Best Motor Oil

Motor oil, also known as engine oil, plays a crucial role in making sure that the car engine is running smoothly. Though a motor oil itself is not very expensive, it plays an important and multifaceted role in keeping the engine running smoothly. The motor oil being used affects the life of the engine of the car, the fuel economy and many more things. Hence it is very important to choose the correct motor oil for your car. After much searching, the top pick was chosen to be Mobil 1 (120766) Extended Performance 5W-30 Motor Oil. The Mobil 1 Extended Performance Motor Oil is a synthetic motor oil which keeps the engine running like new and protects the engine for up to 15,000 miles between oil changes. The high performance motor oil is suitable for cars, vans as well as light trucks and has a unique design which makes sure that the motor oil provides exceptional levels of engine protection, cleaning power and performance, even when the duration between motor oil change exceeds the recommended time. If you are willing to spend a little more money, then you can buy the Pennzoil 550040834 Platinum Euro SAE 5W-40 Full Synthetic Motor Oil. The Pennzoil Platinum Euro SAE 5W-40 Full Synthetic Motor Oil is made using the PurePlus Technology, which has been patented by Pennzoil. This gas-to-liquid process converts natural gas into high-quality full synthetic base oil. To this oil is added high performance additives to produce the Platinum Euro SAE 5W-40 Full Synthetic Motor Oil, to completely protect the engine without making any compromises. If your budget for the motor oil is not that high, you can buy the Valvoline 782256 MaxLife SAE 5W-30 High Mileage Motor Oil. The Valvoline MaxLife is specially formulated to fight against the four enemies of the car engine which can cause the engine to break down. Due to the advanced synthetic blend formulation, the Valvoline MaxLife provides boosted protection from wear, seal conditioners which are specially designed, detergents and anti-oxidant additives which increases the life of the car engine.

Reasons for using motor oil

According to an article on the website Cars.com during a routine maintenance stop, changing the oil of the car is one of the most cheap services that can be done, but it is also one of the most necessary things that can be done, as neglecting to regularly change the oil of the car would result in the requirement of spending large sums of money to fix problems in the car in the future. Motor oil, also known as the engine oil, performs three key functions in an internal combustion engine, which is present in the cars of today. The first function of the motor oil is to facilitate the smooth working in tandem of the various engine components. The second function of the motor oil is to act as a heat sink. Inside an internal combustion engine, thousands of controlled detonations are happening every minute, and hence the inside of the engine can get very hot. The motor oil keeps the engine cool by carrying this heat away from the combustion chamber. This third function of the motor oil is to act as a barrier in the accumulation of carbon particles and varnishes in the engine.

The API Certification

The American Petroleum Institute (API) is the only national trade association in the United States that takes care of all aspects of the natural gas and oil industry. The API conducts or sponsors research into everything from economic analyses to toxicological testing into the various sectors of the vast industry. According to the API website, the Engine Oil Licensing and Certification System (EOLCS) is a certification and licensing program that classifies the different engine oil brands available in the market by authorizing the manufacturing company to use the API Engine Quality Oil Marks on their products provided that certain specified requirements are met. The performance requirements and tests being performed on the different brand of engine oils are established by the American Society of the International Association for Testing and Materials (ASTM), Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and the American Chemistry Council (ACC). The organization continuously monitors and, if necessary, enforces the regulations to make sure that once a particular brand of oil has met the necessary regulations for the first time, it continues to do so down the road. The monitoring process constitutes the running of physical, chemical and performance tests on the licensed engine oils and ensuring proper display of the API-registered marks on containers so that the consumers know exactly what the are buying.

According to the Motor Oil Matters flier there are five different types of API certifications available for the different motor oils available on the market.

The motor oils designed for cars, vans and light trucks that have gasoline engines come under the API’s “S” (Service) category and the motor oils designed for heavy-duty trucks and other vehicles with diesel engines are classified as the “C” (Commercial) category. The viscosity grade of an oil is a measurement of the ability of the motor oil to flow at certain temperatures. Every vehicle has a SAE oil viscosity level that is recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. The conserving of resources and energy is mainly for the motor oils intended to be used in vehicles powered by gasoline engines. A widespread use of these categories of motor oils are desirable as it would lead to lower consumption of fuel for the whole fleet of these vehicles. Some motor oils that have been designed for vehicles running on diesel engines could also be equally effective for gasoline-powered vehicles. These oils are designated a “C” category first followed by an “S” category. Motor oils with a “CI-4 PLUS” designation have been designed to provide a higher level of protection against viscosity increase due to the development of soot and the loss of viscosity due to the shear in diesel engine.

