Best Synthetic Motor Oil for Protecting Your Car’s Engine

Finding the best synthetic motor oil for your car can be a tricky task.

I’ve spent hundreds of hours investigating the oil market (and done hundreds of oil changes myself) andI have combined my knowledge on motor oil with the thousands of customer reviews from a lot of top-of-the-league synthetic oils to craft this list.

I’ve added a comprehensive buyer’s guide that is an absolute MUST read in order to help you understand which oil to buy for your car in particular.

10 best Synthetic Motor Oil Reviews

Here are the best all around synthetic motor oils to keep your vehicle running smoothly.

0W20

Valvoline SYNpower FULL SYNTHETIC

For the lowest SAE of the table we have selected Valvoline SYNpower. Valvoline is a 100% american oil company, the oldest in the country and SYNpower is their highest line of products. There are other good alternatives but this is in our opinion the best 0w20 available.

Review

It comes with a great pack of additives that makes this the best available oil for this grade. It is a full synthetic motor oil (Group IV base stock)

Top quality detergents on this oil help dissolving existing sludge and prevent new sludge formation. Offers great varnish protection and outstanding high-temperature protection under severe driving conditions and superior cold-temperature protection through faster oil flow at start-up.

Although greater fuel efficiency is claimed, we have no personal records of that being true.

0w20 is usually the recommended SAE in most hybrid and small-sized gasoline engines.

Pros

• Full Synthetic oil
• 100% American
• Made with the best additives available for superior sludge protection.
• Better protection on cold-starts
• Meets DEXOS 1

Cons

• None whatsoever

5W20

Valvoline SYNpower FULL SYNTHETIC

Here’s Valvoline again, and there are good reasons! In general terms, the SYNpower oil has very few contenders. Sure, there are grades in which we find better oils. We like Valvoline but we’re no fanboys. For the 5W20 SAE we believe is the best full synthetic oil.

Review

SYNpower oils are made with Group IV stock base oils and top quality detergents that offer great sludge protection as well as great varnish protection.

At high temperatures it still provides great protection despite the low viscosity, and it also offers great cold-start protection when the hydrodynamic lubrication is poor thanks to the faster oil flow. 

Pros

• Full Synthetic oil
• 100% American
• Made with the best additives available for superior sludge protection.
• Better protection on cold-starts
• Meets Dexos 1

Cons

• None whatsoever

5W30

Royal Purple High Performance

Royal Purple is a premium manufacturer and their products are some of the very best on the market, both on synthetic oils and oil filters. They do also produce performance additives such as fuel injector cleaners that are worth having a look at.

Review

This particular oil is heavily recommended among the rotary community. Rotary engines are (in)famously known for relying heavily on good oils.

It is specifically meant for use on gasoline engines. Whilst you can use it on diesel engines, we would advise to check #4 in that case.

It is recommended a full break-in before switching to royal purple.

On high-mileage engines, it is advised to do a few short mileage oil change intervals (such as 3000miles) when switching to royal purple to allow it to dissolve sludge deposits properly.

It is a great oil if you usually run fuel containing ethanol, given its superior compatibility. Increased fuel efficiency has been proved when changing from other brands to RP.

It is made from Group IV (PAO) base stocks.

Pros

• Full Synthetic oil
• Meets ILSAC GF-5 and DEXOS 1
• Better wear protection
• Increased fuel efficiency
• Better protection of the catalytic system
• Improved compatibility with fuels containing ethanol
• Superior corrosion protection
• Meets Dexos 1

Cons

• Prices higher than competitors

Pennzoil Ultra Platinum FULL SYNTHETIC

5W30 Is perhaps the most common SAE for gasoline engines in the US, so we thought of talking about this oil even if we already covered this SAE with the Royal Purple because we honestly believe they are totally tied when it comes to find the best synthetic motor oil for this SAE 5W30 grade

Review

Pennzoil is owned by Shell since 2002. Ultra Platinum is the highest line of products they manufacture for which they use Group V base stocks (natural gas) This is, the base used is 99.5% pure.

