15 Best Synthetic Oils for Modern and Vintage Engines

Types of The Best Motor Oils

There are some fine differences in the different synthetic oils on the market, and it’s good to familiarize yourself with their respective characteristics. The most notable differences, of course, can be found between the trio of conventional, synthetic blend, and fully synthetic oils.

Conventional Oil

The first and perhaps easiest oil to manufacture, conventional oil is made through traditional methods of oil drilling. It is derived directly from crude oil, and doesn’t require any added stimulation as it is already liquid at room temperature. This is contrasted by many synthetic oils, which require certain additives to remain liquid and maintain viscosity. There are a few types of conventional oils, contingent on a couple of factors: sulfur content and density. Lightly-processed oil will typically have a higher sulfur content (described as “sour”), while oil density can vary. It is notably easier to refine “lighter” oil, but the applications vary. In either case, conventional oil is made through natural methods, making it cheaper and easier to extract and process. On the other hand, this could have a greater impact on the environment and conventional oil often doesn’t perform to the standards of synthetic counterparts.

Fully Synthetic

Fully synthetic oil, as the name would suggest, is made entirely in a lab out of raw materials or modified petroleum. Synthetic oil has the edge over conventional oil when it comes to limiting impurities and tailoring a product to enhance certain aspects. Essentially, it gives manufacturers some more freedom in terms of developing specific properties, such as effective anti-wear additives. Because it is not derived (in any capacity) from crude oil, synthetic oil doesn’t have any of the disadvantages of conventional oil in performance or protection.

Synthetic Blend

Some oils are marketed as synthetic, when in reality they are conventional oils enhanced with certain synthetic properties. It is typically easier and more affordable to manufacture conventional oil and add the desired additives to enhance, for example, the oil’s anti-wear capability. However, synthetic blends are usually not as effective or durable as fully synthetic alternatives, but they are still better than conventional for the most part. If you’re looking for the best protection and performance available, pay close attention to the type of oil a certain product is. Oftentimes, a synthetic blend marketed as a premium, fully synthetic oil can be misleading in comparative performance and cost.

Major Brands of The Best Motor Oils

There are several “big players” in the world of synthetic oils, and you can see some of their products in our lists above. Mobil 1 is perhaps the most recognizable brand, but there are other solid brands like Valvoline, as evidenced by their presence on our lists.

• Mobil 1. Mobil 1 has been a key player in motor oil and lubricants since the 1970s, and played a significant role in popularizing the use of synthetic oil. As they grew and refined their craft, their overall product line expanded to include things like premium oil filters, most of which are designed for use with their synthetic oils. Today, their synthetic oil is the official recommendation of several vehicle manufacturers – the list includes Toyota, Porsche, and Lexus. Mobil 1’s focus on quality and thoroughness in their synthetic products makes them a respected manufacturer.
• Royal Purple. An emerging competitor, Royal Purple has a similar focus on producing quality oil since its establishment in 1986. Interestingly enough, the idea for the company’s name came from a customer telling the founder, John Williams, that he had never seen purple oil. They are perhaps most respected for their high-performance products, such as the 51530 5W30 on our list. They aim to make high-end, specialized oils with specially-tailored qualities; whether it’s high performance in diesel engines or comprehensive protection, Royal Purple uses their own additives to make their synthetic oils.
• Valvoline. Another common name above, Valvoline is one of the oldest automotive-related companies today. It was founded in 1866 by the inventor of a petroleum lubricant for steam engines, Dr. John Ellis. In its early days, the company was associated with race cars and was later the recommended motor oil of the Ford Model T, often hailed as the first widely affordable car. Their fully synthetic oils today are well-received due to their premium approach to synthetic oils across the board, as well as their overall outreach.
• Castrol. A British company, Castrol was founded in 1899, and has been a strong competitor in synthetic motor oils in recent decades. The brand name refers to castor oil (a vegetable oil pressed from castor beans), something their researchers began adding to their lubricants. Like a few other motor oil brands, Castrol has a large presence in racing, most notably in Formula 1. Overall, the company prides itself on its durable and powerful oil, as the historic slogan “Castrol-Liquid Engineering” suggests. Castrol offers a wide variety of oils, from conventional to fully synthetic.
• Shell. One of the largest companies in the world, Shell is primarily known for its stature in the oil and gas industry. It was formed in 1907 when two competing companies merged, and has grown exponentially since; with a hand in oil production, refining, distribution, and even renewable energy, it’s no surprise that Shell is a large player in motor oils as well. The most recognizable of their oils is under the Rotella line, which contains a range of products from single grade conventional oil to multigrade synthetic oil.

