A long-lasting high mileage oil that protects the engine.
A low-cost synthetic blend that restores old engines.
A quality-made, inexpensive, conventional oil for high-mileage cars.
A low-cost synthetic oil that offers superb value for the price point.
A premium, long-lasting synthetic oil that can increase fuel performance.
If you notice your car is leaking or burning oil, it may be time to switch to a high mileage oil. The best high mileage oils can plug minor oil leaks, clean your old engine, and improve performance on high-mileage vehicles. Older vehicles can especially benefit from quality, high mileage oil.
Using high mileage oil is one of the most critical aspects of maintaining a car engine for extended periods of time. In this buyers guide we explain the difference between a standard and high mileage oil, highlight well-reviewed high mileage oils, and more.
Best High Mileage Oil: Buyers Guide
The high mileage oils in this buyers guide are all good choices for engine oil. However, be sure to purchase the right type of oil for your vehicle. Oil is rated for viscosity (thickness), which is represented by two numbers, in the format xW-x. For example, 5W-20, 5W-30, or 10W-40. Always consult the owner’s manual with your vehicle to determine the correct oil viscosity for your car.
Most high mileage oils are available at different viscosities, so it’s best to make sure you have the correct oil before slathering it inside your car’s engine. In some cases, Amazon will recommend the wrong type of oil for your vehicle, so always check this against your owner’s manual.
Identifying High-Quality Motor Oil
There are several things to consider if you’re looking for a high mileage oil to keep your vehicle out on the road. One of the most important things to look out for when you’re shopping for oil is whether or not it features an American Petroleum Institute (API) “starburst” symbol. This symbol signifies whether an oil meets the latest International Lubricant Specification Advisory Committee (ILSAC) standards.
Kyle Marker, Parts Manager at Leith Lincoln with more than 10 years of experience in the aftermarket auto parts industry, thinks this symbol is a mark of quality motor oil. He says, “Anything with the API star, the American Petroleum Institute…is a certified oil and I guarantee it will work in your car.”
Marker doubles down on this statement, saying, “If it has API on it – it will work in your Mercedes, it will work in your Ferrari. You know, it’ll also work on the forklift I have outside.”
High Mileage Oil: What Does It Do?
High mileage oil is best used on vehicles with over 75,000.0 miles. It helps to address problems that are routinely encountered by high mileage vehicles. However, high mileage oil isn’t magic – and it won’t solve serious engine problems.
“It’s preventative. Oil will always be preventative in my opinion,” says Marker, one of our aftermarket auto parts experts with over a decade of experience. He forewarns customers, saying “There [are] very few off-the-shelf products that can solve internal combustion engine [problems], in my opinion. With very few exceptions.”
5 Best High Mileage Oils
- Best Synthetic High Mileage Oil: Mobil 1 High Mileage Full Synthetic
- Best Synthetic Blend: Valvoline High Mileage With MaxLife Technology
- Best Conventional High Mileage Oil: Pennzoil High Mileage
- Best Value: Castrol Edge High Mileage
- Best High-Performance Oil: Royal Purple High Mileage
Our Review Standards
To select the high-mileage oils featured in this buyers guide, we consult our network of experts for their thoughts on oils. These experts have over 100 years of combined experience in aftermarket auto fields ranging from detailing to accessories to tires, and everything in-between. These experts helped us identify the qualities that would be most important to someone looking for a high mileage oil and the standout brands in each category.
Our team then combed through dozens of resources such as DIY mechanic and auto enthusiast forums, manufacturer and oil-specific websites, instruction manuals from manufacturers, and reviews from online retailers. We pay particularly close attention to quality reviews and recommendations that highlight the quality of warranties, customer service support, build quality, materials, and overall reliability.
We also factored in the quantity and quality of online retailer reviews from websites such as Amazon, RealTruck, Advance Auto Parts, and more. We looked at factors such as notable customer reviews, prices, meaningful superlatives, and discount shipping eligibility. We did the research so you don’t have to.
Why You Can Trust Us
Since 2020, we have published over 200 auto product reviews in an effort to make shopping for auto products easier. Our team of writers, editors, researchers, and product experts collaborates to thoroughly vet top products. We try to perform in-house testing on real vehicles whenever possible before making our recommendations.
