Engine oil has evolved from simple brown slime purified from crude oil to a brilliantly designed, carefully crafted blend of refined oil and sophisticated additives that retains its protective properties for months and thousands of miles of hard driving. Today’s most efficient and durable motor oils are synthetic ones, which are commonly developed and manufactured from chemically modified petroleum components. Which synthetic oils are best?
How we chose the oils on this list
We have sought guidance from car manufacturers because they are reluctant to take risks with engine protection. We interviewed them to find out which ones synthetic oils they flow into their most powerful high-performance engines. These engines require maximum protection, since they operate with enormous internal stresses and potentially high oil temperatures that punish lubricants. If the following oils are good enough for their ultra-high performance cars, they are good enough for your car. Just be sure to use a viscosity (this is the designation “XW-XX” on the label) that is right for your car.
[In May 2022, we added a few top-rated OEM and aftermarket synthetic oils to the bottom of this list.—Ed.]
When changing the oil
Car and driver offers regular oil changes according to the manufacturer’s recommendations with the same brand and viscosity SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) as the factory. Not all synthetics here will be available in the viscosity recommended by your car manufacturer. Don’t worry. The use of oils in this list by car manufacturers in their most productive engines suggests that they all among the best you can buy. Since some oils are available in multiple recipes, make sure the one you buy is designed for your particular car. You can find this information in the operating instructions and often under the hood of your car.
Benefits of synthetic oil
Synthetic oil has some advantages over conventional motor oil, especially if you drive an old car, make many short trips and / or drive in areas with very hot or very cold seasonal changes. Synthetics can:
- Resist breakage
- Withstands higher temperatures
- Flows better at low temperatures
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the difference between synthetic oil and regular motor oil?
A: Conventional motor oil is a natural compound. Synthetic oils combine synthetic or artificial chemicals with crude oil to create a petroleum product that behaves similarly to regular oil.
Q: Is synthetic oil really better than regular motor oil?
A: Usually yes. Unlike conventional automotive oil, synthetic oil is more refined, which can reduce friction, reduce engine stagnation and increase engine performance. If you drive a car with high performance, live in an area with extreme temperature conditions, make many short trips or drive an old car that burns oil quickly, synthetic oil will last longer and better protect your engine.
Q: How many miles can you go on synthetic oil?
A: Depends on where, how and on what you are driving. Most car (and oil) manufacturers recommend changing synthetic oil every 7,500–15,000 miles, depending on the car and the type of synthetic oil used.
Q: Does synthetic oil have any disadvantages?
A: The only real disadvantage of synthetic oil is the price, usually two to four times higher than the price of regular oil.
Q: What happens if you mix synthetic oil with regular?
A: Conventional and synthetic oils are mostly made up of compatible ingredients, so for now you can safely mix synthetic and conventional oils, this is not recommended – all you do is dilute the performance of the synthetic oil.
The most popular synthetic oils:
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