Your engine's lifeblood deserves the best. Motor oil isn't just another fluid—the unsung hero keeps your vehicle's heart beating smoothly.
But with countless options on the market, choosing the right oil can feel like navigating a maze.
Fear not! We've filtered through the noise to bring you the top 10 motor oil brands to keep your engine purring.
1. Mobile 1
This well-known company has a wide range of motor oils. They were one of the first companies to develop and research synthetic motor oil, making them a pioneer of synthetic oil. It is their specialty. They even produce oil for heavy machinery.
Mobil 1 offers a range of premium motor oils known for extending engine life by preventing residue build-up.
These products extend the life of engines by preventing residue build-up inside the motor and are an excellent value for the quality of oil you receive.
This is the popular Mobil Super. It is a synthetic blend with friction-reducing and cleaning additives.
2. Valvoline
This is another trusted motor oil brand. In addition to being one of the leading companies in automotive services, they are the go-to oil choice for customers who change their oil.
You can choose from conventional, synthetic blends, or fully synthetic oils, all with varying grades.
There are also many affordable Valvoline engine oils available. The high quality means your car or truck will use less fuel to power its motor, so you will also save money on gas.
Here is the customer-approved Daily Protection conventional motor oil by Valvoline. It is one of their top sellers and exceeds industry standards.
3. STP
STP stands for "Scientifically Treated Petroleum," and this brand creates high-grade motor oil you can trust.
Their formula is designed to reduce engine wear and tear so you get more life and performance out of your beloved vehicle.
With a small selection of just one synthetic and one conventional oil, this company does not try to fool you with too many options. They are simple and have a small selection because they believe in their products.
They also offer an "oil treatment" product, to be added on top of oil -
4. Castrol
This British brand has plenty of vehicle products available. Their motor oils are known to be some of the best synthetic products available. Most high-end cars from European companies recommend using Castrol motor oil in their vehicles.
They have three main motor oil lines: Edge, GTX Magnetec, and GTX. The first two are premium synthetic oils, with the third a more affordable conventional oil blend.
The Castrol Edge High Mileage is designed for cars with over 75,000 miles. Special components protect high-mileage cars, which are more prone to engine problems.
5. Pennzoil
The next great brand we recommend is Pennzoil. Its unique oil formula is known for clearing out years of sludge built up in engines. This is a great brand to choose if you want to prevent deposit build-up.
They have a selection of conventional blends and full synthetic motor oils. Each type is recommended for almost all climates and weather conditions, whether you live in an arid desert environment or a snowy mountainous location.
6. Quaker State
This century-old company has been around for ages. Just as cars have changed over the years, so has their motor oil formula.
Now, their motor oils are specifically designed for daily drives. Especially city drivers.
Frequently stopping and going wears down motors faster than gearing up to a steady speed and maintaining that speed for a long time.
Quaker State oil helps engines that have to deal with stop-and-go traffic daily.
This advanced durability oil from Quaker State is formulated with neutralizing agents to prevent acid from corroding essential parts of your engine. It is also very affordable.
7. Shell
You may only know Shell for its gasoline and diesel fuel, but Shell also offers a variety of motor oil.
They have four oil lines to choose from. Each one is designed for a specific type of vehicle: cars, motorcycles, light-duty, and heavy-duty.
Shell is known for its affordable options. If you are looking for a deal with the quality to match, this is the brand for you.
This oil improves fuel economy and keeps your engine sludge-free for longer than some other brands.
8. Liqui Moly
This highly-praised brand goes above and beyond typical motor oil standards. Liqui Moly is a German company that offers a variety of highly specialized oil.
New cars need different oil than vehicles made 20 years ago, so they claim to have the perfect oil for every new car in the world.
Classic motor oil brews are not their specialty. They are all about innovation and incorporating new formulas into their line of products.
Liqui Moly's New Generation is a synthetic motor oil with a low viscosity that extends engine life with regular use.
9. Amazon Basics
You may be hesitant to start buying your engine oil from the Amazon Basics brand themselves, but it meets all industry standards.
It is even supposed to help reduce fuel emissions and is a bargain when it comes to price. They have both conventional and synthetic motor oils, so you can try whichever you prefer.
10. Royal Purple
Royal Purple has been producing high-quality motor oil since 1986. Unlike some other companies, it only makes synthetic and conventional oils.
It doesn't focus on any other products, so all of its time and energy go into perfecting these.
Royal Purple oils tend to be more expensive, but the price reflects their high quality.
Their unique formula increases the oil's ionic attraction to cling to the metal with ease. It also decreases oxidation within the engine, keeping your engine running longer.
What Is Engine Oil Viscosity?
Engine oil viscosity is an essential factor in choosing the best oil for your car or truck. The viscosity is a liquid's resistance to flow. So, high viscosity is thick, and low viscosity is thin.
Higher viscosity is useful when your engine is going to be running at an extremely high temperature, such as in hotter environments or when pulling heavy loads.
Lower viscosity is better at cold temperatures. If you are driving during the middle of winter in a harsh climate, the lower vicious your oil is, the better.
Most motor oils have a viscosity grade using the formula "XW-XX". The "W" stands for winter. The first "X" represents viscosity in low temperatures, and the "XX" represents the viscosity in high temperatures.
Is It OK To Change My Car's Oil From Conventional To Synthetic?
Yes, it is perfectly acceptable to change to a different oil type. Each oil type can mix, so you don't even have to flush your engine before you switch.
Synthetic is regarded as the superior of the two, but it may not always be necessary for your vehicle. To find out if you need synthetic oil for your car, check out this blog post.
Does Expensive Engine Oil Make A Difference?
Expensive engine oil can make a difference. It all depends on your car or truck.
If your wheels have been spinning for a long time and you have driven well over 100,000 miles, a more expensive synthetic blend can extend the life of your vehicle and help with sludge build-up.
Synthetic oil is proven to prevent engine wear, increase performance in extreme temperatures, and improve towing. It does make a difference.
It may be a little more expensive every time you change your oil at the mechanics or by yourself, but it can extend the life of your car.
So, over time, investing in a more expensive oil may save you thousands of dollars.
How Often Should I Change My Oil?
Changing engine oil is essential to the life of your vehicle. To see what happens if you don't change it, read this.
Changing your oil every 3,000 miles for conventional oil is commonly recommended, though synthetic oils may last 5,000 to 7,000 miles or more. If you use conventional oil or have a very old car, this is still the recommendation.
However, if you are using high-quality synthetic oils, you may only need to change it every 5,000 to 7,000 miles. Of course, changing your oil sooner than this will only benefit the engine.
Find Your Perfect Motor Oil!
Now that you know ten excellent motor oil brands, you have plenty of options to choose from the next time you shop for new oil.
Check your owner's manual for the recommended grade and see what brands sell it. You will find the perfect match no matter the type of car you have, the environment you drive in, or how much you drive.