When testing is not feasible, however, our aim is to make your life easier by doing all the online research for you and presenting that research in the form of easy-to-read product comparisons and buyers guides, rather than outright recommendations. For more information on our testing methodology and how we evaluate every product, check out our methodology page here.
Do I Need High Mileage Oil?
Many of the best high mileage oils suggest they are necessary after your car passes the 75,000.0-mile mark. However, even if your car has more than 75,000.0 miles, you may not need high mileage oil. You should consider this type of oil if you start to notice leaks or your car burns a lot of oil.
The primary difference between oil advertised as “high mileage oil” and standard oil is the abundance of Zinc dialkyl dithiophosphate (ZDDP). Mixed into the motor oil, ZDDP can reduce how much wear an oil puts on your engine, filters, seals, and gaskets. High mileage oils also may have other additives that help clean your engine. The best high mileage oils can reduce leakage in old engines and even swell existing engine seals to plug leaks.
ZDDP in oil contributes to increased pollution, and newer engines don’t require engine oil with a high concentration of ZDDP. For this reason, we don’t deem it necessary to use high mileage oil in a modern car that doesn’t leak or burn oil.
Older vehicles (manufactured before 1990) may benefit more from a high mileage oil.
#1 Best Synthetic High Mileage Oil: Mobil 1 High Mileage Full Synthetic
Mobil 1 is a well-established oil brand known for its high-quality products. You only need to change out this synthetic motor oil every 10,000.0 miles, and it offers lasting engine protection for high-mileage vehicles.
Available at several viscosities, Mobil 1 High Mileage Full Synthetic motor oil is a reliable oil. The price may be a bit higher than conventional oil, but you’ll save money in the long run since you don’t need to change this oil as frequently.
Key Features
- Cost: Around $0.15 to $0.20 per fluid ounce
- Oil type: Synthetic
- Cleaning agents reduce oil sludge
- Seal conditioner prevents engine leaks
- Change every 10,000.0 miles
What Customers Are Saying
Amazon Review Score: 4.8 out of 5 based on over 29,000 ratings
Most reviewers are pleased with the longevity of Mobil 1 High Mileage Full Synthetic Motor Oil, which can last even beyond 10,000.0 miles. This relatively inexpensive oil reduces engine leaks, and at least one reviewer claims it helped with oil burnoff.
Most of the negative comments on Amazon are from customers who received leaking bottles. One reviewer was upset because Mobil 1 didn’t honor a rebate coupon.
#2 Best Synthetic Blend: Valvoline High Mileage With MaxLife Technology
Around for over a century, Valvoline is a storied oil manufacturer. Its high mileage engine oil with MaxLife is available in 1.0- and 5.0-quart containers. The cost per ounce is better with the 5.0-quart container, which also includes an easy-pour spout to ensure you don’t waste a drop.
As a synthetic blend motor oil, Valvoline High Mileage is slightly less expensive than a full synthetic oil but has many of the advantages of synthetic. These include a longer lifespan.
Key Features
- Cost: Around $0.10 to $0.15 per fluid ounce
- Oil type: Synthetic blend
- Enhanced anti-wear additives
- Friction-fighting agents
- Detergents and anti-corrosion additives
- Seal conditioners reduce leakage
What Customers Are Saying
Amazon Review Score: 4.8 out of 5 based on over 14,500 ratings
Many positive reviews come from those who’ve used Valvoline oil in their engines for decades and enjoyed satisfactory results. Numerous customers believe this engine oil offers excellent value for the money and swear it’s the only engine oil they will use.
The relatively few negative reviews of Valvoline High Mileage sometimes mention receiving broken or leaking bottles. In some cases, users notice that using this oil makes their engine noisier than using full synthetic products.
#3 Best Conventional High Mileage Oil: Pennzoil High Mileage
If you prefer conventional over synthetic oil because of the lower price, Pennzoil offers an excellent high mileage oil. This motor oil features additives to prevent sludge buildup, clean old engines, seal minor leaks, and restore old valves.
Pennzoil also comes in a bottle with an easy-pour design to prevent spillage.
Key Features
- Cost: Around $0.10 to $0.15 per fluid ounce
- Oil type: Conventional
- Specifically formulated for vans, SUVs, and trucks
- Prevents sludge buildup
- Easy-pour bottle design
- Contains active cleansing agents
- Sealing agents plug minor leaks
What Customers Are Saying
Amazon Review Score: 4.8 out of 5 based on over 5,300 ratings
When considering the price, most users are happy with Pennzoil. While there aren’t as many reviewers swearing by Pennzoil as Mobil 1, the former brand is still a reliable motor oil for high mileage vehicles.