On top of that, the additives used ensure the highest possible levels of engine cleanliness. It increases fuel economy and ensures the best lubrication on cold temperatures.

Pros

• Full Synthetic oil
• Meets API SN, ILSAC GF-5 and Dexos 1
• Meets Ford WSS-M2C929-A, Ford WSS-M2C946-A,
• Meets Chrysler MS-6395, Honda HTO-06, GM 4718M and GM 6094M
• Meets ACEA, A5/B5, A1,B1.
• Prices lower than competitors.
• Increased Fuel Economy

Cons

• Even if priced cheaper than the competition, it is still an expensive motor oil.

10W30

Pennzoil Ultra Platinum FULL SYNTHETIC

For cars using 10w30 oil on their engines we recommend Pennzoil Ultra Platinum.

Review

As we’ve seen on the 5w30 review, it is a full synthetic oil made from from natural gas as a base stock, with a combination of additives that ensure cleaner pistons, better fuel economy and helps protect engines from metal wear caused by friction resulting on loss of power.

It provides faster low temperature oil flow thanks to its extremely pure (99.5%) base stock.

So again, we have a motor oil that meets or exceeds the vast majority of industry standards, from Dexos 1 to ACEA, including dozens of vehicle manufacturer’s own standards.

Pros

• Full Synthetic oil
• Meets API SN, ILSAC GF-5 and Dexos 1
• Meets Ford WSS-M2C929-A, Ford WSS-M2C946-A,
• Meets Chrysler MS-6395, Honda HTO-06, GM 4718M and GM 6094M
• Meets ACEA, A5/B5, A1,B1.
• Prices lower than competitors.
• Increased Fuel Economy

Cons

• None whatsoever.

0W40

Castrol Edge FULL SYNTHETIC

Whilst this SAE isn’t very commonly used, there are performance engines that require the best from both worlds.

Very fluid low temperature oils that are thick when hot and offer great protection vs friction.

A good lot of Porsche engines as well as BMW engines run with 0w40.

The debate has been lately “Castrol vs Mobil 1” and after  listening to the community, we believe Castrol makes the best 0w40.

Review

Overall engine noise sees drastic reduction when using Castrol Edge.

It meets the toughest industry standards such as BMW LL-01, Mercedes-Benz 229.5 and 229.3, Porsche A40, VW 505.00 and 502.00, Ford WSS-M2C937-A, PSA B71 2296 and it is API SN/CF, ACEA A3, ACEA B3, ACEA B4, A3/B4 certified.

This full synthetic motor oil as proven itself and is now the reference.

Pros

• Full Synthetic oil
• Almost every single thing about it.

Cons

• Vert hard to find, not always in stock

5W40

Shell Rotella T6 SYNTHETIC [Heavy Duty Diesel]

The Shell Rotella T6 is an oil meant for heavy duty diesel engines. These engines have the highest lubrication demands, therefore being extremely important to use only the best synthetic motor oil.

Review

It uses Group III Base Stock, which means it isn’t a full synthetic oil. In Europe, this mixtures are called “Semi-synthetic oils” since they use conventional oil as a base but the combined additives provide higher performance, as good as a full synthetic motor oil, but not as expensive. 

Here’s an article about where does synthetic oil come from.

The additives Shell uses on the Rotella provide with reduced levels of ash, phosphorous and sulfur to help maintain the efficiency of the latest vehicle-emissions technologies, making it very DPF and EGR friendly.

It is based on free-flowing synthetic base oils that allow reliable pumping on start-up under cold climate conditions yet remain thick enough under high temperature operation to protect against wear.

It meets the following specifications: API CJ-4.Volvo VDS-4, JASO DH-2, JASO-MA, VW TDI 504.00, MB 228.31.

Pros

• Specifically made for heavy-duty engines.
• Pack of additives tailored to extend life from DPF and EGR systems
• Price

Cons

• Not full synthetic

10W40

Valvoline MAX LIFE High Mileage

The last Valvoline from the list. This time is not the SYNpower full synthetic because… they don’t make it for this SAE! (they do, but is motorcycle oil and it is EXPENSIVE) For cars, the MAXlife is the deal.

