Motor Oil Mar 2021 Test: Which Brand Wins?
In our Mar 2021 test we compared 2 motor oil options head to head. Pennzoil came out on top. See the measured results, the runner-up, the budget pick, and a link to the full test video.
Pennzoil
Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Miller's
Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
The quick take
The short version of why each pick lands where it does, built straight from the measured results.
“In the end, in my opinion Pennzoil is a better oil.”
The measured results
Every number below is read straight from the test. Products are listed in the order they finished.
All measurements (9 more)+
Evaporative loss (200g oil, 420 F for 2 hours)
- 1Pennzoil Ultra Platinum, full synthetic SAE 5W-30
started at 404.73 g, ended at 401.08 g, a loss of 3.65 g; won this test
- 2Miller's Nanodrive, low friction technology, 5W-30 fully synthetic
started at 411 g, ended at right at 406 g, a loss of 5 g
Lubricity / film strength (wear scar test)
- 1Pennzoil Ultra Platinum, full synthetic SAE 5W-30
produced a larger wear scar than the Miller's oil; host was surprised the Miller's oil beat it here by 8 percent
- 2Miller's Nanodrive, low friction technology, 5W-30 fully synthetic
showed an 8 percent smaller wear scar than the Pennzoil; host says he was really surprised to see Miller's come out on top here and calls it evidence of a very robust additive package
Fuel efficiency (generator load test)
- 1Pennzoil Ultra Platinum, full synthetic SAE 5W-30
ran for 21 minutes 16 seconds before running out of fuel
- 2Miller's Nanodrive, low friction technology, 5W-30 fully synthetic
finished almost the exact same time as the Pennzoil, described as maybe another couple of seconds longer than the Pennzoil's 21 minute 16 second result; no exact time given for Miller's
Cold oil flow test (freezer at negative 40 F)
- 1Pennzoil Ultra Platinum, full synthetic SAE 5W-30
the new Pennzoil finished first of the four lanes tested, ahead of the cooked Pennzoil by a fraction of an inch, ahead of the new Miller's by 7 inches, and ahead of the cooked Miller's by about 8.5 inches; host calls it a huge win for Pennzoil
- 2Miller's Nanodrive, low friction technology, 5W-30 fully synthetic
both the new and cooked Miller's samples finished behind all Pennzoil samples: new Miller's finished 7 inches behind the new Pennzoil, and cooked Miller's finished about 8.5 inches behind the new Pennzoil
Lab analysis, anti-wear additives
- 1Pennzoil Ultra Platinum, full synthetic SAE 5W-30
molybdenum 53 parts per million, described as very close to normal; phosphorus 742 parts per million; zinc 807 parts per million (Miller's higher on all three)
- 2Miller's Nanodrive, low friction technology, 5W-30 fully synthetic
molybdenum 769 parts per million, described as the most the host has ever seen in a motor oil; phosphorus 1,459 parts per million; zinc 972 parts per million (all higher than Pennzoil, described as a much more robust anti-wear additive package)
Lab analysis, detergents/dispersants
- 1Pennzoil Ultra Platinum, full synthetic SAE 5W-30
boron 127, calcium 2,540, magnesium 21 (a slight advantage over Miller's on all three)
- 2Miller's Nanodrive, low friction technology, 5W-30 fully synthetic
boron 76, calcium 2,455, magnesium 9 (all slightly lower than Pennzoil)
Lab analysis, viscosity
- 1Pennzoil Ultra Platinum, full synthetic SAE 5W-30
slightly lower viscosity than the Miller's oil
- 2Miller's Nanodrive, low friction technology, 5W-30 fully synthetic
slightly higher viscosity than the Pennzoil
Lab analysis, flash point
- 1Pennzoil Ultra Platinum, full synthetic SAE 5W-30440 F
slightly higher than the Miller's 430 F
- 2Miller's Nanodrive, low friction technology, 5W-30 fully synthetic430 F
slightly lower than the Pennzoil's 440 F
Lab analysis, TBN (total base number)
- 1Pennzoil Ultra Platinum, full synthetic SAE 5W-308.6
slightly better than the Miller's 7.3
- 2Miller's Nanodrive, low friction technology, 5W-30 fully synthetic7.3
slightly lower than the Pennzoil's 8.6
How it was tested
- evaporative loss / thermal breakdown test: 200 g of oil heated to approximately 420 F for 2 hours
- lubricity / film strength test: 40 mL of the heat-exposed oil per brand, 10 minute wear scar test comparing bearing wear scar size
- fuel efficiency test: each oil run in an electronic fuel injected generator under a 5-halogen-light load until the engine ran out of fuel
- cold oil flow test: new and heat-cooked samples of both oils raced side by side after being frozen at negative 40 F
- independent oil lab analysis: anti-wear additive content (molybdenum, phosphorus, zinc), detergent/dispersant content (boron, calcium, magnesium), viscosity, flash point, and total base number (TBN)
“In the end, in my opinion Pennzoil is a better oil.”
