The Best Synthetic Motor Oil Brands - (New 2024)

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Today, synthetic motor oils are most commonly used to protect advanced vehicle engines, which depend on the superior chemical and shear stability properties of synthetic oil to increase engine longevity. The vast majority of commercial vehicle fleet operators depend on synthetic motor oils in their vehicles. Scientific studies show that precisely-engineered synthetic oils can improve fuel economy up to 5% or more.

Breakthroughs in technology mean that today’s synthetic motor oils can offer better thermal and viscosity stability under even extreme heat, speed and load conditions. Sometimes used to provide critical protection of sensitive engine parts in extremely cold weather starts. Today’s synthetic motor oils allow vehicle owners to safely drive all-year round via a well lubricated engine.

Our Top Recommended Best Synthetic Oil Brands of 2020

Contents

Best Affordable Option: Mobil 1 5W-30 Synthetic Motor Oil

Our best synthetic oil is this outstanding all-weather fully synthetic oil from one of the renowned names in engine lubrication manufacturing. The Mobil 1 5W-30 Synthetic delivers outstanding performance at all temperatures and is custom designed to improve engine durability and fuel economy. Carefully distilled and synthesized, the Mobil 1 5W-30 Synthetic features unparalleled thermal and oxidation stability, allowing the oil to deliver maximum lubrication throughout the entire oil change interval of the vehicle.

Pros:

Provides great protection when used in super cold conditions.
It provides the same performance on the first and last day of your vehicle’s recommended oil change interval period. You never have to worry about it breaking down and damaging sensitive engine parts.
It also works excellently in cold weather.

Cons:

Works for most personal automobiles on the market today. But it is not adequate to meet the demands of high-performance racing motors or aviation engines.

Best Value for the Money: Valvoline MaxLife SAE 5W-30

The advanced formula of Valvoline MaxLife truly earns its name, as it provides unparalleled protection against friction damage to critical engine components on high-mileage vehicles. Uses a proprietary blend of special additives. Valvoline MaxLife prevents and remove corrosive build-ups that can lead to dangerous oil burn-off or leaks. Savvy owners of high-performance vehicles depend on Valvoline MaxLife to greatly extend the longevity and enhance performance. At the same time it protects against low-temperature atmospheric conditions and cold-weather starts.

Pros:

Superior synthetic motor oil for vehicles with more miles on the odometer. It works great to prevent burn-off and leaks, and never quits even on cold starts in winter.
Reduces fuel consumption and improves fuel economy on high-performance automotive motors. Unique blend of additives and carefully-synthesized esters and emollients.

Cons:

Some vehicle owners may see reduced performance and lubrication protection if they fail to remove and replace Valvoline MaxLife.

Overall Winner: Pennzoil 550038331-3PK Ultra Platinum

Mechanics and automotive experts recognize Pennzoil Ultra Platinum for its unmatched ability to provide critical lubrication to advanced motors under even the most demanding operating conditions and temperatures. By taking advantages of distillation and synthesis technologies, it delivers outstanding oil stability and endurance. At the same time it protects high-performance engines from corrosive build-ups of sludge and contaminants.

Pros:

Capable of providing you with an additional 550 miles of operation every year.
This is a benefit that separates it from every other motor oil on the market.

Cons:

This oil has no major cons to speak of.

Choosing the Right Synthetic Motor Oil for your Vehicle

Taking care of an automobile is a trying task. There are a number of products which must be used to do it adequately, from brake fluid to car vacuums, and more. One of the most important products needed to take care of your car is motor oil. There are several different manufacturing processes used for making motor oils. All of them begin by using raw ingredients extracted from underground resources. While conventional oils are transported and then refined, synthetic oils are distilled and “cracked” into their component molecules. This process removes impurities from the crude oil. Today’s advanced chemical technologies allow engineers to re-engineer the basic molecules into precision formulas perfectly tailored to modern vehicle engines. Most major manufacturers of synthetic motor oils then carefully work to blend special additives to create the perfect oil to meet the demand of today’s high-powered engines.

The best synthetic motor oils are better able to resist more demanding atmospheric conditions, and provide much better protection in cold-weather starts than conventional motor oils. By absorbing heavy metal contaminants and sludge particles, synthetic motor oils prevent and dissolve toxic build-ups in critical engine components.

Brief History

During and immediately after the global conflict known as World War 2, the exigent needs of the combatant pushed humanity’s scientists to new heights. Breakthroughs in chemical science led to the creation of synthetic, and partially synthetic, oils. Offering a bevy of advantages over traditional refined petroleum or natural mineral oils, including greater resistance to extreme temperatures, enhanced protection against ash deposit formations in engine hot spots, and dramatic improvements in horsepower and greater torque on the engine.