Review

It is meant for engines with high mileage. It is made from a mixture of base stocks that don’t make it a full synthetic oil (hence called synthetic blend).

It carries an impressive pack of additives such as seal conditioners that rejuvenate aging engine seals to help stop and prevent oil leak and extra detergents that keep older engines cleaner by bonding with and removing sludge and deposits and then anti-oxidants help prevent oil breakdown, preventing engine-clogging sludge and deposit formation.

Pros

• Made for High Mileage engines.
• Impressive Pack of Additives that act manyfold to keep your engine running like new.
• Very affordable, since it isn’t full synthetic.

Cons

• Not full synthetic

15W40

Royal Purple High Performance (DIESEL)

Another Royal Purple oil gets into the list. Their Duralec Diesel Motor Oil comes with a lot of great features that make it the best oil for engines using 15W40 motor oil

Review

As every Royal Purple oil, it is full synthetic. The bases used are specially compatible with fuels containing ethanol.

It provides better wear protection than the competition, superior corrosion protection and meets some of the highest standards for heavy duty machines such as Cummins CES 20081, DDC Power Guard 93K18, Mack E0-0 Premium Plus, Renault vl RLD-3 and Volvo VDS-4 engine oil requirements. It also meets CJ-4, ILSAC GF-5 and Dexos1.

Sadly, Royal Purple products carry a higher price than the average, it couldn’t all be good!

Pros

• Full Synthetic Oil.
• Great performance on Heavy Duty Engines such as truck or van big diesel engines.

Cons

• Price.
• Sometimes the 5 gallon jugs are a bit short on content. Contacting RP Customer Service should solve it though.

10W60

LiquiMoly Synthol Race RACE TECH GT1 FULL SYNTHETIC

The German company LiquiMoly is in general terms one of the best brands in automotive lubricants. However they are rather expensive and not always to recommend.

For most common SAE grades other brands procure with top performing oils at a more affordable price. But when we talk about a SAE 10W60 we talk about performance engines with incredible requirements on oil viscosity, give as an example all M series of BMW, most Porsche engines and so on.

In fact, LiquiMoly is the recommended oil for most premium German automotive brands.

The obvious downside it is that it is expensive, but if your car asks for a 10w60, this is what you want. Don’t save 10$ on the oil of a 8000$ engine.

Pros

• Full Synthetic Oil
• Finest German Engineering
• Highest Performing Oil Available

Cons

• Size is only in Liters since it is made in Europe
• Very Expensive

Synthetic Motor Oil Buyer’s Guide

This guide is meant to help you make an educated choice on synthetic oil for your car. To help you understand the different grades, oil bases, additives, and much more. We cover why synthetic oil is the smart choice, what brands are out there, which synthetic oil should you get for your car, the consequences of using the wrong oil and we also link to some other resources that we’ve developed to help you further in your car maintenance.

We hope that this guide covers all your possible doubts and if it doesn’t please send us an email to [email protected] telling us what you feel we are missing.

Is synthetic oil better than conventional oil?

We will let the guys at Engineering Explained illustrate… (for the sake of glorious knowledge, subscribe to their channel)

So yes. Synthetic oil is way better than conventional oil in all terms and it is a very smart investment to use synthetic oil in your car.

Which synthetic oil should I use in my car?

Quick Answer: The oil you car’s manufacturer recommends for your model and motor. End.

If that’s enough of an answer to you, go to Amazon (they will give you better prices than your local store/garage shop) and buy whatever your car’s manual say and call it a day. Honestly, you will be ok.

This first answer might surprise you. “It can’t be that easy!” you might think.

Longer Answer: Considering the manufacturer’s recommendation (let’s say your car’s manufacturer recommends Mobil 1 5w40) have a look at other 5w40 full synthetic oils out there and see which one has the best qualities and offers the most value for your money. And to spare you precious time, we’ve done the research already and that’s what you see on the table that’s on top of this page.

