8 Key Differences Between Castrol Edge and Pennzoil Platinum (I Observed!)
Pennzoil Platinum and Castrol Edge are both leading synthetic motor oils. The key difference is Pennzoil Platinum is made from natural gas while Castrol Edge contains castor oil. Pennzoil Platinum resists heat better, prevents carbon buildup, and allows for better fuel economy. Both oils protect engines from wear but Pennzoil Platinum produces less smoke. Overall Pennzoil Platinum is more resistant to breakdown while Castrol Edge relies more on detergents to prevent deposits.
Castrol Edge vs Pennzoil Platinum Synthetic Oil, which one is better? I will compare these two types of oil in a detailed way to help you decide which one of these two synthetic oils suits your car better.
If you want to know which oil grade to choose, you can check out my analysis on 5w30 and 5w20 motor oils. Also, if you’re panicked about low oil pressure in your car, I have suggested some fixes for low oil pressure in my guide.
Furthermore, Pennzoil also offers higher-end motor oil i.e. Ultra Platinum. I’ve written a guide on Pennzoil Platinum vs Ultra Platinum for better understanding.
My Personal Opinion About Pennzoil Platinum and Castrol Edge
My buddy drives an older Toyota Camry with over 200k miles on it. He’s not too car savvy so I’ve been helping him maintain it. When it came time to change the oil, I recommended Pennzoil Platinum since I had experienced it flows better on high mileage engines.
He tried it and said the car felt a bit smoother and quieter after the oil change. I think for engines with high miles, a quality synthetic like Pennzoil Platinum can help clean out sludge in a better way.
Another experience…
Recently, my cousin was trying to decide between Pennzoil Platinum and Castrol Edge oil for his Ford Mustang.
The Pennzoil seemed better for cold starts, which is important where he lives in the north. But the Castrol provided better protection at high temperatures, which is crucial for his sports car.
He asked my advice, since I’m a car enthusiast. I recommended the Castrol Edge, since his Mustang runs hot and the titanium additive gives extra protection.
He took my advice and has been happy with the Castrol oil’s performance in his high revving engine. He said his Mustang has never run better.
Castrol Edge Vs Pennzoil Platinum Main Differences
Pennzoil motor oil is originated in Pennsylvania, while Castrol oil is originated in the United Kingdom. Pennzoil Platinum oils are made from natural gas, while Castrol Edge oil is a blend of vegetable oils and petroleum-based products.
Here is a quick comparison between Castrol Edge and Pennzoil Platinum Synthetic Oils:
| Features | Pennzoil Platinum | Castrol Edge |
|---|---|---|
| Usage | Designed for a shorter drain interval i.e. up to 7500 miles | Designed for a longer drain interval i.e. 7500 to 15000 miles |
| Type of vehicle | Great for passenger cars, light vans or SUVs | Ideal for racing cars |
| Formulation | Derived from natural gas | Derived from vegetable oil, proprietary oils, and petroleum-based lubricants |
| Performance | Performs excellent in cold temperatures due to the lowest cold pour point | Performs excellent under the operating conditions of a high temperature and pressure due to the titanium technology |
| Viscosity Grades | 0W-16, 0W-20, 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30 | 0W-16, 0W-20, 5W-20, 5W-30, 5W-50, 10W-30, 10W-40 |
| Standards | Meets API SP/GF-6, Dexos 2 | Meets API SP/GF-6, Dexos 2 |
| Cleaning | Keeps engine and piston rings a tad cleaner as it is made from a clean natural gas | Has relatively less cleaning capability compared to Pennzoil Platinum |
| Additive | Zinc-based | Titanium-based |
Some Unique Points About Pennzoil Platinum Oil
Here are some unique points about Pennzoil Platinum Oil:
Improved Flow At Cold Condition
The unique thing about Pennzoil Platinum oil is that it is made from a natural gas that is inherently clean compared to crude oil. Since in natural gas all molecules tend to be identical, Pennzoil Platinum oil has a relatively better flow than Castrol Edge oil on a cold startup.
In the below video, this guy has compared the cold pour point of Pennzoil Platinum with other synthetic oils, including the Castrol Edge. You can see that Pennzoil Platinum oil has the highest cold flow rate i.e. the lowest cold pour point.