By removing heat, heavy metal components and other contaminants from critical engine parts, today’s advanced synthetic motor oils protect high-performance vehicle engines from toxic build-ups of sludge and other corrosive elements. By using custom molecular formulas with enhanced high-lubrication esters, synthetic motor oils work to reduce exhaust filter blocking and can dramatically reduce wear and tear on high-performance automobile engines.

What are the different types?

Every major manufacturer uses carefully guarded corporate trade secrets to distill, refine and carefully blend their proprietary formulas. That being said, all synthetic motor oils have synthesized petroleum products. That includes modified petroleum components, instead of whole crude oil. Generally speaking, synthetic motor oil is composed of far more esters, by weight, than traditional motor oils. That dramatically increases the lubricating power of the oil.

Just as with traditional motor oils, synthetic motor oils are rated by viscosity, an industry metric that describes the oil’s change of viscosity with variations in temperature. The Society of Automotive Engineers has established the most commonly-used scale for grading motor oils according to viscosity. From low to high viscosity: 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40 and 50. The first four viscosity gradings (0, 5, 10, 15 and 25) are usually suffixed with the letter W. Use them in winter and cold climate atmospheric conditions.

Synthetic oils graded at viscosity 20 are divided into blends designed for summer or warm weather use and W20 grade oils that are better suited to cold-start conditions.

What are the Advantages of Choosing Synthetic?

Certainly not every vehicle owner is a certified mechanic and automotive repair expert, but many drivers feel comfortable regularly changing and maintaining the motor oil in their personal vehicle. Commercial garages and oil change businesses often charge expensive fees to drain and replace motor oil in vehicles, and savvy vehicle owners know that they can save money by doing the work themselves at home. Geopolitical events around the globe affect petroleum prices. Many vehicle owners know it is smart to have synthetic oil on hand in case of price or demand swings.

Synthetic motor oil can also be used for a wide variety of other lubrication needs, and is designed to withstand extreme temperature fluctuations with ease.

How Should I Store Synthetic Motor Oil?

You shouldn’t leave your synthetic motor oil in your kitchen cabinet or under your sink. The oil might leak, and be hazardous to clean up — or lead to starting a fire. Any wooden surface that you use to store your synthetic motor oil will also become stained, which can be difficult to remove.

To store synthetic motor oil, you should place it on a metal or concrete surface where there are not frequent fluctuations in temperature. You don’t want to risk your motor oil catching fire, nor do you want to place it on a surface where staining might be unacceptable.

If you decide to put your synthetic motor oil in the garage, remember to protect it from freezing in the winter. The freezing might detract from the quality of the oil.

Which Brands are Contenders for the Best on the Market?

Mobil 1 5W-30

The advanced formula of this fully synthetic motor oil from one of the leading makers of engine lubricants is custom engineered to prevent deposits and sludge build-up in automotive engines. Featuring both oxidation and thermal stability, the Mobil 1 5W-30 Synthetic is a fully synthetic oil that performs excellently even in extremely low temperature winter weather.

Valvoline MaxLife SAE 5W-30

Using recent breakthroughs in distillation technologies, the Valvoline MaxLife is custom-engineered for high-mileage vehicles, affording older motors unparalleled protection against wear on critical engine parts. Designed especially for high-performance vehicles, Valvoline MaxLife greatly reduces friction and corrosive deposits while working to prevent oil leaks.

Pennzoil 550038331-3PK Ultra Platinum

Created with PurePlus Technology, this Pennzoil synthetic motor oil is designed to have low viscosity at lower temperatures, allowing for engines to run as smoothly as possible regardless of weather conditions. Because it protects engines from a loss of power, it adds 550 miles to your car every year.

Factors to Evaluate

Viscosity

In Conclusion

Every vehicle owner knows the role that high-quality synthetic motor oils can play in increasing the longevity of today’s engines. Today’s fully synthetic oils can provide protection against corrosive build-ups of sludge and other toxic deposits inside engine parts. They do it by synthesizing custom-engineered petroleum molecules and blending them with additives. Today’s major manufacturers of synthetic oils use scientific breakthroughs to create custom formulas. They are capable of providing unparalleled lubrication protection under even the most extreme engine operating conditions.

Many motor oils are suitable for higher-mileage vehicles or older-model engines. Only Pennzoil 550038331-3PK protects critical engine parts in all weather conditions to the extent at which it does. It removes and absorbs damaging contaminants before they can form toxic build-ups in high-performance motors. This synthetic oil will perform flawlessly under even the most extreme speed, load, heat, and cold conditions.

Pennzoil’s product works to improve fuel economy by using a specially-designed formula to prevent viscosity and thermal breakdown. It provides long-lasting protection for critical engine components. Without a doubt, this offering from Pennzoil is the finest completely synthetic motor oil on the market today.