All about motor oil

Synthetic oil vs. conventional oil

Conventional and synthetic oils begin in the ground. But that’s where the similarities end.

Synthetic oil is not only refined but also distilled, purified and broken down into its basic molecules. This process not only removes more impurities from the crude oil but also enables individual molecules in the oil to be tailored to the demands of modern engines. These customized molecules provide higher levels of protection and performance than conventional oils. But the synthetic base oil is only half the story. The correct blend additives must go into the mix to create the oil.

Our Mobil 1™ brand of advanced full synthetic motor oils has a unique, balanced formulation to keep your engine running like new. So what are the benefits of Mobil 1 synthetic oil? Synthetics typically outperform conventional motor oils in providing more protection for your vehicle.

Here’s how all that chemistry translates to the real world.

Keep your engine cleaner

As oil circulates through your engine it can pick up deposits. Over time, conventional oils can sometimes form sludge, which can reduce your engine's efficiency and, ultimately, reduce the life of your engine. Mobil 1 motor oils contain fewer impurities compared to conventional motor oils and can better resist the formation of sludge thereby preventing deposits from forming in your engine.

Offer greater engine wear protection

Engine parts are in constant contact with each other. They’re also moving at high speeds. In the extreme environment of your engine, components can wear and break down. Your motor oil is the protective barrier between these components. As conventional oils break down, their ability to prevent engine wear diminishes. Mobil 1 motor oils, on the other hand, retain their wear protection properties for a much longer time, increasing engine life.

Flow better in low temperatures

When your car sits for awhile (let’s say overnight) the oil settles. But, when you fire up the ignition, it begins flowing through critical engine parts to protect against friction. With conventional oils, it takes more time until they are able to flow smoothly through the engine. During the cold winter months, or if you live in an extremely cold environment, this flow process takes even longer. Mobil 1 motor oils, however, are engineered to flow quickly even at low temperatures, and they start protecting your engine right after you start your car.

Protect better at high temperatures

When running, engines are hot. Really, really hot. Over time, the high temperatures in your engine can cause conventional motor oils to break down or evaporate exposing your engine to wear. Mobil 1 motor oils are engineered to resist these high temperatures, which is especially important if you’re driving in hot climates.

Protect critical turbocharger parts

To meet consumer demand, automakers are building cars with smaller engines (for greater fuel efficiency) but adding turbochargers (to boost power). We already mentioned how engines run at high temperatures, which can break down conventional oils faster, but today’s turbocharged engines are even more aggressive. The shaft inside a turbocharger can spin upwards of 200,000 revolutions per minute, so it’s critical that your motor oil can get to that shaft and lubricate it properly very quickly. Conventional oils can break down faster under these conditions and leave deposits on turbocharger components, which can lead to failure. Mobil 1 motor oils can protect these components much better than conventional oils, keeping them operating at peak performance and boosting your engine’s power.

While synthetics as a motor oil category provide better protection than conventional oils, not all synthetics are created equal.

What is all that information on a motor oil container?

There’s a lot of detailed information provided on a motor oil container. It makes sense that you want to understand what’s inside that oil you’re putting into your car. Here’s the breakdown.

Motor oil viscosity and weight

The proper viscosity is the single most important criterion of a lubricating oil. Multiweight oils (such as 5W-30) have polymers added to the oil. The polymers allow the oil to have different weights at different temperatures. Multiweight oils perform a great service of not being too thick at cold startup to provide engine wear protection by flowing more quickly to critical engine parts. The first number, the 5W of the 5W-30 viscosity, for example, indicates the viscosity of the oil at a cold temperature; the second number indicates the viscosity at operating temperatures. The lower the first number the better flow ability at startup, especially at cold temperatures.

You should also be aware that multiweight oils are backward compatible. In other words, an 0W-30 can be used with a 5W-30. The second number is important.

Certifications

Motor oils can have several different industry certifications. These certifications represent an industry group of automakers in determining specifications standards for the oil manufactures. This includes the API Certification mark aka the “starburst” found on the front label. An oil displaying this mark meets the current engine protection standard and fuel economy requirements of the International Lubricant Standardization and Approval Committee (ILSAC), a joint effort of U.S. and Japanese automobile manufacturers.

The Association of Certified European Automakers (ACEA) develops standards for European vehicles, and oils that meet or exceed them can be used in their vehicles.

