Not sure whether your car needs a high mileage oil? It’s not just you. There are more than 66 million results for “high mileage oil” on the internet. Ads, pricing choices, a few dozen brands to pick from, and tens of thousands of forum posts are all likely to be there.
Sinopec says the issue is that there wouldn’t be much information available about what makes oil “high mileage,” when it should be used, or even what the distinctions between the different brands and possibilities are. This page aims to address as many queries as possible on high mileage oil.
When should you use high mileage engine oil?
Additives and seal-enhancers in high-mileage oils help to stop leaks (both internal and external). It’s conceivable that the leakage will cease after one or two oil changes. This could lessen oil stains on your driveway and oil burning in older engines.
How do they function? O-rings, gaskets, and seals enlarge as a result of additives and seal conditioners included in high mileage lubricants. Older engine valve-guide seals may have less seepage in certain circumstances. Lower oil usage may arise from this. Many high mileage motor oils boast that they are intended to remove gunk from engines while still containing detergents.
The majority of high mileage lubricants are designed to help cars having 75,000 miles or more on them. It is ultimately up to you to decide whether to switch, but you should do your research to make the best choice. You may have mechanical issues that need to be fixed if you are suffering blowby, lack of power, cylinder slap, weird sounds, etc. A high mileage oil won’t help with these kinds of problems.
On the other side, a high mileage engine oil can be the best option for you if you have a high mileage car that has been regularly maintained and are trying to avoid additional engine wear with reasonable expectations. Just keep in mind that a high mileage oil won’t be a “magic cure” for your engine’s mechanical deterioration.
What Does High Mileage Mean?
What should be regarded as high mileage is not clearly defined. Standard road cars may go up to 300,000 or perhaps 400,000 miles using the technology that is now available.It is generally accepted that miles traveled on highways are less stressful on an engine than miles traveled in cities, and the study tends to confirm this. There are fewer starts and stops along a highway. The engine can run at its highest efficiency for extended periods of time and maintain a constant temperature.
Driving in cities is the exact opposite. As a result, an engine with 80,000 miles may have the same amount of wear as one with 150,000 miles. Everything relies on how the car has been maintained and operated.
At 200,000 miles, some individuals would think about upgrading to a high mileage oil, while others might choose to do it at 80,000 miles. Anything with more than 100,000 miles might be reasonably categorized as a high mileage car for the typical driver.
Types of High Mileage Oil
It might be difficult to identify any significant variations between various engine oils since the majority of additive packages seem to be relatively identical. The additives don’t appear to fluctuate much at all, even with high mileage oils.
The main difference is probably the amount of additives present. Specific ingredient amounts and quantities might be hard to come by since motor oil formulas are considered trade secrets. Safety data sheets often just provide a range of additive percentages, and if all the additives are inert, they may not even be listed.
Marketing plays a significant role in determining the difference between high mileage and “regular” engine oils since certain marketable additives make a variety of promises. By filling up those tiny valleys and producing smoother mechanical surfaces, the majority of these additives aim to reduce the asperities on metal surfaces.This strategy has showed promise in a number of experiments, but additional investigation is still required to ascertain the most effective method for stabilizing these nanoparticles in oil solutions.
How Frequently Should Oil Be Changed in High Mileage Engines?
Although this seems like a simple question, there may be more than one correct response. You can hear contradicting advice depending on what you read or who you listen to.According to one argument, as an engine’s mileage climbs, more frequent oil changes will be necessary since the tolerances won’t be as tight, enabling blowby and soot ingression.
The other argument is that because any break-in wear will have already happened and you won’t have to worry about voiding your warranty, you should be free to delay engine oil changes. It would be a fallacy to claim that either position is correct or incorrect.
A well-maintained engine should be able to go longer stretches between oil changes if all the recommended maintenance has been carried out. When an engine is broken in, the rough edges and tiny protrusions are polished down, making it easier for the surfaces to mate and reducing the possibility of metal-to-metal contact (assuming full-fluid separation at the operating temperature).
The only exception to this would be when there is wear on the rings and in the cylinders, which might result in blowby. A thorough oil analysis test slate may not be required if you know what you’re searching for. Finding out if your engine oil contains coolant or diluted gasoline may just need a quick blotter spot test.
Final words
Because of the backward compatibility of these new motor oil categories, putting a newer category oil on an older vehicle shouldn’t cause any problems. However, using an older service category engine oil in a modern vehicle might result in issues.It is essential to consult your owner’s handbook and adhere to the manufacturer’s guidelines for your specific car. Since no manufacturer advises this kind of oil for new vehicles, it would be unwise to use it in a car that has just been manufactured.
