The Ultimate Buyer's Guide for Purchasing High Performance Engine Oil

2 Factors To Consider While Choosing The Right Oil

Take A Look At The Manufacturer’s Manual

After conducting multiple tests on a particular engine, the engine manufacturer recommends the best suitable oil for that engine. As per the needs and requirements of the vehicle, manufacturers include additives, decrease or increase the oil’s viscosity, and suggest between conventional, synthetic, or blend oil. This oil benefits your engine in multiple ways. It enhances engine life by reducing wear, lubricating properly to help in starting the engine and maintaining suitable viscosity at operating temperature. 

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Though it is advisable to use the recommended oil for your car’s engine if you still feel the need to choose otherwise, here are some points to make an informed choice.

Different Viscosity Grades

The viscosity of a fluid is its resistance to flow. Viscosity changes with temperature. Engine oils are graded in _ _W_ _ format. W represents winter. The digits before ‘W’ are the oil viscosity when it is cold. It tells you how thick the oil is when you are starting your car after it stays outside on a cold winter night. It varies from 0 to 25 by the steps of 5. For example, 25W oil is more viscous and thicker than 0W oil at a low temperature of -10 degrees. The most common oil grades for modern vehicles are from 0W to 15W.

Pro Tip- A rule of thumb is that if you subtract (-35) from the viscosity grade, you will get the minimum temperature that an oil can tolerate. For example, If you have 5W motor oil, it can tolerate low temperatures up to -30 degrees.

More than 80% of the engine wear occurs during the cold start, because of the delay in lubrication. It takes a small fraction of the time for oil pressure to build up and lubricates all the parts of the engine. The time taken by 0W grade oil to reach the optimal pressure and lubricate the components is less in comparison to other grades. The use of lower grades in this situation will help to extend the life of the car’s engine.

The digits after ‘W’ are called the higher temperature grade and can vary from 8 to 60. These digits show the different viscosity of the engine oil at the car’s operating temperature. Lower numbers indicate thinner oil or lower viscosity and higher numbers indicate thicker oil or higher viscosity. It means W60 is far more viscous and thicker than W8 at an operating temperature of 90 degrees. The most common grades for modern vehicles are from 16 to 40. In order to enhance the fuel economy of cars, many car brands began to use motor oils with lower viscosity grades. If the oil is less viscous and thinner, it requires less energy to pump and push it through the engine block and requires less fuel.

Pro Tip- It is recommended to opt for the suggested high-temperature grade by the owner’s manual as reducing this gradient can cause significant damage to the engine. 

It is better to choose 5W-30 over 10W-30 if you use your vehicle for short distances, as your car’s engine is exposed to cold conditions the majority of the time. Also, it will enhance the economy of your car because 5W-30 will flow smoothly and requires less power and less fuel than 10W-30 in cold conditions.

Performance Level

Every car engine oil is designed with hundreds of specifications and technical details.  Two broad international specifications we need to look at, as it covers the majority of minor specifications. These two international specifications are ACEA and API.

ACEA (European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association)- This association unites Europe’s 16 major car, truck, van, and bus makers to set tested standards for oil manufacturers of European cars.

API (American Petroleum Institute)- This association certifies those oil manufacturers who match the set tested standards for American vehicles.

So when you see the above acronyms on the engine oil bottle, rest assured that it has been certified by experts. 

Pro Tip- Always choose the right oil from a brand that displays the starburst symbol that indicates the oil has been tested by American Petroleum Institute (API). 

Types Of Engine Oil

Engine oils can be classified into five categories based on their manufacturing processes. These are-

Full Synthetic Oil – This oil flows better at low temperatures and reaches peak viscosity at high temperatures. This oil is mainly formulated in a laboratory and hence highly purified. That is why it also costs more. It is considered suitable for heavy-duty vehicles.

Semi-synthetic Oil – This oil is a blend of organic and synthetic oil. As it offers protection against high temperatures and heavier engine loads, it is suitable for SUVs.

High-Mileage Oil – This oil is formulated using additives to the base oil to ensure high mileage for old cars to sustain longer.

Conventional Oil – These oils are created by adding the least additives to the base oil hence, they have the lowest cost among all. These oils are likely to contain impurities and can cause sludge build-up. They are not suitable for high-performance vehicles. Easily available at every auto shop.

Premium Conventional Oil – These oils are available in multiple viscosities to cover a large group of vehicles. These are suitable for light-duty vehicles.

These tips will be very handy when purchasing engine oil. Enjoy!

Motor oil represents an important fluid for your vehicle, but different oils provide varying levels of performance and protection. Many drivers turn to high-performance synthetic motor oil to protect their engines from risks and maintain smooth operation because modern engines operate under increased demands.

Synthetic oil offers improved performance under extreme temperatures and heavy driving conditions, while it has a longer lifespan than standard motor oil.

This article provides information on synthetic motor oil, including its benefits for your engine and tips for selecting the best product for your vehicle.

What Is High-Performance Synthetic Motor Oil?

Regular oil comes from the ground. This oil goes through cleaning and processing before it enters bottles. The production of high-performance synthetic motor oil takes place in a laboratory. Scientists create synthetic motor oil from chemical compounds that demonstrate increased stability and cleanliness and perform well under demanding engine conditions.

