Pennzoil 20w50 Racing Oil

[Galon]

Does anyone know what the reason was for Pennzoil discontinuing the 20w50 Racing oil?

[modok]

I guess that mightbea shame, If it was any good. I never heard a word about it. Maybe it wasn't?
I know that's no help, I'm just kinda suspecting....that, you ask ten guys and 9 of them will say that same thing.

[makin chips]

I guess that mightbea shame, If it was any good. I never heard a word about it. Maybe it wasn't?
I know that's no help, I'm just kinda suspecting....that, you ask ten guys and 9 of them will say that same thing.

They didn't stop producing it because of that, I'm sure.

[Galon]

The Pennzoil 20w50 racing oil was very popular in our area. Engine wear on disassembly was minimal. Ring sell after builds was good with no foaming issues. Now the problem is a good replacement. Any suggestions without breaking the bank. Still looking for Pennzoils reason for discontinuing production of such a well liked product.

[modok]

oh, darn it.
I'm going with Valvoline vr1, or Joe Gibbs.
vr1 is hard to beat all around.

[Warp Speed]

The Pennzoil 20w50 racing oil was very popular in our area. Engine wear on disassembly was minimal. Ring sell after builds was good with no foaming issues. Now the problem is a good replacement. Any suggestions without breaking the bank. Still looking for Pennzoils reason for discontinuing production of such a well liked product.

Small market would be my guess. Most who use a multi viscosity racing oil, use thinner examples these days, such as 0w-30, 0-50, 10w-30 ect. Most using anything more, are just using a single 50w, 60w ect.

[Galon]

After talking to a Pennzoil company representative, it all seems to come down to money. He had no definitive reason for the discontinuation of the product other than small market, small packaging and component price increases. In as many words, not profitable. I was also surprised to hear it was not a semi or full synthetic. All base crude. Surprising today with all of the synthetics being so popular. Warp Speed has pretty much summed it up. Thank You

[Rick!]

The Pennzoil 20w50 racing oil was very popular in our area. Engine wear on disassembly was minimal. Ring sell after builds was good with no foaming issues. Now the problem is a good replacement. Any suggestions without breaking the bank. Still looking for Pennzoils reason for discontinuing production of such a well liked product.

polyalphaolefin on YB seems to be experienced in oil analysis and performance.

[midnightbluS10]

After talking to a Pennzoil company representative, it all seems to come down to money. He had no definitive reason for the discontinuation of the product other than small market, small packaging and component price increases. In as many words, not profitable. I was also surprised to hear it was not a semi or full synthetic. All base crude. Surprising today with all of the synthetics being so popular. Warp Speed has pretty much summed it up. Thank You

Not surprising here. Basic Castrol 5w30 stands up to most synthetics in wear protection ratings. Even Chevron Supreme has a higher wear rating(100,000+ psi) than most of the popular oils.

[autogear]

Pennzoil 20w50 may or may not be a great oil. But, the people who use 20w50, seem to grab VR1. Sometimes you can have the better product, but not the long distance horses to win the market over. Pennzoil would have to invest literal tons of money before making a noticeable dent in VR1 sales nationwide. The only strategy that makes sense for that is simply to pull a leg out from under valvoline...but its still a drop in the bucket as Warp and others have said.

[Fireonthemountain]

And don't forget there is also Castrol 20-50

[Pete1]

How popular is Pro-V?

[engineguyBill]

Yeah, I think Warp Speeds comments pretty much sum up the situation. Not many engine builders are using (nor recommending) the high viscosity oils. Those who are adament about using high viscosity oils are probably using straight 50W.

[MassimoD]

The Pennzoil 20w50 racing oil was very popular in our area. Engine wear on disassembly was minimal. Ring sell after builds was good with no foaming issues. Now the problem is a good replacement. Any suggestions without breaking the bank. Still looking for Pennzoils reason for discontinuing production of such a well liked product.

Small market would be my guess. Most who use a multi viscosity racing oil, use thinner examples these days, such as 0w-30, 0-50, 10w-30 ect. Most using anything more, are just using a single 50w, 60w ect.

Based on that what 10w-30 oils are out there that are recommended? And does zinc content really matter?

[modok]

Good question......yes and no
The zinc content does matter, but it's not so much the sheer amount as what type, and what other additives are in there,
How long it's supposed to last. All the stuff in the auto parts stores is aimed to last a LONG time between change intervals, and the additive packs are balanced so they are not depleted early.

Since VR1 aims to ,ast maybe 3000 miles, or less, they don't need as much detergent, and the EP additives it DOES have are much faster acting although in an oil test you will see rather average numbers for zinc.
VR1 does seem to very good as protecting flat tappet cams and has some friction modifiers in there which give it a little HP advantage over others.....like brad penn, nobody disputes brad penn is a good stuff for flat tappet cams but also in every test I've seen they are down a few HP vs vr1

Don't forget MAXIMA, they also make some specialty oils
I don't know a lot about them, but I do lIKe to see some friendly competition.