Now, should you use a different oil, like let’s say a 0w20 because uncle Bob told you that “It is better for the climate here son!” ?

No. You will most likely end up facing severe mechanical problems. So keep reading.

Is using the wrong oil bad for the engine?

Like most things, it depends. Let’s see on what.

Multigrade oils (most oils) have two numbers. The 1st number, or the “Winter” number, measures the viscosity of the oil on cold conditions. Usually, the lower this number is, the more fluid the oil will be under low temperatures (see on the chart on the left how a 0W has a longer arrow than a 20W indicating proper fluidity under lower temperatures) so, the better.

The second number or “Weight” shows the thickness of the oil once this is at high temperature. The higher the number, the thicker the oil will be at a determinate temperature.

Now does it mean that the higher the better? Not necessarily.

The Right SAE for your car.

Not all engines were created equal. Whereas lower Winter grades are generally better (making cold-starts easier and providing proper lubrication even on extremely cold environments) higher weight is not always better. Every engine will have different lubrication needs at the optimal operating temperature AND different operating temperatures.

For instance, a big, turbocharged diesel engine will generally operate at very high temperatures, high pressure and require then better performing lubricants.

A small, atmospheric gasoline engine will do better with a thinner oil on high temperature.

The manufacturer will tell for each model and motorization which SAE grades are recommended. If you do not have the owner’s manual, you can check what oil does your car need using Mobil1’s Oil Search Engine (Mobil 1 isn’t our favorite oil but the tool is good!)

What happens if I use a different SAE.

• A Winter grade too high will cause bad lubrication on cold (roughly the first 30 minutes your car is running) increasing metal wear and making cold starts a hard thing.
• A weight grade too low will cause the oil film in between moving parts to be too thin, increasing friction, temperature and metal wear. It will be likely to get into the cylinders through the piston rings. Oil consumption rises by burning oil in the combustion. Burnt oil will quickly damage the catalytic converters and may cause malfunction on the lambda sensors.
• A weight grade too high will be harder to pump and hydrodynamic lubrication will be lower. Oil resistance increases and the performance decreases. MPG decreases. Turbocharged engines are very sensitive to operative temperature thickness as the turbo shaft revolves at over 100.000 rpm being its lubrication needs extremely high. Their lifespan depends entirely on the correct quantity, density and viscosity of the oil.
• Diesel engines that incorporate DPF and or EGR systems, those will be affected by the gases that the oil generates, wrong oil, wrong gases will go to the components.
• You can learn more about oil viscosity here.

How often should I change the oil?

For that question, we’ve written an entire article on synthetic oil change interval, with hopes to bring some light to the topic. Synthetic oil has got overall a much larger lifespan than regular oil so the traditional “change oil each 3000 miles” recommendation is nowadays rather obsolete.

What else should I consider?

Whenever you change oil, change the oil filter too. It is worth very little to get new immaculate oil in your engine if your filter is all dirty.

Filters are usually inexpensive and are a vital element on the lubrication system. They retain all the nasty stuff that gets into the oil such as metal particles product of metal wear, dust, combustion by-products such as soot, acid and water.

Changing the oil filter is essential for a correct lubrication and condition of the oil.

We’ve also done a full review on the best oil filters so we recommend you to check that too and buy your oil and filter together.

Will Switching to Synthetic Oil Cause My Engine To Leak?

It shouldn’t. Properly formulated synthetic oils will generally not cause an engine oil leak. Synthetic oils are usually more fluid and even when old, they run smoothly.

They have a higher degree of natural solvency.

This may clean and remove existing deposits of sludge left previously by conventional oils. If some of these deposits are blocking damaged seals or cracks, leaking may happen.

If your engine already experiences a high oil consumption that problem should be tackled prior to switching to synthetic oil.

Which factors are worth considering when choosing a synthetic oil?

• Viscosity Grade

When considering the right synthetic oil, the first feature you need to look out for is its viscosity. If you’re driving in high temperatures constantly, choose one that has a grade of 10W-40. For colder climates, find a synthetic oil with a viscosity of 5W-30.

