2021 test2 productsEngine Oil & Fluids
Which Motor Oil Brand Wins?
We compared 2 motor oil options head to head. Pennzoil Platinum Full Synthetic came out on top. See the measured results, the runner-up, the budget pick, and a link to the full test video.
Winner
Pennzoil Platinum Full Synthetic
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Runner-up
Honda Marine
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The measured results
Every number below is read straight from the test. Scroll sideways to see all measurements. Products are listed in the order they finished.
| Product | Evaporative loss (410F for 2 hours) | Foam/anti-foaming test (5 minutes) | Corrosion test, 2-minute check | Corrosion test, 24-hour final result (rusting agent applied 3 times) | Lubricity/film strength test | Cold oil flow race (new and cooked samples, minus 40F) | Oil analysis, moly | Oil analysis, boron | Oil analysis, calcium | Oil analysis, magnesium | Oil analysis, phosphorus | Oil analysis, zinc | Oil analysis, flash point | Oil analysis, TBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Pennzoil Platinum Full Synthetic 10W-30 | started at 410.9 g, ended at 407 g, a loss of only 3.9 g, described as a huge win over Honda Marine | cleared up much faster and more completely than the Honda Marine oil | appeared to have slightly more oxidation than Honda Marine at this early check | both oils did very well, but Pennzoil showed a bit more rust, especially in size and intensity, compared to Honda Marine | lost narrowly to Honda Marine, which had about a 3 percent smaller wear scar; described as the closest race between two brands the presenter had seen in a long time | won the overall race; the cooked Pennzoil sample staged a comeback to cross the finish line slightly ahead of Honda Marine | 71 parts per million | 209 parts per million | 863 parts per million | 613 parts per million | 557 parts per million | 619 parts per million | 460F, better than Honda Marine's 400F | 6.5, slightly higher than Honda Marine's 5.9 |
| 2Honda Marine SAE 10W-30 (Honda Genuine Oil, meets NMMA FC-W) | started at 404.64 g, ended at 385.86 g, a loss of 18.78 g, far worse than Pennzoil | had noticeably more air bubbles remaining and cleared more slowly than Pennzoil, despite manufacturer claims of a superior anti-foaming package | appeared to have less oxidation than Pennzoil at this early check | both oils did very well, but Honda Marine showed less rust in size and intensity than Pennzoil | won narrowly with about a 3 percent smaller wear scar than Pennzoil | competitive throughout but ultimately lost; the cooked Pennzoil sample edged it out at the finish | 37 parts per million | 2 parts per million | 1,819 parts per million, more than double Pennzoil's | 11 parts per million | 1,039 parts per million, nearly double Pennzoil's | 1,203 parts per million, nearly double Pennzoil's | 400F, lower than Pennzoil's 460F | 5.9, slightly lower than Pennzoil's 6.5 |
How it was tested
- NOACK-style evaporative loss test at 410F for 2 hours
- anti-foaming test using a shaken quart jar setup
- corrosion resistance test using a hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, and salt mix, checked at 2 minutes and again at 24 hours
- lubricity/film strength wear-scar test
- cold oil flow race at minus 40F, new and heat-cooked samples of both oils
- independent oil lab analysis (moly, boron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, flash point, TBN)
“In my opinion, stick with the oil that's designed for a car. Unfortunately, the marine oil just did not perform very well compared to the oil that's designed for a car.”