Confusingly, the Pennzoil product photo on Amazon displays a container of synthetic oil. However, several people have noted that they receive conventional motor oil.
#4 Best Value: Castrol Edge High Mileage
Castrol Edge High Mileage is a synthetic oil that can keep your old engine running smoothly. It’s packed with additives to reduce leaks and clean old engines. You can purchase it in 1.0- or 5.0-quart bottles, but buying the 5.0-quart bottle is a better value.
Because synthetic oils typically last much longer than conventional oils, we believe Castrol – which comes at as little as $0.14 an ounce – offers the best bang for your buck, saving you money in the long term.
Key Features
- Cost: Around $0.10 to $0.25 cents per fluid ounce
- Oil type: Synthetic
- Titanium technology boosts oil film strength
- Improves fuel economy
- Reduces leaks and oil burnoff
- Formulated for high-temperature performance
What Customers Are Saying
Amazon Review Score: 4.8 out of 5 based on over 20,00 ratings
Several reviewers claim Castrol Edge High Mileage motor oil works better than most other oils they’ve tried. Some reviewers say that using this oil reduces engine noise, even with other high mileage synthetic oils. Castrol keeps many engines running smoothly and is inexpensive for synthetic oil, which users often mention.
In one of the few negative Amazon reviews, a customer says Castrol caused engine knocking. It’s unclear, however, whether the driver used the proper viscosity for their engine since this isn’t a common complaint.
#5 Best High-Performance Oil: Royal Purple High Mileage
While a bit more expensive than the other high mileage motor oil options on this list, Royal Purple offers an excellent product that can protect old engines. This oil claims to increase horsepower while lasting upward of 10,000.0 miles.
This oil may be a bit pricey for many drivers, and a cheaper high mileage oil can usually get the job done just as well. But if you’re looking to maximize engine performance, Royal Purple motor oil is worth considering.
Key Features
- Cost: Around $0.25 to $0.50 cents per fluid ounce
- Oil type: Synthetic
- Increases fuel efficiency
- Reduces corrosion
- Prevents engine sludge
- Minimizes mechanical engine wear
What Customers Are Saying
Amazon Review Score: 4.9 out of 5 based on over 2,200 ratings
Numerous drivers report using Royal Purple High Mileage Motor Oil for 10,000.0 miles before needing a change. While some people are skeptical that Royal Purple increases horsepower, as it claims, many customers note that the brand reduces engine noise for a smoother drive and better performance.
Many users also say the oil performs exceptionally well in extreme temperatures. Those who seem most appreciative of Royal Purple say they drive high-performance vehicles and engage in motorsports activities such as racing. For the average person, the improved performance from Royal Purple may not be worth the higher price.
Best High Mileage Oil: Bottom Line
There are a variety of things to consider if you’re looking for the best high mileage oil. Matching the oil you use to the engine in your car is of utmost importance to not cause any damage to your vehicle. The best high mileage oils offer a myriad of different benefits for your car engine. However, if you’re looking for high-mileage oil to clean out your engine – you may be left disappointed.
“It doesn’t do anything like that…Any of the fix-your-engine-in-a-bottle [products do] jack diddly” says Marker, an aftermarket auto parts expert with over 10 years of experience. “What it might do though, is if maybe you’ve got an engine that’s hurting a little bit – low on compression, bearings are starting to get wore out. Yeah, it’s going to protect [the engine] and keep it from destroying [itself].”
Best High Mileage Oil Comparison Chart
| Approximate Cost | Type Of Oil | Price Per Fluid Oz. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobil 1 High Mileage Full Synthetic | $32 | Synthetic | $0.15 to $0.20 |
| Valvoline High Mileage With MaxLife Technology | $42 | Synthetic Blend | $0.10 to $0.15 |
| Pennzoil High Mileage | $20 | Conventional | $0.10 to $0.15 |
| Castrol Edge High Mileage | $28 | Synthetic | $0.10 to $0.25 |
| Royal Purple High Mileage | $50 | Synthetic | $0.25 to $0.50 |
High Mileage Oil: FAQ
*Data accurate at time of publication.