High Mileage Oil vs Synthetic Blend
Just as in humans, even cars have their own hearts which is the engine without which they would not function. Over time and with prolonged usage, these engines are susceptible to damage as well as wear and tear.
The majority of these damages are a result of prolonged friction caused by the parts which are constantly in motion, accumulation of debris, and a build-up of heat.
Therefore, it is important to take care of the engine’s health to keep it running at its best. With engine oil, you can help to solve all the engine’s major problems by lubricating, cleaning, and filtering as well as cooling.
However, with the advent of different engine oil types, with each claiming to perform the same function as the other, choosing a suitable oil for your car can be a bit of a hassle.
The question then is which of these two is well cut out for the job: high mileage oil or synthetic blend?
Synthetic Blends vs High Mileage Oils: Any Differences or Similarities?
Apart from the fact that high mileage oils are more expensive than their synthetic counterparts, another major difference that exists between them is their constituents.
High mileage oils, just as the name implies, are engine oils that have been specially formulated for high mileage and old engines. These oils contain special additives such as conditioners, seal enhancers, detergents, antioxidants, etc. for optimum performance of the engine.
As it is, there is no proof that high mileage oils actually perform the work better than synthetic oils and there are people who belong to the school of thought that high mileage oils do not differ from regular oils. Still, if you drive a high mileage car, with over 75,000 miles and above, then you just might want to opt for high mileage oil as it’s designed for high mileage cars.
Also, for older engines which are usually characterized by high oil consumption, intense smoke emission, and may need more than just lubrication, high mileage oil could be the best for it.
More often than not, you can use high mileage oils in a low mileage car without damaging the engine. This is because the problems which arise in high mileage cars are not usually found in cars with mileages lower than 75,000 miles.
The seal enhancers in high mileage oils help to expand seals to prevent or reduce leakages. They also contain detergents which help to clean out the engine by reducing the formation of sludge deposits. The other additives present in these oils also perform the functions of reducing wear and tear, extending engine life, improving performance, and reducing oil consumption. Little wonder why high mileage automobile owners are advised to go for high mileage oils.
Synthetic blends are a mixture of fully synthetic oils and conventional base oils. They are also referred to as semi-synthetic oils as they appear in between conventional oils and full synthetic oils on the motor oil spectrum. Although synthetic blends could prove to be more efficient than conventional oils due to their higher resistance to engine breakdown and ability to endure high temperatures, they could also be lagging in comparison with full synthetic oils.
This is because both conventional oils and full synthetic oils have been formulated to perform well on their own, with their own characteristic constituents. Thus, a mixture of both in the same bottle could lead to contradicting effects and your engine could suffer a major setback in maintenance.
You can choose to use and stick to any of them at one time or switch between them after a prolonged period. However, using or switching between any of them you find at any time you want to service your engine isn’t a good practice.
While some synthetic blends are manufactured commercially, others can also be obtained via manual mixing.
At this point, it would be safe to say that synthetic blends and high mileage oils share as many similarities as differences. Since they both contain a mixture of oils, with the latter containing special additives, then we can say that they both share a similar mode of production.
Also, in as much as they both perform similar functions on car engines, we can conclude that their performance is similar regardless of which oil is best suited for which engine. There is no proof that synthetic blends fall below expectation in their performance on car engines, a fact which further buttresses this point. Studies have also shown that they are both suitable for use on both old and new engines.
A notable difference, however, is that high mileage oils are generally more expensive than their synthetic counterparts. This could be attributed to the additives in them, which are not seen to be present in synthetic blends. The name could also go a long way in boosting their market value, thereby leading to a considerable increase in price.
Usually, the time to change either of these oils largely depends on the distance covered by the vehicle, but all things being equal, high mileage oils take a longer period before they’re changed when compared to synthetic or regular oil.
High Mileage Oil vs Regular Oil
In as much as regular oils have been doing the job for your car, you still need to know when to switch to high mileage oils and the reason for the switch.
High mileage oils are twice as effective as regular oils with the presence of useful additives which are absent in regular oils. It is important to know that your car engine would not maintain the same condition for life.
As you keep using your car, it is evident that the mileage would likely go up a notch. Time also begins to tell on your engine as it shows signs of weakness and loosening parts. When this happens, it is about the perfect time to bid your regular oils adieu and welcome a change.
High mileage oils would help to reduce or prevent engine damages and consequently strengthen the shelf life of such engines. While most cars can make do with regular oils, older cars, as well as high mileage cars with a reading of above 75,000 miles on their odometers, should definitely opt for high mileage oils.
Synthetic Blend vs Full Synthetic Oil
The chemistry between these two is quite simple. While fully synthetic oils can function in isolation, synthetic blends need fully synthetic oils for production. Still, this doesn’t change the fact that they are both synthetic oils.
Contrary to regular or conventional oils which are produced from refined crude oil, synthetic oils are produced by a breakdown and modification of petroleum molecules. Of all these three types of oils, fully synthetic oils have been found to be the most effective. This is because it contains a mixture of additives and synthetic base stocks.
The synthetic blends have a very good chance at this but for the mixture of ingredients which could cause contradicting results. It is important to note that a synthetic blend obtains most of its power from the synthetic base oil and not from the fact that it is mixed.
Synthetic blends are also more effective than regular oils, which do not contain any synthetic base oil.
5W-30 Full Synthetic High Mileage Motor Oil
The name says it all! We could easily describe this product as a synthetic blend that has been specially formulated for high mileage cars. Manufactured by Mobil, this product has been proven to be able to perform even better than other synthetic blends.
The synthetic base oil as well as additive oil used in producing this blend are of high quality and particularly suited for high mileage vehicles. It has an advanced formula that is proven to extend engine life, prevent leaks, clean up engine sludge and provide maximum protection for the engine for over a whole year, an equivalent of about 10,000 miles.
It is often said that prevention is better than cure and it is better safe than to be sorry. As powerful as this product may be, it doesn’t have the capability of resuscitating an already damaged engine. So, make it a point of duty to carry out oil changes on your engine at intervals, probably 3000 to 5000 miles, especially if you are dealing with old engines or high mileage cars.
Bottom Line
Most car owners are aware that to maintain an engine’s overall health, it is necessary to change the oil at intervals. They have little or no knowledge as to why this is important, the oil that has the highest compatibility rate with their vehicles, the differences between the oil types, and even the functions of the various types of engine oils.
This hasn’t resulted in any significant damage, majorly because regular oils are also up to the task, even though they are not as effective as synthetic or high mileage oils. All the same, it is high time people learned to stop fitting round pegs in square holes.
The higher the mileage, the higher the tendency to incur damages, and the older the engine, the higher the preventive measures needed. For this reason, for older engines or cars with over 75,000 miles, high mileage oils are advised.
Judging from the fact that fully synthetic oils are generally more effective than conventional oils and synthetic blends, they could be the best bet for newer and smaller cars, with odometer readings below the 75,000 miles mark.
