Last Updated on January 31, 2022
If you own a car with high mileage, then your engine is probably fairly worn at this point. There could be all kinds of issues building up in your engine. The biggest issue is gaps forming in between the engine’s components.
In addition, gaskets and seals will begin to crack over time and cause oil to leak. Then you’ll have oil sludge building up within the engine which can cause all sorts of problems. Just because you heard that Honda and Toyota engines last forever, it doesn’t mean they’re immune to oil leaking issues.
So, what can you do about this? Well, you can take preventive measures by using better motor oil in your engine. More specifically, it needs to be a special kind of motor oil that is made for high mileage vehicles.
The oil will contain additives which can help older engines stay lubricated better and ensure that their seals are protected. Most importantly, the oil will reduce the chances of oil sludge buildup in the engine. As a result, your engine’s lifespan will be extended and you can get many more miles out of your car or truck. You’ll likely even notice a slight performance increase.
See Also: Conventional vs Synthetic Blend vs Synthetic (Motor Oil Comparison)
Top 5 Engine Oils for High Mileage Cars and Trucks
Below are the top 5 engine oils for high mileage vehicles. Each one has their strengths and you should base your decision on your car’s mileage, normal driving conditions, and of course your budget.
#1 – Mobile 1 High Mileage Synthetic Oil
Mobile 1 High Mileage is a synthetic motor oil which is formulated to keep high mileage engines alive for as long as possible. The oil is more resistant to higher temperatures and has a less chance of causing leakage.
Most engines have rubber seals which prevent oil from leaking. Over time, these seals tend to shrink, get brittle, and eventually break apart.
Mobile 1 High Mileage Synthetic Oil has a more seal conditioners within its formula to protect these seals in the engine and prevent them from breaking apart.
Related: 10 Cheapest Places to Buy Motor Oil
#2 – Royal Purple HMX Synthetic Oil
A lot of car enthusiasts swear by Royal Purple HMX because it not only gives them protection against oil sludge buildup, but they can also go longer in between oil changes.
Meanwhile, your high mileage (75k+ miles) engine’s performance will be restored and oil consumption will be reduced. You’ll pay a little extra for this quality but for many high mileage cars and trucks, it’s worth it.
#3 – Mobile Super High Mileage Synthetic Oil
This is the “top tier” version of the Mobile 1 oil listed above. It’s formulated to protect your high mileage engine that’s subject to the toughest driving conditions including a lot of stop and go city driving.
Mobil Super fully synthetic motor oil helps the engine reduce its overall wear and protects it from oil sludge buildup with its seal conditioner solution. Most importantly, it reduces the amount of oil consumed by the engine which greatly helps extend its lifespan.
#4 – Castrol GTX High Mileage Synthetic Blend Oil
Castrol GTX High Mileage motor oil is a blend of traditional motor oil and a series of special additives to make it more suitable for high mileage engines.
While a synthetic blend won’t work as well as a fully synthetic oil, it’s the next best thing and still a step above conventional oil. With Castrol GTX High Mileage in your engine, you will have fewer leaks, reduced oil sludge, and a longer life for your engine.
#5 – Pennzoil High Mileage Synthetic Blend Motor Oil
Another good high mileage motor oil option, Pennzoil High Mileage has additives to enhance the performance of the engine and to keep the rubber seals strong so they stay flexible instead of becoming brittle.
Like Castrol GTX, this is a synthetic blend formula that’s comparable in price to conventional oil so you get better protection without extra cost. A favorite of those with turbocharged engines, Pennzoil helps protect against LSPI (Low Speed Pre-Ignition).
How Many Miles is Considered High Mileage?
If a car engine has over 75,000 miles on it, then it is considered to be a high mileage engine. This is around the time when many people trade in their vehicle for a new one and then take on new car payments.
You can help keep your car’s engine in excellent condition by changing your car’s motor oil regularly with one of these high mileage motor oil products.
Most car manufacturers recommend that you change your vehicle’s oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles but some are up to 10,000 miles. Just follow whatever your car’s manufacturer recommends (check your car manual).
I only use royal purple in my 2 trucks and my John deere lawn tractors. I have tested others, but royal purple is best. I change my oil and I never have to add a drop more until I change my oil. Ams oil is also very good but harder to get where I live.
YouTube’s Kent Bergsma of Mercedesource uses Liqui Moly semi synthetic for his high miles Mercedes. I going to give it a try. There is a guy here on Youtube that uses Valvoline high miles semi synthetic in his van. 519,000 miles and going string.
I have a Toyota Camry 4 cylinder with over 200 000 miles, which engine oil better, thick or thin.
Run whatever oil viscosity is recommended in the owner’s manual. You can run a high mileage oil if you are worried about leaks. If you have no oil leaks, just a regular oil matching the manufacturer’s recommended viscosity will do fine.
I have a Subaru Outback 2000 and it has done 420000kms and what is the best engine oil for that?
I would just stick with the factory recommended 5W30. For the most part, oil is oil. Just make sure the oil you buy meets the specifications in your owner’s manual. If you don’t have the owner’s manual, you should be able to download a free copy from Subaru’s website.
I drive a high mileage Toyota Corolla 2005 in Nigeria, Nigeria temperature is very high, should I still stick to 5W30 as recommended by the manufacturer?
Yes, stick with the manufacturer’s recommendation. High ambient temps will not affect oil viscosity quite as much as, say, heavy track use. Some people put heavier weight oil in their race cars for this reason.
My owners manual gives two option depending on the weather. It says you can use a thicker viscosity in hotter temperatures. My old jeep eats up oil and it gets over a hundred degrees where I live, so I’ve been using the higher viscosity with no problem. I read that all a higher viscosity oil will do is decrease fuel consumption by a little. I don’t notice it because Jeep engines have crap mpg’s to begin with.