The Newly Reformulated Pennzoil Ultra™ Continues to Clean up Engines

HOUSTON, Nov. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Pennzoil®, America's most trusted motor oil(1), is releasing a new formulation of its most technologically advanced full synthetic, Pennzoil Ultra™. The proprietary formula of Pennzoil Ultra™ motor oil with Hyper Cleansing Technology is designed to far exceed auto manufacturers' most stringent standards for cleanliness and protection(2). No oil – not even Mobil 1 – keeps an engine closer to factory clean than Pennzoil Ultra(3).

The new formulation of the brand's ultra-class synthetic product is the output of a global team of scientists pursuing the goal of producing products that provide the ultimate clean for ultimate performance, and the new formulation does just that.  When it comes to pistons, the most difficult part of your engine to keep clean, Pennzoil Ultra keeps pistons up to 25 percent cleaner than Mobil 1(4).  

"At Pennzoil we continuously work to improve our full line of products incorporating the newest motor oil technology. Our premier product, Pennzoil Ultra, serves as a symbol for automotive innovation and pushes the limits for our boldest claims," said Bree Sandlin, Pennzoil® Global Brand Manager. "Our goal in formulating Pennzoil Ultra is to design an oil that far exceeds the toughest standards for engine cleanliness, engineered to help keep a car's engine in pristine condition, close to the way it was the day it left the factory."

Recently, many major motor oil brands have shifted their focus from protection to a claim of "cleansing" in varying degrees. Protection is a mandatory attribute of a lubricant, and while motor oil is not usually thought of in the context of "clean," it is one of the most vital attributes of an oil.  This year there has been a shift in the most recent industry-wide specification, ILSAC GF-5, which actually increased the level of cleanliness provided by a lubricant necessary to receive a passing mark.  Pennzoil Ultra™ helps keep pistons up to 65 percent cleaner than the toughest industry standards(5). 

"A clean engine is more efficient, can run longer, produces fewer emissions and can produce more power," said Dr. Robert Sutherland, Pennzoil Technology Manager. "As they burn gasoline, all engines produce carbon, soot, corrosive acids and other byproducts that can lead to sludge, varnish and other engine deposits. These deposits inside of an engine can hinder performance or longevity."

Using the standard measurement for piston cleanliness, the industry-required Sequence IIIG test for weighted piston deposits, new Pennzoil Ultra™ was tested against the leading synthetic motor oils in the marketplace. The Sequence IIIG procedure measures oil thickening and piston deposits during high-temperature conditions, inspecting pistons for deposits and varnish following the testing. Following the testing, an oil is scored on the level of piston deposit with a minimum rating of 4.0 required to pass; the higher the rating, the better the piston cleanliness. After the 100 hour test, Pennzoil Ultra™ far exceeded the minimum rating, and its competitors' ratings, demonstrating its piston cleanliness dominance in the category.

For more information on the Sequence IIIG conducted on the new Pennzoil Ultra Full Synthetic or information on the full line-up of industry leading Pennzoil products, visit www.Pennzoil.com.

About Pennzoil®

Pennzoil® is an iconic American brand with a strong heritage of product performance and innovation that people trust to protect their vehicle; in fact, more people trust Pennzoil than any other motor oil(6). Throughout its history, the makers of Pennzoil® motor oil have worked diligently to provide motorists with the latest motor oil technology, and that consistent pursuit of innovation has led to the latest line-up of Pennzoil products which actively cleanse and protect while meeting or exceeding industry specifications to offer exceptional engine protection. The line includes Pennzoil Ultra™ motor oil with Hyper Cleansing Technology™, Pennzoil Platinum® Full Synthetic motor oil, Pennzoil® Advanced Protection motor oil, Pennzoil Gold™ motor oil, Pennzoil® High Mileage Vehicle® motor oil, and Pennzoil Marine® engine oil.  For more information about Pennzoil products, please visit www.pennzoil.com

Pennzoil® is produced and marketed by Shell Lubricants.