A AAA report shows synthetic oils can decrease engine wear by up to 47% when compared to conventional oils.

Better oil prevents nearly half of the potential engine damage.

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Why It Matters for Your Vehicle

Using the right oil helps your car: 

• Start easier 
• Run more efficiently 
• Avoid damage during stop-and-go driving 
• Handle extreme heat or cold 
• Save fuel over time 

High-performance synthetic motor oil is often recommended for:

• Turbocharged or high-performance engines 
• Vehicles driven in hot or cold weather 
• Vehicles that pull trailers or transport heavy loads
• People who want fewer oil changes 

Step 1: Check Your Car Owner’s Manual

Begin by looking through the manual provided with your vehicle. The vehicle manual specifies the correct oil viscosity and type.

Oil viscosity types will display as labels such as 5W-30 or 0W-20 on your vehicle.

What does this mean?

• The initial number in front of the “W” indicates the oil’s performance during cold starts.
• The number following the ‘W’ indicates an oil’s performance at high temperatures.

Use the oil your vehicle specifies as 5W-30 since it requires that particular match. High-performance synthetic motor oil provides no benefit if you use the wrong type.

Step 2: Understand Full Synthetic vs. Synthetic Blend 

Motor oils fall into two primary synthetic categories.

Full Synthetic:

• Made entirely in labs 
• Best for protection and performance 
• This oil performs excellently under extreme temperatures, both hot and cold.
• Higher cost, but lasts longer 

Synthetic Blend:

• A mix of synthetic and regular oil 
• Cheaper than full synthetic 
• Offers better protection than conventional oil 
• Good for light or moderate use 

Full synthetic oil tends to be the better choice for newer vehicles and those driven under tough conditions. A synthetic blend oil provides better performance than regular oil, yet lacks full synthetic oil benefits.

Step 3: Check for Industry Certifications 

The bottle label should display industry certifications when selecting oil for purchase. These labels demonstrate that the oil conforms to government quality specifications.

Look for: 

• The American Petroleum Institute has approved the API “donut” symbol.
• ILSAC GF-6 certified oil delivers fuel efficiency benefits while safeguarding contemporary engine systems
• Dexos required by General Motors 
• ACEA ratings for European vehicles 

These labels demonstrate the oil’s successful completion of essential quality tests. The absence of these certifications can indicate that the oil might endanger your engine.

Step 4: Match the Oil to Your Driving Needs 

Different drivers need different oil features. Select oil based on your driving patterns using the following guidelines:

Daily Driving 

Driving daily requires an oil that prevents wear while keeping your engine clean. Most full synthetics meet this need. 

Short Trips or City Driving 

Driving short distances frequently can prevent your engine from reaching its full operating temperature. When you drive short distances frequently, your engine might not reach optimal operating temperature, so choose an oil that flows well during cold starts, such as 0W-20 or 5W-30.

Hot Weather or Heavy Loads 

When towing or carrying heavy loads, or if you live in a hot environment, choose an oil with higher viscosity, such as 10W-40. This protects your engine from heat damage. 

High-performance synthetic motor oil withstands these pressure levels without rapid deterioration.

Step 5: Follow the Correct Oil Change Schedule 

No matter how superior the oil is, you must use it regularly. The mileage before high-performance synthetic motor oil requires replacement ranges from 7,500 to 10,000 miles, depending on driving habits.

To stay safe: 

• Follow your car’s service manual 
• Pay attention to oil change notifications displayed on your car dashboard.
• Inspect your vehicle’s oil level and appearance every few weeks.
• You must change the oil filter whenever you perform an oil change
• Performance of the oil decreases when the filter becomes clogged, regardless of its freshness.

Step 6: Consider High-Mileage Synthetic Oils for Older Cars 

Cars that have surpassed 75,000 miles might perform better with synthetic oil formulated for older engines. These oils help: 

• Reduce oil leaks 
• Keep seals soft 
• Lower engine wear 
• Prevent deposits 

High-mileage synthetic motor oil delivers enhanced performance through special additives that shield aging engine components while ensuring smooth operation.

Recommended Oil Change Intervals for Synthetic Oil 

Manufacturers advise replacing synthetic oil after 6,000 miles of driving or every six months, depending on which one happens sooner. New synthetic oils can endure up to 10,000 miles in engines that feature recent advancements and improved filtration systems. The owner’s manual contains the exact oil change schedule you should follow.

Driving conditions matter. Frequent short trips or towing heavy loads along with stop-and-go traffic can cause the vehicle’s oil to degrade more quickly, which means it needs to be changed more often. A clean oil supply helps your engine maintain peak performance while ensuring its longevity. 

Signs an Oil Change Is Needed 

• Oil looks dark or dirty 
• The engine operates with rough performance or generates excessive noise during operation.
• Oil warning light turns on 

Final Thoughts: 

Selecting the appropriate motor oil should not present any confusion. Understanding your car’s requirements and the meaning of labels makes your decision straightforward.

Choose high-performance synthetic motor oil for superior engine protection and cleaner performance while reducing the frequency of oil changes.

Using quality oil leads to superior engine performance, which reduces your stress levels.

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