PennGrade 1

What PennGrade 1 does

PennGrade 1 is a high-performance motor oil brand owned and manufactured by D-A Lubricant Company, Inc., a 100% family-owned American lubricant manufacturer headquartered in Lebanon, Indiana and operating since 1919. The brand's core products are synthetic blend and full synthetic motor oils engineered around a Pennsylvania Grade crude oil base cut combined with high-zinc, high-phosphorus (ZDDP) anti-wear chemistry at approximately 1,500 ppm zinc and 1,400 ppm phosphorus — levels unavailable in modern API-certified oils. The portfolio extends beyond motor oil into specialty racing formulations (Nitro 70, Break-In Oil), heavy-duty diesel oils (Reliant Premium HDEO), motorcycle oils (V2 4-Stroke), gear lubricants, greases, and assembly lubes, with packaging ranging from quarts to 55-gallon drums.

The company targets four primary customer segments: professional racers and motorsports competitors, classic and muscle car owners with flat tappet engines, hot rod builders and engine builders, and diesel performance enthusiasts. Distribution is achieved through a direct e-commerce storefront (penngrade1shop.com) and an authorized dealer locator network, supplemented by an event-driven ambassador program sponsoring NHRA, OSTPA, IHRA, and regional motorsports venues. The brand traces its heritage to the 1965 Kendall GT-1 ("the green oil"), was reintroduced as Brad Penn PennGrade 1 in 2001, and was acquired by D-A Lubricant Company in 2015, when it was rebranded PennGrade 1 while retaining the original formulation.

Revenue is generated through one-time unit sales across viscosity grades and packaging sizes, with pricing not publicly disclosed. The company is privately held with no external institutional investors, no parent company, and no disclosed funding history. The current executive team includes John Noal as Executive Vice President of D-A Lubricant Company.

Name

PennGrade 1

Legal name

D-A Lubricant Company, Inc.

Website

https://penngrade1.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1919

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

PennGrade 1, a brand of family-owned D-A Lubricant Company (est. 1919) in Lebanon, Indiana, manufactures high-performance motor oils combining Pennsylvania Grade crude base stocks with high-zinc ZDDP chemistry for classic car, muscle car, hot rod, and racing engine enthusiasts, distributed via dealer network and direct e-commerce.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

NAICS

Petroleum Lubricating Oil and Grease Manufacturing (324191), Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing (3241)

SIC

Miscellaneous Products Of Petroleum & Coal (2990), Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890)

akta.pro primary industry

Automotive Lubricants (PCMO, HDMO, ATF, Gear Oils, Coolants) (EUALAJAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Lubricant Additives & Performance Chemicals (EUALAJAB), Greases & Specialty Lubricants (Greases, Pastes, Chain Oils, Silicone/Fluoro) (EUALAJAJ)

Keywords

• High performance motor oil
• Racing engine lubricants
• Classic car oil
• High-zinc ZDDP lubricants
• Synthetic blend oils

Headquarters

HQ city

Lebanon

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

Revenue model

1. High Performance Motor Oil Sales: PennGrade 1® generates revenue through the sale of high-performance motor oils including synthetic blends, full synthetics, diesel oils, motorcycle oils, gear lubricants, and greases. Products are sold through direct e-commerce (penngrade1shop.com), dealer network, and bulk packaging (quarts, 55-gallon drums, cases).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

PennGrade 1 manufactures and sells high-performance motor oils and lubricants formulated with Pennsylvania Grade crude base oil and high-zinc/high-phosphorus (ZDDP) additive chemistry. The product line is targeted at racing enthusiasts, classic and muscle car owners, hot rod builders, and professional engine builders seeking flat-tappet and high-RPM protection. Offerings span partial synthetic blends, full synthetic motor oils, break-in oils, racing-specific formulations, diesel lubricants, motorcycle oils, gear lubricants, and greases.

