according to OEM specifications.
On the other hand, regarding the ILSAC specification, Pennzoil Platinum meets the GF-6 standard requirements in current engines. That means this synthetic lubricant can enhance engine performance and fuel economy in cars. Moreover, Pennzoil Platinum is classified as a GF-6A, so it can be used for engines that use lubricants with GF-1 to 5 classifications.
Likewise, Pennzoil Ultra Platinum is categorized as GF-6A. At the same time, this synthetic oil brand surpasses the standard requirements in today’s engine oil requirements because it is designed for high-performance engines. With that said, Pennzoil Ultra Platinum is perfect for motorsports vehicles, such as the ones we see in MotoGP, Nascar, and F1.
Piston Cleaning Capability—Pennzoil Platinum and Ultra Platinum
Over time, an engine’s pistons can develop carbon buildup which affects the vehicle’s overall performance. With Pennzoil Platinum, your pistons are 45% cleaner thanks to the chemical additives infused into this mechanical lubricant, ensuring optimal and smoother operation of every working component inside your engine.
On the other hand, with Pennzoil Ultra Platinum you are assured with a piston that’s 40% cleaner. With this setting, your engine gets to run smoothly and efficiently and allows better torque and horsepower.
Both engine oil brands also provide your engine with additional protection from wear and shock. Also, these synthetic lubricants can withstand extreme temperatures, so you are guaranteed a slick, incredible ride.
Different Viscosity Levels—Pennzoil Platinum and Ultra Platinum
Similar to any engine oil brand, both Platinum and Ultra Platinum comes in different viscosity grades. Overall, the Platinum has six different levels, while Ultra Platinum has five. The viscosity rating for both Pennzoil Synthetic products are as follows:
- Pennzoil Platinum
o SAE 0W-16
o SAE 0W-20
o SAE 5W-20
o SAE 5W-20
o SAE 5W-20
o SAE 10W-60
- Pennzoil Ultra Platinum
o SAE 0W-20
o SAE 5W-20
o SAE 5W-20
o SAE 5W-20
o SAE 10W-60
Mixing Pennzoil Synthetic Oils with Other Engine Oil
Combining two different engine oil brands seem counterintuitive since both products have different manufacturers. When it comes to Pennzoil Platinum and Ultra Platinum, some consumers wonder if it is possible. The answer is a yes. You can mix Platinum and Ultra Platinum with other synthetic or mineral oil as long as they meet the same viscosity level.
Final Takeaway—Drawing the Line Between the Pennzoil Platinum and Ultra Platinum
When it comes to engine oil, it’s clear that synthetic oil is a better choice than the conventional variant. Pennzoil is one such brand that has proven its efficacy throughout the years. With its Platinum and Ultra Platinum variations, consumers enjoy having cleaner and better engine performance, thanks to their chemically engineered processes.
The distinction between the two products is present in Ultra Platinum’s capability to enhance high-performance engines, including cars frequently seen in motorsports scenes. For that matter, Pennzoil Ultra Platinum has better capacity in improving the torque and horsepower of a particular racer.
Of course, this does not mean that Pennzoil Platinum is the lesser of the two. If anything, this shows that like the Ultra Platinum, Pennzoil Platinum is an excellent low viscosity lubricant that provides numerous benefits that range from a cleaner engine to maintaining mechanical efficiency for a long period.