If you’re uncertain which viscosity grade works best for your car, follow the recommendation of a professional rather than leaving it to guesswork.

• Additives

To improve specific attributes, synthetic motor oil manufacturers use their additive proprietary blends.

For example, viscosity improvers significantly enhance the oil’s properties to avoid excessive thinning during higher temperatures.

Detergents are also popular additives used for cleaning debris and other foreign substance from the engine.

Before purchasing synthetic motor oil, think about which additives will bring the most benefits to you.

• Compatibility

If you’re consistent with the synthetic oil brand, you may disregard this factor. Otherwise, before you mix a new synthetic oil in your vehicle, confirm if it’s compatible with other brands. You’ll have to drain the old oil before replacing it with the new one if it isn’t.

It’s also advisable to check the car’s manual to determine the manufacturer’s recommendation about the engine oil.

Which factors are worth considering when choosing a synthetic oil?

• Viscosity Grade

When considering the right synthetic oil, the first feature you need to look out for is its viscosity. If you’re driving in high temperatures constantly, choose one that has a grade of 10W-40. For colder climates, find a synthetic oil with a viscosity of 5W-30.

If you’re uncertain which viscosity grade works best for your car, follow the recommendation of a professional rather than leaving it to guesswork.

• Additives

To improve specific attributes, synthetic motor oil manufacturers use their additive proprietary blends.

For example, viscosity improvers significantly enhance the oil’s properties to avoid excessive thinning during higher temperatures.

Detergents are also popular additives used for cleaning debris and other foreign substance from the engine.

Before purchasing synthetic motor oil, think about which additives will bring the most benefits to you.

• Compatibility

If you’re consistent with the synthetic oil brand, you may disregard this factor. Otherwise, before you mix a new synthetic oil in your vehicle, confirm if it’s compatible with other brands. You’ll have to drain the old oil before replacing it with the new one if it isn’t.

It’s also advisable to check the car’s manual to determine the manufacturer’s recommendation about the engine oil.

Does synthetic motor oil expire?

Motor oil frequently has an expiration date indicated on the container. Five years is the standard shelf life of this solution.

Nonetheless, a synthetic motor oil’s shelf life is affected by environmental factors and additives. The quality of the oil may degrade, and sludge may develop, especially if there’s moisture presence.

Is there a drawback to synthetic oil?

While it may seem that synthetic oil has the most advantages, there are also some drawbacks worth highlighting.

The most prominent disadvantage of synthetic oil is its high cost. Expect to pay at least double the amount of regular mineral motor oil if you opt for full synthetic.

During cold storage, synthetic oil may be more susceptible to additive precipitation. Certain additives are stratified as a result, which may result in their full separation from the motor oil.

Compared to mineral oil, the synthetic has a worse fuel economy at freeway speeds.

Full synthetic oil is not advised for brand new or recently purchased automobiles. It limits the breaking in, which means you won’t get the speed the vehicle is capable of.

What is semi-synthetic motor oil?

Semi-synthetic oil or synthetic blend is a combination of fully synthetic and standard mineral oil. It offers many of the same properties and advantages as fully synthetic oil but at a cheaper cost.

The additives of synthetic oil can help resist oxidation and handle high temperatures. Like standard mineral oil, you may get to travel around 3,000 miles before needing to change it.

Your car will not suffer any immediate or significant effects if you switch to semi-synthetic oil from fully synthetic oil. However, when used consistently, you won’t experience the benefits of the latter like before.

​This type of motor oil is often utilized by trucks, SUVs, and van owners. The semi-synthetic oil is the practical choice for these vehicles because you don’t necessarily need the performance of a fully synthetic oil to function.

Motor oil frequently has an expiration date indicated on the container. Five years is the standard shelf life of this solution.

Nonetheless, a synthetic motor oil’s shelf life is affected by environmental factors and additives. The quality of the oil may degrade, and sludge may develop, especially if there’s moisture presence.