Best Synthetic Oil Buyer’s Guide and Tips

When looking for the right motor oil for your engine, there are a few things to keep in mind. Generally, if your budget isn’t much of an issue, you can narrow down your choices to the best synthetic oils on the market, as they typically come with a range of benefits over other choices. Don’t forget, that you need to have a new oil filter with every oil change.

Main Characteristics of The Engine Oil

There are several factors to consider when looking into synthetic oils, and some of them have to do with your engine. For example, if you have a diesel engine, you will of course want to look for synthetic oils optimized for that. The first thing to consider is what kind of vehicle you have to narrow your search accordingly, whether in engine type, racked mileage, or the level of peak performance.

A key consideration is the viscosity grade of an oil. If you’re driving around hotter areas, a higher viscosity grade (for example, 10W-40), would be a good start. For milder or fairly cold conditions, a 5W-30 is a good balance. You probably won’t need to go any lower (to 5W-20 or 0W-20) unless you’re in an extremely cold climate.

Once you’ve taken note of some of your engine’s specifications and an optimal viscosity, you should have a clearer picture of the best synthetic oil for your car. If your car is old and has a fair amount of miles, you might want to look for high-mileage synthetic oils with enhanced cleaning properties. On the other hand, if you have a newer high-end car, a high-performance oil would be more appropriate. If you find that your motor oil gets gunked up faster than expected, a long-lasting synthetic oil could bring you more consistent performance.

See also: The 3 Best Engine Air Filters

Consider which additives you might find to be a necessity based on your needs or limitations. For example, if it gets fairly hot in your region, perhaps look into oils with additives that help keep viscosity consistent. All in all, the characteristics you should be looking for depend on your engine, vehicle, and sometimes other parts (like oil filter). Familiarize yourself with any driver’s manual recommendations, however; some vintage engines, for example, were designed exclusively for conventional oils.

Benefits of Synthetic Oil

Synthetic oil, whether a blend or otherwise, has several advantages over conventional oil. Top-of-the-line synthetic oils, while often varying in their best qualities, are generally better when it comes to keeping your engine healthy and clean, improving efficiency, and offering performance in tougher conditions.

• Engine Health — the various additives in synthetic oils are often tailored for specific applications, but the formulation of synthetic oil allows it to more effectively prevent and remove deposits. In addition, some additives protect other parts of your engine, such as the seal. Overall, synthetic oil has the upper hand in cleaning and maintaining your engine.
• Efficiency — top-shelf synthetic oil does wonders for reducing friction between components in your engine, which leads to a more fuel-efficient process. Essentially, quality synthetic oil can save you money on fuel.
• Better weather performance — synthetic oils, including many on this list, offer great cold-weather performance by keeping a more stable viscosity regardless of temperature. This property also benefits start time and efficiency in the cold. On the other hand, synthetic oil can maintains your car’s top performance in hotter weather as well.
• Stable performance — premium synthetic choices, specifically high-performance oils, are often cited as giving your ride a much smoother feel. Whether it’s an improvement in responsiveness, faster start times, or more torque, synthetic oil keeps new engines running at their peak, while getting the most out of older vehicles.
• Longer lifespan — typically, conventional oil cannot compete with the longevity of synthetic oils. While it is a bigger investment to go synthetic, it pays off with the increased lifetime and thus, longer oil change intervals. In some cases, synthetic oil can maintain its performance for over 10,000 miles, while conventional will often need a change between 2,000 and 3,000 miles.

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