Product overview

PennGrade 1® is a high-performance motor oil company offering a comprehensive portfolio of racing and performance lubricants. The product line consists of three core offerings: (1) Synthetic Blend High Performance Oils including The Original Green Oil® (partial synthetic with high-zinc/ZDDP protection for classic, muscle, and flat tappet engines) available in multi-viscosity (5W-30, 10W-30, 10W-40, 15W-40, 20W-50) and monograde (SAE 30, 40, 50, 60) formulations; (2) Full Synthetic High Performance Oils engineered for modern high-output engines in viscosities 0W-20, 0W-40, 5W-30, 5W-40, 5W-50, and 15W-50; and (3) specialty products including Break-In Oil SAE 30, Nitro 70 racing oil, Heavy Duty Diesel Engine Oils (Reliant Premium HDEO SAE 15W-40), Motorcycle Oils (V2 4-Stroke SAE 10W-40 and 20W-50), Gear Lubricants (Limited Slip GL-5, Classic GL-4, and FS Hypoid Gear/Blower Racing Lube), Greases (Titan Blue Premium Lithium Grease #2), Brad Penn Security Non Detergent Motor Oil, and Brad Penn Engine Assembly Lubricant. The company traces its heritage to the original Kendall GT-1 "green oil" introduced in 1965, later known as Brad Penn PennGrade 1, and now as PennGrade 1 under D-A Lubricant Company ownership since 2015.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PennGrade 1: High-performance motor oil line for classic cars, muscle cars, hot rods, and racing applications, including The Original Green Oil synthetic blend products.
• PennGrade

Quantifiable outcome

• Typical 1,500 ppm zinc and 1,400 ppm phosphorus content
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Royal Purple: Royal Purple manufactures high-performance synthetic motor oils and lubricants targeting racing, hot rod, and performance enthusiasts with a similar premium positioning. The closest direct competitor to PennGrade 1 in the synthetic performance oil category.
• Lucas Oil: Lucas Oil is a major producer of performance motor oils, additives, and racing lubricants with deep NHRA and motorsports sponsorship. It directly competes with PennGrade 1 in the racing/performance oil category and pursues a similar ambassador-driven GTM.
• Red Line Oil: Red Line manufactures synthetic motor oils, gear oils, and assembly lubes focused on racing and high-performance street applications. A direct niche competitor to PennGrade 1 in synthetic racing oils and specialty lubricants.
• Driven Racing Oil (Joe Gibbs): Driven Racing Oil targets break-in, racing, and performance engine applications with proprietary additive chemistry. Directly comparable to PennGrade 1's Break-In Oil, Nitro 70, and high-zinc performance product lines.
• Amsoil: Amsoil is a leading synthetic motor oil manufacturer with a strong enthusiast/racing customer base and direct-to-consumer distribution model. Competes with PennGrade 1 in synthetic performance oils and shares a similar specialty-channel GTM.
• VP Racing Fuels: VP Racing sells racing fuels, motor oils, and performance lubricants targeting racers and motorsports professionals. Overlaps with PennGrade 1 in racing oil and specialty lubricant segments, particularly Nitro 70 and Break-In Oil.
• Klotz Synthetic Lubricants: Klotz is a specialty manufacturer of synthetic lubricants for racing, powersports, and marine applications. A smaller-scale direct peer with comparable product breadth in niche racing and powersport lubrication, including 2-stroke and 4-stroke oils.

Broad incumbents

• Valvoline: Valvoline is a major motor oil manufacturer with a broad portfolio spanning consumer, commercial, and performance segments. Their VR1 racing oil and high-zinc heritage products overlap with PennGrade 1's positioning, though they serve a much wider market.
• Castrol (BP): Castrol is a global motor oil incumbent with the EDGE and GTX performance lines. While mass-market, its high-performance synthetic products compete indirectly with PennGrade 1's full synthetic line for modern high-output engines.
• Mobil 1 (ExxonMobil): Mobil 1 is the dominant synthetic motor oil brand globally, with deep motorsports partnerships (NASCAR). Competes with PennGrade 1's full synthetic line as a major incumbent, though its API-certified chemistry excludes the classic/racing niche PennGrade 1 serves.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@penngrade1
• Facebookfacebook.com/penngrade
• Xx.com/penngrade
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/penngrade-motor-oil

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PennGrade 1