Pennzoil says new base stock will be basis for oil lineup. According to Pennzoil Products Co., its latest technological advance starts with a "pure, clear base oil" created from a refining process that destroys virtually all contaminants and harmful components found in crude oil.
"The purity of our new base oil is readily apparent in its crystal-clear appearance," said chief marketing officer Thomas E. Floyd. "And the clear truth is that every drop of our multi-viscosity motor oil will begin with our new pure base oil."
According to Floyd, the switch will not lead to an increase in cost nor will it change the ultimate appearance of the motor oil. He noted that Pennzoil's Z-7 additive package lends a "golden brown" hue to the final product. Far from a cosmetic change, using the pure base stock "enables additives to do their primary job -- engine protection," says Floyd.
Products made from the new base oil are now in distribution, and Pennzoil expects to complete its U.S. rollout in the next few months. It will be found in motor oils offered for commercial vehicles, including Long-Life 15W40 and Supreme Duty Fleet 10W30, 15W40, 30W, and 40W grades.
According to Pennzoil, the switch in refining processes will be so thorough and swift that it has no plans to highlight the base stock's presence on product packaging.
Don M. Johnson, vp-product support, told FLEET OWNER that the new refining process involves hydrocracking of the base oil and dewaxing that he terms a "two-step process of hydrotreating." He said the process allows use of a wider range of crude oils as well as greater ability to address such lubrication issues as extending drain intervals for diesel engines.
The new base oil is being refined in a plant at Lake Charles, La., that is operated under a joint venture agreement between Pennzoil and Conoco. "This large base-stock facility," Johnson noted, "provides for nationwide availability and allows additive makers to better shape their products."
