Why is Pennzoil synthetic blend cheap

kenimpzoom

Rear Admiral
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Jul 13, 2002
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Most places I go to, the cheapest name brand TC-W3 oil is Pennzoil synthetic blend. Even cheaper than other name brand plain old dino oil.<br /><br />Any idea why?<br /><br />Are they flooding the market trying to get loyal customers?<br /><br />I bought a gallon for 6.99 at one place, then another had the same price plus a 2 dollar rebate. :eek: <br /><br />Ken
 
D

DJ

Guest
Re: Why is Pennzoil synthetic blend cheap

A HUGE marketing and distribution network.
 

gsbodine

Petty Officer 1st Class
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May 4, 2004
Messages
346
Re: Why is Pennzoil synthetic blend cheap

I recently began using it here when I noticed the same thing about cost. can't tell the difference, iyam.
 

rickdb1boat

Supreme Mariner
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Jan 23, 2002
Messages
11,195
Re: Why is Pennzoil synthetic blend cheap

I'd like to know where pennzoil synthetic blend is going for 6.99 a gallon? I'd be getting a bunch at that price... Where can I get this deal??
 

caphank

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May 10, 2004
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Re: Why is Pennzoil synthetic blend cheap

I brought 3 two and a half gallon jugs of West Marine brand tc-w3 synthetic oil for 6.99 each on sale here. Penzoil selling for $20 a gallon. To me the only different between high priced oil and house brand is money.
 

FlyBoyMark

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Apr 14, 2002
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Re: Why is Pennzoil synthetic blend cheap

Yep.....Big Market Brueha here for cars....Syntec(Castrol) jus got outa court a year or so ago with ALL the other manufactures suing them over what the word "synthetic" means. Seems Syntec hasn't been true synthetic since bout 1996-7. They jus SUPER refine the base stock and call it "sythetic". Mobile One Is true sythetic as is Amsoil and Royal Purple. Yep!!! The courts gave them the OK to LIE to the consumers abut just about anythng in this case. I usta use Syntec for the last 10-12 years. Last 4 years or so, I noticed my engines were varnishing up...Hmmmm...Did some checking....only crude oil does this.....Dropped Sytec like a dead fish and went to Mobile One. I would prefer Amsoil though..much better stuff....Lie'n sack of poop oil company charging me four and a half bucks for regular quart of oil an they don't tell anyone....
 

rickdb1boat

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Jan 23, 2002
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Re: Why is Pennzoil synthetic blend cheap

Good info, Mark. It doesn't suprise me though. I've often wondered how different manufactuers "Rate" there synthetic oil. Just as TC-W3, there has to be good and not so good stuff, I would assume. I mean there has to be some difference between West Marine, Pennzoil and others blended synthetic. Ya just never know with these folks. I agree that full synthetic, like Amsoil, is most likely much better than whatever is coming off the shelves at the local store that they refer to as "Blended". But how much better?? Who's telling who what, if ya know what I mean..
 

gss036

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Jan 18, 2003
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Re: Why is Pennzoil synthetic blend cheap

Capt Hank, I think you should check you West Marine lable, if they sold you synthetic for that price, something is wrong as the get more than that for regular TCW3. May be they had it mis priced and you got a steal. I just got 4 gal of Penzoil Blend from them for about $9.00 gal on a price match from Wal-Mart.
 

kenimpzoom

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Re: Why is Pennzoil synthetic blend cheap

I have seen that price at BassProShops and Academy.<br /><br />I bought it, because it was the cheapest. I always buy the cheapest NAME BRAND oil for cars and boats. Walmart 2 cycle oil is just repackaged Pennzoil so I normally buy that.<br /><br />Ken
 

Thermodude

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Jul 21, 2003
Messages
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Re: Why is Pennzoil synthetic blend cheap

I own an Evinrude 150, a 92 model. Its a one owner model and when I purchased it I was instructed by the seller to continue to use the same oil he had used........OEM brand. I did that for a while, and after dealing with some smoke I pulled the plugs to have a look. lets just say they werent pretty! I switched to Pennzoil Synthetic Blend after that. I have no complaints............it dosnt smoke, it runs great and the plugs are clean. Pennzoil may be cheaper.....................maybe the other brands will catch on someday!
 