Types of motor oil

There are four basic varieties of motor oil, according to

The Top Pick

The Top Pick: Mobil 1 (120766) Extended Performance 5W-30 Motor Oil

Mobil 1 (120766) Extended Performance 5W-30 Motor Oil
The advanced full synthetic formula of the motor oil maximizes the life of the car engine by preventing the buildup of sludge and other deposits. Your car engine will be protected from wear under any conditions, mild or severe, thanks to the lubrication the oil provides to the engine. Before you need to change the oil, the Mobil 1 Extended Performance 5W-30 Motor Oil will protect your car engine for up to 15,000 miles or one year, whichever comes first. The motor oil provides exceptional control of oil breakdown and helps to keep the viscosity of the oil stable. As a result, the motor oil provides excellent thermal and oxidation stability. The motor oil maximizes the life of the engine and will have no compatibility issues with engine seals. This oil is an excellent choice if you are someone who lives in a cold weather. The motor oil enables the car engine to start quickly even in low temperatures, which makes sure that the engine is not damaged due to starting problems at low temperatures. This also means that the stress on the car engine will be less, even when you are staying at a place with low temperatures. The 5W-30 viscosity grade meets or exceeds the requirements of Honda HTO-06, Ford WSSM2C946-A, ILSAC GF-5 and many other standards and is approved by the General Motors dexos1 and meets the quality level of General Motors 4718M, General Motors 6094M and API CF so you can rest assured knowing that your car engine is in safe hands.

The Runner Up: Pennzoil 550040834 Platinum Euro SAE 5W-40 Full Synthetic Motor Oil

Pennzoil 550040834 Platinum Euro SAE 5W-40 Full Synthetic Motor Oil
The Pennzoil Platinum Euro SAE 5W-40 Full Synthetic Oil is manufactured using the PurePlus Technology, which is a manufacturing process patented by Pennzoil. Using this process, the base oil for the motor oil is manufactured from natural gas instead of crude oil, which is the natural choice for many of the other motor oil manufacturers. The use of natural gas results in a base oil that is crystal clear compared to the traditional motor oil, which contains many of the impurities that is found in crude oil. The Pennzoil Platinum Euro is then formed by adding high quality additives to this already clear base oil, which ends up in a motor oil that provides unparalleled protection without any compromise. The clear motor oil helps keep the pistons of the engine clear and provides a better fuel economy compared to other motor oils. On average, an engine using this oil will drive 550 miles further compared to a dirty engine. The motor oil helps the engine in safeguarding its power, provides excellent protection from friction and hence makes sure that the engine does not wear out very fast, and provides a faster flow of oil even at low temperatures. The Pennzoil Platinum Euro SAE 5W-40 can be used in gasoline engines as well as in engines with light diesel applications. This motor oil meets or exceeds the performance requirements of API SN/CF and ACEA A3/B3-10, A3/B4-10. Luxury car makers such as BMW, Porsche, VW, Ferrari and Maserati recommends the use of this motor oil in their cars.

This product is specially designed for European cars running on North American roads (hence the Euro in the name). The Pennzoil Platinum Euro Synthetic Oil is almost the only motor oil that is recommended by Ferrari.

The inexpensive but robust choice: Valvoline 782256 MaxLife SAE 5W-30 High Mileage Motor Oil

Valvoline 782256 MaxLife SAE 5W-30 High Mileage Motor Oil
The Valvoline MaxLife High Mileage Motor Oil protects the engine of the car from the four perils, leaks, friction, deposits and sludge. Ashless anti-wear agents protects the engine from wearing out pre-maturely, and the special seal conditioners present in the oil help in preventing leaks from the engine by restoring the seal present in the engine. This also helps in reducing the amount of sludge and other deposits in the engine, as leaked oil is the main culprit in forming these deposits. The Valvoline MaxLife High Mileage Motor Oil has additional friction-reducing additives which results in a reduction of abrasion within the engine ultimately leading to an increase in fuel efficiency. The Valvoline MaxLife High Mileage Motor Oil, as the name implies, is specifically formulated to meet the needs of cars as they travel past 75,000 miles. But this motor oil is not only for the cars that have travelled long distances, but can be used with newer model cars as well. The special formula that keeps the old cars running can be utilized in the newer vehicles to make sure that the problems associated with old cars does not show up in the newer cars in the first place. Valvoline is a very trusted name in the field of automobiles. The MaxLife High Mileage Motor Oil certainly does justice to the name. We would even recommend this oil to other vehicle owners who want their vehicle engines to last a long time.

