Benefits of High Mileage Oil
Are you wondering whether you need a high mileage oil? If yes, don't worry since this question has popped up in many people's heads. If you go on the internet and search for high-mileage oil, you will see many different options.
You might see various ads, pricing options, different types of oils, and whatnot. The problem is that you won't find much information that helps understand what high mileage motor oils are and how they impact the performance of different cars.
This guide aims to help you get sound knowledge about the high mileage motor oils and their effect on your car's performance. We will tell you about conventional motor oil, synthetic high mileage oil, and various other oils. Let's start by understanding what high-mileage motor oil is.
What Does High Mileage Motor Oils Consists?
Many people think that there is a specific guideline that defines what a high mileage motor oil is. That is not the case since there is no standardized definition for a high mileage motor oil. However, the viscosity of the oil is a good indicator when choosing. You can switch to a high mileage motor oil for high performance.
As a general rule, remember road vehicles last around 300,000 or even 400,000 miles. The technology in a new vehicle today helps it go even further.
Moreover, it is general knowledge that the highway mile will differ from city miles since there will be more stops in the car.
If your car shows 75,000 miles on the dashboard when driving in the city, it will wear down as much as the car's engine that traveled more than 150,000 miles on the highway. The crucial factor is how you drive your car and how well you have maintained your vehicle's engine.
This might be the right point to switch towards a high-mileage motor oil, but many people can tend to change it after the 150,000 miles. To be safe, you should switch to the high mileage oils after reaching 75,000 miles.
You can also check the owner's manual to know the right mileage for the oil change. Bear in mind that the manufacturer might tell you about the viscosity grade or other performance indicators, but it won't tell you when to switch to a high mileage oil.
So, this is something that you can decide on your own for your car. If you want optimal performance from your car and maximum protection to save your engine, you should go for high mileage oil soon.
How Often Should you Change the High Mileage Motor Oils in your Engine?
You might hear different opinions about when you should change the high mileage motor oils in your engine. These opinions might confuse a vehicle owner. You might find it challenging to know when it's the right time for the oil change in your engine.
Some say the frequent oil change will keep the engine running smoothly. It will improve the engine's mileage since the loose tolerance will make room for soot ingression.
Nevertheless, the engine must be well maintained, and the oil change service should occur after some time.
Also, there are some factors that you need to consider to know if the high mileage oil change intervals can be longer. Here is how you can check it:
If the engine is burning oil more quickly than the average speed or if you have added the oil at small intervals, then you should not delay your oil change. Old-age vehicles are more likely to burn more oil with time.
If you perform a compression test and the results show that your engine is losing pressure, it is best to go for an oil change. Vehicle owners should not delay the oil change in this scenario.
If your vehicle does not have a quality air filter, it is best to go for the scheduled oil changes. Delaying it will significantly affect the engine's performance and life.
Different Types of Motor Oil That You Can Choose For Your Car?
Now that you have a sound understanding of the high mileage oils let's go over some types of motor oil you can add to your car. Remember that each of them offers different protection levels for your engine. You can choose the one that is suitable for your car's engine.
Synthetic Motor Oil
On top of the list, we have synthetic motor oil, which is a top choice for many vehicle owners globally.
Synthetic motor oil is an artificial oil made from various chemical compounds. The scientists used different formulations with these chemical compounds to create synthetic oil.
One of the things that help synthetic oil to stand out from conventional ones is that you can get superior protection for your vehicle's engine. Going for a synthetic oil can open you to various advantages, such as:
Better resistance to oxidation thermal breakdown
Higher viscosity grade
Lower evaporative loss
No sludge problems
Superior low and high-temperature performance
In a nutshell, synthetic oil can keep your engine as good as new. If you have an older vehicle indicating that your engine is not performing correctly, you should go for synthetic oils.
Synthetic Blend Motor Oil
If you think synthetic oils are a bit too expensive, then you can go for the synthetic blend option. As you can tell by the name, the synthetic blend combines traditional oil with full synthetic oils.
Your engine can get better care than using conventional oil at budget-friendly pricing. However, you won't get the same protection from the blend motor oil as the full synthetic motor oil.
If you categorize full synthetic motor oil, synthetic blend, and conventional, as per their quality, it will be adequate, better, and finest.