LubeDude

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Re: Why is Pennzoil synthetic blend cheap

Sounds like you all are starting to figure this out. Pennzoils base stock for there Blend as well as there Full synthetic, near as I know unless something has changged, is a group three. Which means, Highly refined Crude, (Hydrocracked). So the blend is a highly refined mixed with not so highly refined which makes it a rather highly refined oil. :confused: , better than most outboard standard TC-W3 oils . The full synthetic is a highly refined Pure (Hydrocracked petroleum), Better than most TC-W3 oils. The only oil I know of that is a true synthetic made for outboards isnt even TC-W3 certified, and that is Amsoil. The reason I say it is better is because it is a REAL Synthetic with esters and not a wantabe. Its rated TC-W3, but thats not certified. Thats what I use. I also understand that Royal Purple and Cam ll has one, but I have know Idea what there Base stock is. They may well be a True synthetic as well.<br />Now, Paying almost $20.00 a gallon for a Not Really a true synthetic is a bit steep, but it is a good oil. Its just that for just a bit more you can have a real synthetic.<br /><br />A regular TC-W3 oil isnt going to hurt your engine, but you are going to have to do more preventive maintenance if you use it, Decarbing, Spark plug replacing, etc. Spark plugs last me forever, and I do not Decarb, ever! There is nothing to decarb.
 

quantumleap

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Feb 16, 2004
Messages
813
Re: Why is Pennzoil synthetic blend cheap

Lube Dude- Out of curiosity, I'll ask you to back up your claim that Am$oil is the only true synthetic outboard oil. Show us some links that can document your statement please.
 

LubeDude

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Re: Why is Pennzoil synthetic blend cheap

Stay tuned, Im working on it, however, I did say that the Cam2 and the Royal Purple may be also.
 

gss036

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Re: Why is Pennzoil synthetic blend cheap

Haven't we been down this road several times before? The question was asked about Penzoil, not to start another AMSOIL advertisement. <br /> :confused: :rolleyes: :D
 

LubeDude

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Re: Why is Pennzoil synthetic blend cheap

Originally posted by gss036:<br /> Haven't we been down this road several times before? The question was asked about Penzoil, not to start another AMSOIL advertisement. <br /> :confused: :rolleyes: :D
Would you like to show me in my post where I am advertising Amsoil??? It seems all you have to do to get someone to start knocking Amsoil is say the word. I just made a statement. You want to know why Pennzoil is SO cheap, "They use cheap Base Stock". That was the only point I was trying to make. Can I prove t, probably not, but if Pennzoil was using a PAO Base stock, they would be advertising it all over the place like Mobil1 does. I think Mobil needs to produce a synthetic outboard oil, it would be a great oil. They allready have a great air cooled synthetic 2 cycle oil, (MX2T), but its not good for outboards.
 

kenimpzoom

Rear Admiral
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Re: Why is Pennzoil synthetic blend cheap

I am not knocking you, lubedude, just want to learn.<br /><br />Any evidence that pure synthetics are better than highly refined dino oil?<br /><br />Ken
 

DeanL

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Oct 29, 2003
Messages
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Re: Why is Pennzoil synthetic blend cheap

Look at what FlyBoyMark posted -- because of the court decision in Casrol v. Mobil, "synthetic" does not mean synthetic anymore. Even "fully synthetic" may not mean that it is a PAO and/or Ester true synthetic.<br /><br />True synthetic base stocks are more expensive to produce. If the price is less than about $15/gallon, it's either a really good deal or cracked petroleum.
 

LubeDude

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Re: Why is Pennzoil synthetic blend cheap

Originally posted by kenimpzoom:<br /> <br />Any evidence that pure synthetics are better than highly refined dino oil?<br /><br />Ken
The only evidence I can give is the racing scene. You wont find any Hydocacked oils there. I just want the best, and like FlyBoyMark said, he saw a difference eventually. <br /><br />Are we grasping at straws? Sure, but I want the best straw., and if it means spending a little more money, then I will. If it means becoming a dealer or a distributor to get it cheaper, I will do that also.
 
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