Is there a drawback to synthetic oil?

While it may seem that synthetic oil has the most advantages, there are also some drawbacks worth highlighting.

The most prominent disadvantage of synthetic oil is its high cost. Expect to pay at least double the amount of regular mineral motor oil if you opt for full synthetic.

During cold storage, synthetic oil may be more susceptible to additive precipitation. Certain additives are stratified as a result, which may result in their full separation from the motor oil.

Compared to mineral oil, the synthetic has a worse fuel economy at freeway speeds.

Full synthetic oil is not advised for brand new or recently purchased automobiles. It limits the breaking in, which means you won’t get the speed the vehicle is capable of.

What is semi-synthetic motor oil?

Semi-synthetic oil or synthetic blend is a combination of fully synthetic and standard mineral oil. It offers many of the same properties and advantages as fully synthetic oil but at a cheaper cost.

The additives of synthetic oil can help resist oxidation and handle high temperatures. Like standard mineral oil, you may get to travel around 3,000 miles before needing to change it.

Your car will not suffer any immediate or significant effects if you switch to semi-synthetic oil from fully synthetic oil. However, when used consistently, you won’t experience the benefits of the latter like before.

This type of motor oil is often utilized by trucks, SUVs, and van owners. The semi-synthetic oil is the practical choice for these vehicles because you don’t necessarily need the performance of a fully synthetic oil to function.

Best Synthetic Motor Oil Brands

If you check our ten recommendations you will see just a few brands in the list. It doesn’t mean that other brands make bad products but we believe that brands such as Valvoline or Liquimoly are at the very top of the league. And here is why.

#1. VALVOLINE

The oldest motor oil marketer in the United States, Valvoline, it’s been around since 1866. It is part of Ashland Inc. a fortune 500 company. Every Valvoline product is designed and manufactured 100% in the US. It was Henry Ford’s oil of choice and every Model T had Valvoline as the factory fill oil. It has been around since cars are cars and that says enough for us.

“Valvoline, you know what I mean”

#2. PENNZOIL

Founded in Los Angeles in 1913 (long ago!) it has passed by many hands, being now part of Royal Dutch/Shell.

Pennzoil play is to make oils that help maintaining your engine spotless from the inside. The Platinum series are meant to clean sludge and other nasty buildups. The less sludge, the better performance of the engine.

They’ve made great effort in promoting the brand and are now Ferrari’s oil of choice.

#3. ROYAL PURPLE

This guys haven’t been as long in the game as Valvoline or Pennzoil (they were established in 1986) and aren’t as-well known, but definitely are serious players.

They produce full synthetic motor oils that are, guess what, purple in color, got a US federal trademark for the exclusive use of purple containers for lubricants and produce all kinds of oils, from motor oil to transmission oil to hydraulic oil. The company has grown strong and steady over the years and is known for performance upgrades and fuel economy gains when switching from other brands to Royal Purple.

#4. LIQUIMOLY

German engineering has always been the finest of its class and it’s no difference when it comes to engine oil. Founded in 1957 they are Germany’s #1 additive manufacturer and one of the most awarded oil makers.

Their first product, Molybdenum disulfide is the brand’s name origin. Liquimoly excels at producing high-performance motor oils aswell as transmission oils and differential oils.

#5. SHELL

We almost kicked out Shell off our list due to this thing and this other thing. But they DO make great oils so we’ll leave environmental issues aside for a minute.

Royal Dutch Shell is an Anglo-Dutch company, the world’s second largest oil company and one of the world’s most valuable companies.

Their heavy duty engine oils and specifil diesel oils are a sure bet and therefore they’ve made into the list.

Wrapping it up

Synthetic oils will give your engine’s components more than enough protection if you’ve picked the right viscosity oil and a good, trusted product.

By respecting the right synthetic oil change interval you extend your engine’s operative life.

Just make sure to bring the used oil to somewhere like Wallmart or Autozone (most places that sell oil will accept used oil for disposal) and enjoy many more miles on your car!