Conventional Oils
Conventional motor oils refer to the traditional oil that most car owners add. This oil is obtained from refined crude oil and is cheaper than full synthetic oil and the blend synthetic.
While a lower price might be a competitive advantage, it doesn't provide the same level of care to the engine parts as other types of oils. You would have to go for frequent oil changes since it has a lower life span.
However, it is a suitable option for older vehicles because their engines have been designed keeping the conventional motor oils in mind. So, if you have an old vehicle that requires conventional motor oils, you can choose this option.
Additives
An important thing to note is that all the base oil have some sort of additives that will improve the oil products' performance. These oil additives are particular elements that are added to the products by manufacturers, and they include:
Antioxidants
Ester ash
Viscosity index improvers
Zinc
And other additives
The lubricant producers don't disclose the exact additives they use in their motor oil to keep their proprietary formulations. Therefore, it can be difficult for you to find the elements in the motor oil.
Nevertheless, you go through its product's safety data sheet (SDS) to get a better idea of what additives are in a particular brand's motor oil.
How to Check For Oil Leaks?
One of the main problems that many people face is increased oil consumption. This issue is not associated with older vehicles since vehicles with newer engines might also witness a rise in consumption. The most probable cause of this issue is a potential leak causing the oil to drip.
Even a tiny leak can be significantly harmful to the engine's vital components, such as piston rings, valve seals, gaskets, etc.
If you use high mileage oil but continue to drip down, it won't help your vehicle. So, here are a few ways to check for potential leaks in your car.
Check for Oil Stains
The easiest way to know if there's possible oil leakage from vehicles is to check for any oil spots. You can check the lower engine parts and see if there is any oil leaking from those parts. Usually, new engines will have an amber color, and they will have a strong smell.
However, the older engines will have a dark brown to blackish color. Whether you have older engines or new ones, if your vehicle's oil color is black or dark brown, it's an indication of an oil change. Using high mileage oils will save you from the hassle of frequent changes.
Check Fluid Levels
Another way to determine if your engine oil is leaking or not is by checking the fluid levels. Vehicles with engine oil leakage are likely going to have low fluid levels. However, that does not mean that the engine oil is leaking since your vehicle's oil consumption can be high.
Vehicles that burn oil might have a higher oil consumption, causing the fluid levels to drop. It is better to get a professional expert to look at it since they can tell you about the possible issue and stop leaks if there are any.
Benefits of Using a High Mileage Oil in Cars
While you might think that a high mileage oil can cost you more than the conventional one, it is worth it. The exceptional care and benefits the high mileage oil offers your vehicle are simply unmatchable. Here are a few benefits of it:
High mileage oil brings down oil loss that is due to the burn-off
You can improve your fuel efficiency
Formulated with seal conditioners
It slows down the speed of oil leakage from worn-out seals
Ensures that the seals and other parts of the engine are in working condition
The high mileage oil is optimal for removing any sludge in the seals, or other engine parts
High mileage oil can help reduce the oil consumption of your vehicle.
It can slow down engine wear and tear.
The high mileage oil acts as a moisturizer does for your skin. It soothes up the cracked-up parts in your engine and gives the seals, piston rings, and other engine parts to function correctly.
Is it Worth Buying the High-Mileage Oils?
To enjoy an optimal driving experience, you should go for high-mileage engine oil from various brands. While the costs are higher than the other types of oil, the benefits of this high-performance oil outweigh its price.
Different brands offer products at different rates so you can choose any one you want. The most commonly used are the Castrol edge high mileage and the high mileage oil by General Motors.
You might not see a sign of leaking oil in your driveway anymore, and there would be no more rattling noise from your engine. The high mileage engine oil will reduce leaks and improve the vehicle's performance.
However, a small detail worth noting is that the high-mileage oils are not for all cars, and it is better to check the manufacturer's guidelines before investing in a high-mileage oil.
If nothing is mentioned in the guidelines, you can take the professional mechanics' opinion about it. They can check and tell about the high-mileage engines.
Wrapping Up
If you want to ensure your engine works appropriately in the long run, you should consider investing in a high-mileage oil. It will reduce oil consumption and ensure the seals and other vital components of your engine continue to work correctly.