Additionally, in the United States, the American Petroleum Institute (API) also has a certification – a donut with a two-letter rating – that appears on the back label. The API further defines the standards and tests for lubricant manufacturers to meet.

OEM specifications

While the auto and petroleum manufacturers agree to basic industry standards, individual automakers may also develop specific oil performance requirements, such as the dexos1TM specification for all General Motors Co. vehicles manufactured in 2011 or beyond. Other automakers with specific requirements include Ford, Chrysler, Honda, Volkswagen, BMW and Porsche.

Always check your owner’s manual to see exactly what certifications and/or specifications your vehicle manufacturer requires. Then check the back label or ask your service provider if the oil meets those requirements.

Choosing the right oil for your vehicle

Choosing the right oil for your car is more than just looking at the viscosity, industry and automakers requirements. You also should consider the protection level you want. Our Mobil™-branded motor oil family offers a full spectrum of products so you can match not only the specs but the level of protection and performance that works for you.

How oil filters work

The oil filter helps remove contaminants from your car engine’s oil that can accumulate over time as the oil keeps your engine clean.

The importance of clean motor oil

Clean motor oil is important because if the oil were left unfiltered for a period of time, it could become saturated with tiny, hard particles that can wear surfaces in your engine. This dirty oil can wear the oil pump’s machined components and damage the bearing surfaces in the engine.

How oil filters work

The outside of the filter is a metal can with a sealing gasket that allows it to be tightly held against the engine’s mating surface. The base plate of the can holds the gasket and is perforated with holes around the area just inside the gasket. A central hole is threaded to mate with the oil filter assembly on the engine block. Inside the can is the filter material, most frequently made from synthetic fiber. The engine’s oil pump moves the oil directly to the filter, where it enters from the holes in the perimeter of the base plate. The dirty oil is passed (pushed under pressure) through the filter media and back through the central hole, where it re-enters the engine.

Choosing the right oil filter

Choosing the correct oil filter for your vehicle is of the utmost importance. Most oil filters look very similar, but small differences in the threads or gasket size can determine whether or not a particular filter will work on your vehicle. The best way to determine which oil filter you need is by consulting your owner’s manual or by referencing a parts catalog. Using the wrong filter can cause oil to leak out of the engine, or an ill-fitting filter could just fall off. Either of these situations could lead to serious engine damage.

You get what you pay for

Generally speaking, the more money you spend the better the filter is. Lower-cost oil filters can contain light-gauge metal, loose (or shredding) filter material, and poor quality gaskets that can lead to failure of the filter. Some filters may filter out smaller bits of dirt a little better, and some may last longer. So, you should research the features of each filter that fits your vehicle to determine which one best fits your needs.

How the right motor oil can help improve fuel economy

Over the last 15 years, modern automobile gasoline engines have been getting more and more efficient to meet the demands of government regulations for increased fuel economy. The use of lower viscosity oils can help support efficiency and help improve fuel economy by decreasing engine friction.

Where does that unused engine energy go?

There are four key areas in an engine where energy friction loss occurs:

1. The valvetrain

Energy loss occurs in the camshaft bearings and in the contact area between the valve and lifter.

2. The piston and cylinder

Energy loss occurs at the piston liner interface during the combustion cycle and especially before and after the midstroke.

3. The oil pump

In the oil pump, energy loss occurs due to rotational energy consumed by pumping heavier viscosity oils, particularly during warm-up. That’s why we’ve seen the trend of lower viscosity oils, such as 0W-30 and 0W-20.

4. The crankshaft

The main bearings and connecting rod bearings are two additional areas where friction occurs. Switching from a higher viscosity oil to a Mobil 1™ Advanced Fuel Economy motor oil in a lower viscosity can help decrease engine friction, which in turn, can help improve fuel economy.*

Engine protection plus fuel economy

The low-friction formulations of Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy fully synthetic motor oils increase engine efficiency and fuel economy versus those viscosity grades most commonly used.

How does this work? During warm-up, Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy oil flows faster, because of its lower viscosity, which can minimize metal-to-metal contact to reduce friction and wear.

It also reduces friction at points of contact between the piston compression rings and cylinder walls. And during the warm-up phase, the Mobil 1™ fully synthetic formulation, because of its lower viscosity, flows more easily through the oil pump, requiring less energy to pump the oil to the critical engine parts.