About Shell Lubricants

The term 'Shell Lubricants' collectively refers to the companies of Royal Dutch Shell plc that are engaged in the lubricants business. Shell Lubricants companies lead the lubricants industry, supplying 13.4% of global lubricants volume.(a) The companies manufacture and blend products for use in consumer, heavy industrial and commercial transport applications. The Shell Lubricants portfolio of top-quality brands includes Pennzoil®, Quaker State®, FormulaShell®, Shell TELLUS®, Shell RIMULA®, Shell ROTELLA® T, Shell SPIRAX® and Jiffy Lube®.

(a)Kline & Company, "Global Lubricants Industry 2009: Market Analysis and Assessment, 2009-2019."

Notes to Editors

Cautionary Note:

The companies in which Royal Dutch Shell plc directly and indirectly owns investments are separate entities. In this press release "Shell", "Shell group" and "Royal Dutch Shell" are sometimes used for convenience where references are made to Royal Dutch Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words "we", "us" and "our" are also used to refer to subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These expressions are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular company or companies. ''Subsidiaries'', "Shell subsidiaries" and "Shell companies" as used in this press release refer to companies in which Royal Dutch Shell either directly or indirectly has control, by having either a majority of the voting rights or the right to exercise a controlling influence. The companies in which Shell has significant influence but not control are referred to as "associated companies" or "associates" and companies in which Shell has joint control are referred to as "jointly controlled entities". In this press release, associates and jointly controlled entities are also referred to as "equity-accounted investments". The term "Shell interest" is used for convenience to indicate the direct and/or indirect (for example, through our 34% shareholding in Woodside Petroleum Ltd.) ownership interest held by Shell in a venture, partnership or company, after exclusion of all third-party interest.

This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of Royal Dutch Shell. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management's current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning the potential exposure of Royal Dutch Shell to market risks and statements expressing management's expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections and assumptions. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as ''anticipate'', ''believe'', ''could'', ''estimate'', ''expect'', ''intend'', ''may'', ''plan'', ''objectives'', ''outlook'', ''probably'', ''project'', ''will'', ''seek'', ''target'', ''risks'', ''goals'', ''should'' and similar terms and phrases. There are a number of factors that could affect the future operations of Royal Dutch Shell and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements included in this press release, including (without limitation): (a) price fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas; (b) changes in demand for the Group's products; (c) currency fluctuations; (d) drilling and production results; (e) reserve estimates; (f) loss of market share and industry competition; (g) environmental and physical risks; (h) risks associated with the identification of suitable potential acquisition properties and targets, and successful negotiation and completion of such transactions; (i) the risk of doing business in developing countries and countries subject to international sanctions; (j) legislative, fiscal and regulatory developments including potential litigation and regulatory effects arising from recategorisation of reserves; (k) economic and financial market conditions in various countries and regions; (l) political risks, including the risks of expropriation and renegotiation of the terms of contracts with governmental entities, delays or advancements in the approval of projects and delays in the reimbursement for shared costs; and (m) changes in trading conditions. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional factors that may affect future results are contained in Royal Dutch Shell's 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2008 (available at www.shell.com/investor and www.sec.gov).  These factors also should be considered by the reader.  Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this press release. Neither Royal Dutch Shell nor any of its subsidiaries undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information. In light of these risks, results could differ materially from those stated, implied or inferred from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) permits oil and gas companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose only proved reserves that a company has demonstrated by actual production or conclusive formation tests to be economically and legally producible under existing economic and operating conditions.  We use certain terms in this press release that SEC's guidelines strictly prohibit us from including in filings with the SEC.  U.S. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 20-F, File No 1-32575, available on the SEC website www.sec.gov. You can also obtain these forms from the SEC by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.

(1) Based on a survey of licensed drivers conducted by a leading research firm January 2005 –December 2010.

(2) Based on GF-5, Ford, Chrysler, GM and Ferrari specifications

(3) Based on Sequence VG sludge test using SAE 5W-30

(4) Based on Sequence VG sludge test using SAE 5W-30

(5) Based on Sequence IIIG sludge test using SAE 5W-30

(6) Based on a survey of licensed drivers conducted by a leading research firm January 2005 –December 2010.

SOURCE Pennzoil