Cleaning Property
Another unique feature of Pennzoil Platinum oils that ranks slightly higher compared to the Castrol Edge oil is the cleaning ability.
Since natural gas is a clean syngas, there are no residues of sulphur or metal deposits that are usually present in small amounts in synthetic oils derived from crude oil.
Due to this reason, Pennzoil Platinum oil does not produce any sludge or cause deposit buildup in the engine.
Also, Pennzoil Platinum has a very good detergency property that helps remove dirt and grime from your engine. According to the users’ reviews, Pennzoil Platinum oil keeps pistons a tad cleaner compared to Castrol Edge Oil.
Suitable for High Road Driving Condition
Pennzoil Platinum is an ideal oil for high road driving conditions. Whether you ride a Toyota Prius, Ford Mustang, or a high-performance turbo car, Pennzoil Platinum provides protection against oxidation and ensures that the engine’s oil pump and bearings operate effectively under the most demanding conditions.
In high road driving conditions, usually, engine torque is more important than the RPM. The higher pour rate of Pennzoil Platinum allows pre-oiler to build pressure faster.
The Downsides of Pennzoil Platinum
There are odds about PP oil that new users of Pennzoil Platinum assume as downsides. First, users think that Pennzoil Platinum is a bit thinner if they compare it with other motor oils having the same viscosity grade.
Actually, that’s not true. At room temperature, Pennzoil Platinum just has a better flow than other motor oils so that it can be pumped easily and fill the clearances between engine components during a cold startup.
Another downside is that at the bottom of the Pennzoil Platinum bottle, there would be some sediments. It is actually the useful additive package of Pennzoil Platinum that sometimes settle down during storage. So, I’ll highly advise you to shake Pennzoil Platinum oil bottle aggressively to mix it back into oil.
Some Unique Points About Castrol Edge Motor Oil
Here are some unique points about Castrol Edge Oil:
Longer OCI
Castrol Edge oil has a longer OCI i.e. Castrol Edge oil has a longer change interval than Pennzoil Platinum. The OCI of Castrol Edge oil is 7500 to 15000 miles and the OCI of Pennzoil Platinum oil is from 5000 miles to 10000 miles, depending on the condition of the engine.
Ideal for High Temperatures
At extreme high engine temperatures, a typical motor oil tends to lose its stability and breaks down due to engine heat. Castrol Edge oil is made with a proprietary Fluid Titanium Technology that creates a solid cushion between the engine surfaces due to a high film strength. Castrol Edge oil contains titanium oxide that increases its film strength and reduces oil film breakdown and friction at high temperatures.
Ideal Oil for Racing Cars
Oil is the medium for lubrication and cooling. The engine uses oil to remove the heat generated from combustion and to reduce friction between parts.
The oil film thickness depends on the operating conditions of the engine. For instance, the thinner the oil film, the more the metal parts of the engine touch each other. Therefore, the oil film thickness needs to be increased to avoid friction.
Castrol Edge engine oil is formulated for use in high-performance vehicles, particularly racing cars that have high pressure and high temperature inside the engine. The special formulation of a Castrol Edge oil features a unique blend of highly refined base oils, synthetics, and additives that enable Castrol Edge to deliver outstanding fuel efficiency and power in racing vehicles.
API Standards of Pennzoil Platinum and Castrol Edge Oil
Both Pennzoil Platinum and Castrol Edge comply with the latest engine oil standards i.e. API SP and ILSAC GF-6. These standards are defined for engine parts protection in modern turbocharged direct injection engines.
In such engines, LSPI (Low-Speed Pre-Ignition) is a common issue that generates high pressure in the engine cylinders, connecting rods, and pistons.
Keeping this in view, motor oils need to comply with those standards to protect the excessive friction between the engine components resulting from LSOI
Final Verdict On Pennzoil Platinum and Castrol Edge
The best car motor oil to use depends on the type of car and its driving conditions. If you want to avoid unnecessary problems, always choose the right oil for your car. At the end, I would say whether you use Pennzoil Platinum oil or Castrol Edge, make sure that the motor oil meets the specs specified in the engine’s manual.
Castrol Edge vs Pennzoil Platinum Synthetic Oil, in short:
- Castrol edge is thicker, slick and serves as a cushion between metal parts at high temperatures.
- Pennzoil Platinum has a better flow on a cold startup, thus works ideally in low temperatures.