For less oil change: Liqui Moly 2041 Premium 5W-40 Synthetic Motor Oil

Liqui Moly 2041 Premium 5W-40 Synthetic Motor Oil
The Liqui Moly Synthetic Motor Oil is especially formulated for vehicles which would need to run for a long time with not much time for changing oils in between. This fully synthetic motor oil can be used for all seasons, even in low temperatures the motor oil is capable of providing instant lubrication. The Liqui Moly Synthetic Motor Oil will help you save fuel because of the advanced formula of the lubricants that have been added in the oil, which provides less friction in the engine and keeps the engine clean. The motor oil has been tested to be safe with catalytic converters, turbochargers, multi-valve arrangements, variable cam and timing configurations, supercharging, intercooling, which are features present in the engines of many of the modern vehicles, and is found to exceed the requirements of all the major European car manufacturers. The oil reduces emission from the car due to a reduction in the amount of fuel, which makes the car more environmentally friendly. We were very pleased with the performance that this motor oil seems to provide.

The powerful motor oil: Castrol 03087 EDGE Extended Performance 5W-30 Synthetic Motor Oil

Castrol 03087 EDGE Extended Performance 5W-30 Synthetic Motor Oil
The Castrol EDGE Extended Performance Synthetic Motor Oil has the power to maintain a stable viscosity for the motor oil even under extreme force of the vehicle engine. This enables the motor oil to provide protection for the vehicle engine for an interval of up to 15,000 miles. The Castrol EDGE Extended Performance Synthetic Motor Oil has the Fluid Titanium Technology which protects the critical engine parts, and hence optimizes the performance of the engine. The titanium additive in the oil provides protection of the engine from wear, thus maximizing the life of the engine. The Castrol Synthetic Motor Oil meets the performance requirements of GM dexos1, Chrysler MS6395, Ford WSS-M2C929-A, Ford WSS-M2C946-A and Honda HTO-06. We have happily discovered that there has been performance improvements after we started to use this motor oil. We have used this oil in very low temperatures and have discovered no problems in keeping car engines running. Even though the Castrol Synthetic Motor Oil is capable of protecting your car engine without an oil change for up to 15,000 miles, Castrol recommends that you follow the car manufacturer’s prescribed interval of oil change just so that the terms of warranty of your vehicle is not violated. Castrol also recommends changing your motor oil sooner if your vehicle is used for heavy-duty applications like racing, frequent towing and hauling, for commercial applications, in very dirty or dusty environment or if your vehicle is left to idle for a very long time.

The clean motor oil: Pennzoil 550038330 Ultra Platinum 5W-20 Full Synthetic Motor Oil

Pennzoil 550038330 Ultra Platinum 5W-20 Full Synthetic Motor Oil
The Pennzoil Ultra Platinum 5W-20 Full Synthetic Motor Oil is made from natural gas compared to the other synthetic motor oils, which are usually made from crude oil. The process via which this is achieved is called PurePlus Technology, a manufacturing process that has been patented by Pennzoil. The base of the motor oil achieved by this means provides complete protection of the engine. The motor oil keeps the pistons 25 percent cleaner compared to the next leading synthetic motor oil and lets you drive an average of 55 miles more on the city roads and the highway. The Pennzoil Full Synthetic Motor Oil consistently has a lower viscosity at low temperatures (-13捌 to -40捌) which translates into less effort required by the vehicle engine to pump oil even at such low temperatures. Compared with using other API Group II and Group III base oils, the Pennzoil Ultra Platinum Full Synthetic Motor Oil results in better viscosity control even under severe oxidative test conditions. The motor oil provides protection even under extreme heat and has the SN/GF-5 certification.