Finally, Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy provides faster lubrication and less viscous drag than higher viscosity oils, while providing exceptional wear protection and helping keep your engine clean and running like new.

* Based on 0.2-2.3 percent potential fuel economy improvement obtained by switching from higher viscosity oils to a 0W-20 or 0W-30 grade. Actual savings are dependent upon vehicle/engine type, outside temperature, driving conditions and your current engine oil viscosity.

High mileage oil

The typical automobile on the road today is more than 11 years old. That’s because drivers are keeping their cars longer or opting to purchase pre-owned vehicles instead of new models. And unless you own a classic car that you drive only under certain conditions, you probably have lots of miles on your pre-owned engine.

Caring for older, high mileage vehicles

Today’s vehicles are generally capable of racking up more miles than cars and trucks of a generation ago, but the secret to true vehicular longevity is still the same: regular maintenance. High mileage vehicles need tender loving care on a number of fronts. To get long life from your engine, remember to:

Top off all fluids

Check the coolant level, especially in the warmer months

Inspect filters, belts and hoses

Also, be sure to get your tune-ups at the manufacturer’s recommended intervals. Most of all, your high mileage engine needs regular oil changes. As vehicles and their engines age, their moving parts can wear and potentially need even greater lubricant protection. And while your high mileage engine won’t turn its nose up at regular engine oil, it will perform better if you use oil specifically formulated for high mileage engines.

Is high mileage oil worth it?

High mileage engines – those with more than 75,000 miles – face a number of potential problems that high mileage oil is specifically formulated to address. Some high mileage oils, such as Mobil 1™ High Mileage and Mobil Super™ High Mileage, contain engine oil additives and conditioners that help to combat:

Engine oil consumption and leaks

Over time, an engine's seals can erode, causing engine oil to leak. Additives in certain high mileage oils can protect worn seals and keep leaks from forming. Older vehicles tend to burn more oil and the lower volatility of Mobil 1 High Mileage helps reduce oil loss caused by burn-off, particularly on cylinder walls due to leakage past the oil control ring.

Engine oil sludge

Sludge is a tar-like residue that can build up in an engine as the result of oil thickening or breakdown, most often the result of too-infrequent oil changes. High mileage oil can help remove engine sludge and reduce wear in older engines.

General engine wear and tear

As engines age, they can increasingly wear out. Mobil 1 High Mileage offers unsurpassed wear protection to help prevent wear and protect critical engine components.

High mileage synthetic oil vs. high mileage conventional oil

For added protection, consider using a high mileage synthetic oil rather than a conventional oil. Unlike conventional oil, which is simply refined crude oil, synthetic oil is distilled, purified and broken down into its basic molecules. It is then rebuilt and improved with additives formulated to better protect against wear, high heat, cold weather and sludge buildup. High mileage synthetic oils help your car’s engine, young or old, run better for longer. And if you’re searching for the best high mileage motor oil, you can rest assured that the Mobil 1™ family of motor oils offers unsurpassed wear protection – a claim supported by the industry-accepted Sequence IVA engine wear test.

But which high mileage oil should I choose for my vehicle?

Mobil 1 High Mileage

If you’re unsure about the maintenance history of your vehicle, then Mobil 1™ High Mileage synthetic motor oil is the best choice. Why? This high mileage oil contains a higher base oil viscosity to help reduce leaks and provide better high temperature protection. Mobil 1 High Mileage also provides unsurpassed wear protection of critical engine components. Plus, if your engine contains excessive sludge deposits due to less-than-adequate maintenance practices, this high mileage oil can help by reducing this sludge.

Mobil Super High Mileage

If you know your vehicle has received regular oil changes at the manufacturer’s suggested intervals, then Mobil Super™ High Mileage conventional motor oil is a great choice. Why? This high mileage oil contains seal conditioners to help prevent leaks and control oil consumption.

Keeping your vehicle well maintained and running smoothly is the key to a longer lasting engine. And as drivers hang on to their aging cars and trucks, perhaps much longer than originally planned, it becomes even more important to give them the care they need. Your older engine might require you to spend more time in the driveway with your hood propped up, but your careful attention can add many more miles to your vehicle’s life, even well into its senior years.