Man Puts Pennzoil Into His Sister’s Ford. Then He Sees What Comes Out Of The Pennzoil Container: 'You Should See 0W-8'

Given how often one is supposed to change their car’s oil, it’s surprising that more people don’t do it themselves.

Of course, even though changing oil is relatively easy, there are plenty of things that can go wrong. The internet is filled with stories of simple oil changes gone awry, leading to everything from minor damage to total engine failure.  

Even people who have done many oil changes can occasionally be met with a surprise. One user on TikTok recently shared his own shock when he observed something weird with a new synthetic oil.

What Happened During This Ford Oil Change?

In a video with over 1,300 views, TikTok user @43matix shows himself changing the oil on a Ford hybrid.

“Doing an oil change on my sister's car right now, just a hybrid Ford,” he starts. “Just look at this.”

He proceeds to pour SAE 0W-20 into the car. In contrast to other oils, this oil pours quickly and smoothly.

“Water. It literally is like apple juice,” he states. “That's insane.”

“I'm not really that surprised. This is my second time doing an oil change on a car,” he continues. “But like, holy cow. Like, it's just, just water. That's insane.”

Is This Normal?

While this may look shocking to those who haven’t done many oil changes, this oil—both in its color and consistency—is actually completely normal.

The oil shown in the video is Pennzoil Platinum Full Synthetic SAE 0W-20. This is likely the correct oil for the car, as Ford typically recommends 0W-20 oil for its hybrid vehicles. 

When looking at an oil, it’s important to know what each number means. Both 0W and 20 refer to the oil’s viscosity grade. Each number signifies how the oil behaves at certain temperatures. The "0W" refers to viscosity at low temperatures, while the "20" is in reference to viscosity at high temperatures. 

For 0W-20 oil, this labeling means that the oil is thin at both high and low temperatures. This is common for hybrid engines.

Why Do Hybrid Cars Use Thinner Oil?

Seeing this, some may wonder why hybrid vehicles use thinner oil.

The answer is simple. In an engine, cold-start wear occurs right after an engine starts. This is often where damage to an engine happens.

While this is not a major issue for fully gasoline engines, it can be a major problem for hybrid vehicles, as the cars’ gas engine repeatedly shuts off and restarts.

Consequently, most manufacturers suggest a thinner oil for hybrid vehicles. Thinner oils flow quickly after each restart, allowing them to reach necessary components in the vehicle and reduce wear. At the same time, this thin oil reduces engine friction, which in turn makes it easier and more efficient for the electric motor to restart the engine.

Can You Tell If Oil Is Bad By Looking At It?

In the video, the TikToker appears concerned about the apple juice-like color and consistency of the oil.

He really shouldn’t be. Usually, new oil is a golden or amber color—similar to apple juice. However, oil can change significantly as it is used. Over the lifespan of a car’s oil usage, one shouldn’t be surprised if the oil they take out of the car is significantly darker than what they put in.

Color and consistency are primarily a concern for new oil—as in, when you’re replacing the oil in a car. 

If you’re replacing your car’s oil and notice that it has become milky, foamy, or gained a mayonnaise-like appearance, then you might want to get things checked out.

This can happen when motor oil reacts with moisture. Usually, this occurs due to coolant contamination or condensation on engine components. If this happens, it can cause corrosion, clogged passageways, and more. This is why it’s important to get milky oil checked out if you see it in your vehicle. 

‘Gotta Trust The Engineers!’

While seeing oil of this consistency may be jarring, other drivers in the comments section assured the TikToker that what he was seeing was completely normal.

“It’s like you wonder if it’s really doing anything at that point or will get burnt up but gotta trust the engineers!” exclaimed a user.

“Mine take 0w-20 and mine has 166,000 miles,” assured another.

In fact, some said that other cars take oil that seems even thinner.

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“A few newer Toyotas take 0w16 and [and] 0w8. Those are like apple cider vinegar,” noted a commenter.

Motor1 reached out to @43matix via TikTok direct message and comment. We will update this story if we receive a response.

 

 

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