For outdoor power equipment: Briggs & Stratton 30W Engine Oil

Briggs & Stratton 30W Engine Oil
The Briggs & Stratton Engine Oil is specifically formulated for outdoor power equipment engines, such as lawn mowers, and other small 4 cycle engines. This engine oil will protect the engine from wear, even under the most severe operating conditions. The use of syntetic oil gives the small engine better fluidity at low temperatures, better thermal and oxidation stability, lower volatility, and better wear and deposit control. Ultimately this results in a reduction in risk of equipment failure, provides a long term durability for the engine, reduces maintenance cost and extends the service life of the equipment. The Briggs & Stratton Engine Oil is warranty certified for most of the outdoor power equipment that are available today. Our customers had lawn mowers which was fitted with a Briggs & Stratton engine, for which the Briggs & Stratton Engine Oil is the recommended product. If you have lawn mowers with engines from other manufacturers, you do not necessarily need this particular engine oil, any SAE 30 engine oil will do. The critics of the Briggs & Stratton Engine Oil were mostly skeptical about the price of this product, and some have had found oil leaking from the container when they had received it via the mail.

Improved performance of any engine: Royal Purple 51530 API-Licensed SAE 5W-30 High Performance Synthetic Motor Oil

Royal Purple 51530 API-Licensed SAE 5W-30 High Performance Synthetic Motor Oil
The Royal Purple High Performance Synthetic Motor Oil has a combination of premium base oil and other additives to produce a motor oil that optimizes engine performance. The motor oil is licensed by the American Petroleum Institute (API) so you can use this product with peace of mind. The Royal Purple High Performance Synthetic Motor Oil can be used in both gasoline and diesel-powered engines. This synthetic motor oil meets the warranty requirements for most of the passenger cars and light trucks that are sold in North America today, so you can use this oil in your vehicle without giving much thought to whether the oil will be compatible for your particular vehicle model. When changing the oil of your vehicle to Royal Purple High Performance Synthetic Motor Oil, no special procedures are required. If you are trying to replace the oil in a new gasoline or diesel engine, Royal Purple recommends waiting for the first oil change as prescribed by the manufacturer before putting this motor oil inside the engine.

For triple protection of your car engine: Rotella 550019913 T Triple Protection CJ-4 15W-40 Motor Oil

Rotella 550019913 T Triple Protection CJ-4 15W-40 Motor Oil
The Rotella Triple Protection Motor Oil provides triple action for the engine of your vehicle. It helps to control wear, reduce the amount of deposits in the engine and reduce emissions from the engine. This helps the engine to continually adapt to the changing needs of the engine for protection, whether on the highway or off. In experiments performed on late-model engines, it was observed that the wear of the vehicle engine was 38 percent lower compared to other motor oils in the engine, when the vehicles were driven for 40 million miles. The Rotella Triple Protection Motor Oil works well for both older and newer model engines. The motor oil has 30 percent increased active ashless chemistry to protect against deposits and sludge and by utilizing modern multi-component chemistry, the Rotella Triple Protection Motor Oil is capable of providing protection for turbocharged and non-turbocharged engines alike.

For the motorcycle: Mobil 1 96936 20W-50 V-Twin Synthetic Motorcycle Motor Oil

Mobil 1 96936 20W-50 V-Twin Synthetic Motorcycle Motor Oil
The Mobil 1 Synthetic Motorcycle Motor Oil has been scientifically engineered for use in four-cycle V-Twin engines in motorcycles, especially those that tend to turn hotter than regular engines and needs to be cooled by air and which run on the toughest of roads. This engine oil has been designed to provide proper protection from frictional characteristics that are normally found in wet-clutch common engine/transmission systems. The Synthetic motorcycle Motor Oil helps to resist the viscosity shear down in high performance engines, reduce the chances of oxidation and degradation of the engine at high temperatures, and assists the engine in maintaining maximum power and acceleration over the lifetime of the engine. The exceptional protection against engine and transmission wear helps to reduce the wear of the engine at startup.

Conclusion

The motor oil is a very important component of any vehicle, and our top pick, the Mobil 1 (120766) Extended Performance 5W-30 Motor Oil will be suitable for most people. Changing the motor oil is an inexpensive thing to do if you are getting it done at an automobile servicing shop, or a relatively easy thing to do if you are doing it all by yourself. Regardless, when you are changing the motor oil, you have to find out if the vehicle manufacturer wants you to use any specific brand of motor oil, because using any other brand might violate the terms of the manufacturer warranty. Even though some motor oil manufacturers claim that their motor oil will last a long distance without requiring a change, it is always a good practice to see what the vehicle manufacturer thinks is the best duration between oil changes, and follow that recommendation.