It’s important to choose the best synthetic oil for your car to keep your engine running well. Motor oil creates a thin barrier between your engine’s moving parts. The smoother the parts move, the better the engine operates. There are many types of synthetic oils available on the market today. Spend some time learning about your options before choosing the oil that best fits your budget, vehicle, and driving style.
What Is a Synthetic Oil?
Conventional motor oil is a naturally occurring compound, whereas synthetic motor oil has been chemically altered to make it more stable at higher temperatures. It’s developed from crude oil to an engineered blend of refined petroleum and advanced additives.
What Makes Synthetic Oil Better Than Alternatives?
If you want to protect your car’s engine, it’s best to use a synthetic oil. It tends to last longer and perform better, particularly under extreme temperatures. Composed of chemical compounds, it helps protect the engine by preventing corrosion and wear. It also prevents the formation of harmful deposits inside the engine.
Alternatives include conventional oils and synthetic blends. Conventional motor oil comes from crude oil and protects your engine at a lower cost. However, it breaks down faster. Conventional oil generally lacks the detergents that keep your engine clean and prevent sludge. A synthetic blend falls between the two. It’s more affordable than synthetic oil and offers some of the same benefits. If your budget is low, this is a good choice.
Synthetic oil is the purest of the three. The best synthetic oil contains refined oil and additives. It has a longer life and ensures that your engine is fully protected between oil changes. The oil changes have longer intervals too. Synthetic oil also has a reduced environmental impact during manufacturing, which possibly improves fuel economy.
Advantages of synthetic oil, particularly with an older vehicle, include the following:
- Better protection from breakdowns
- Improved performance in higher temperatures
- Better flow in cold temperatures
What To Look For in a Synthetic Oil
If you’d like to find the ideal synthetic oil for your car, there are a few things to research and consider before making your decision.
Viscosity
Viscosity is the rate of flow at different temperatures, which can vary. The packaging displays the viscosity, where it’s represented by two numbers. The first number rates the flow at 0 degrees Fahrenheit, and the second measures it at 212 degrees Fahrenheit. Always check your vehicle’s owner’s manual to see what your engine needs.
Additives
Each brand focuses on different issues and uses individual mixes of additives to deal with things like rust, lubrication, and dirt. Some synthetic oils are great for general use in a vehicle, while others are more specific. Most of them clean and lubricate the moving parts of the engine, preventing premature wearing.
Cost
Most consumers shop for the cheapest oil, which is not always the best decision. It may be better to pay a little more for the best synthetic oil, which will enhance your vehicle’s performance, fuel efficiency, and engine wear. You’ll save money in the long run.
Label
Read the instructions on the label for the best synthetic oil for your vehicle. Look out for oils specifically designed for diesel engines, higher-mileage vehicles, or motorcycles.
The Best Synthetic Oils
Although many of the synthetic oils are better than regular oils, there are some synthetic oils that perform a lot better than others. The reason for this is that synthetic oil manufacturers have different formulations specifically made for different driving conditions and engine types. Here are some of the best synthetic oils to consider:
Mobil 1 Extended Performance Synthetic Motor Oil
This oil is more affordable and carries a range of grades from 0W-20 up to 10W-30 to suit many vehicles’ requirements. It’s formulated for longer change intervals and is reliable in all temperature environments. Mobil 1 Extended Performance offers maximum protection to your engine for between 10,000 and 20,000 miles. It’s renowned for its superb cleaning capabilities as well as its protection of your vehicle’s engine.
The oil’s special additives make it suitable for off-road drivers and those driving in smoggy cities. Mobil 1 Extended Performance is recommended for performance cars, such as the McLaren 570, the Porsche range, and the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. There are different formulations of Mobil 1 oil, so check your owner’s manual to see which version works for your vehicle.
Pennzoil Ultra Platinum Full Synthetic Motor Oil
Pennzoil’s reputation for outstanding lubrication and cleaning abilities derives from tests that showed pistons up to 35% cleaner than competitors. This results in fuel savings, lowered engine energy loss, and friction protection.
Pennzoil works on most vehicles, especially gas-powered engines, including turbocharged engines. It offers increased performance life and is made from natural gas instead of crude oil. Pennzoil claims an improved fuel economy of an extra 550 miles per year on average compared to conventional oil. It’s suited to driving on unpaved roads, carrying heavy loads, and making lots of short trips while keeping its integrity and protecting your engine. Use Pennzoil Ultra Platinum Full Synthetic 0W-40 in the Dodge Charger SRT and the Dodge Challenger SRT.
Valvoline MaxLife High Mileage Motor Oil
This is a great choice for older engines, as it’s designed for long-running gas engines with over 75,000 miles on the clock. The synthetic oil has boosted wear technology and antioxidants to avert future wear and prevent breakdown. Extra detergents clean and seal conditions to rejuvenate old and weak engine seals. Valvoline MaxLife offers about 40% more wear protection than most oils. Despite its affordable price, it performs well at both hot and cold temperatures. It’s perfect for cars, SUVs, and trucks.
Shell Rotella T6 Full Synthetic Diesel Engine Oil
Shell Rotella T6 Synthetic Diesel Oil is a great choice for diesel-powered vehicles that frequently use highways, vehicles in construction, agricultural machinery, and diesel pickup trucks. The additives protect against dust and other debris. The synthetic oil offers improved fuel economy, better heat resistance, and cleaner emissions, and it helps to prevent viscosity loss.
To dig deeper into which synthetic oil is the best, you can look at scientific tests performed on them. Several tests examine the various functions of a motor oil. With a bit of research, you can find the ideal synthetic oil for your vehicle that fits your needs and your budget.
At FIXD, our mission is to make car ownership as simple, easy, and affordable as possible. Our research team utilizes the latest automotive data and insights to create tools and resources that help drivers get peace of mind and save money over the life of their car.
