As the old saying goes, there’s no such thing as a free lunch. The same could be said for car maintenance. While it’s tempting to try and cut corners and save money by going with the cheapest option available, this is often not the best decision in the long run. In some cases, it’s actually wiser to invest in high-quality products that may cost a bit more upfront. One such case is using high mileage oil in a new engine.
If you’re like most drivers, you care about your car and want to do everything you can to make sure it runs well for as long as possible. Can you use high-mileage oil in a new engine? You may have also heard that using high mileage oil in a new engine can help preserve its life but is this true?
In this article, we’ll take a look at the benefits and drawbacks of using high-mileage oil in a new engine, and help you decide whether or not it’s the right choice for you.
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What is High Mileage Oil?
High mileage oil is a type of motor oil designed for vehicles with more than 75,000 miles on the odometer. High mileage oil is formulated with special additives and base oils that help protect seals and reduce leaks.
An aging engine can experience conditions that are handled specifically by the high-mileage engine oil. Developed to provide care for aging engines while also being able to handle the needs of newer engines as these specialized lubricants are fully compliant with all industry standards.
With these products, engine oil burn-off performance is improved, which can provide additional protection in engines that have experienced increased oil consumption. Besides containing higher levels of detergents and seal conditioners, high mileage oils are also designed to prevent aging seals and gaskets from becoming brittle, which increases their resistance to leaks and enhances their performance for older engines.
The reason why high-mileage oil is suggested for high-mileage engines is to prevent normal oil additives from breaking down. It is important to note that almost all engine oils improve lubrication under normal use.
Can You Use High Mileage Oil In a New Engine?
The minute you step inside a dealership or pull into a gas station, you are usually presented with a plethora of choices in the area of oil. If you have never bought yourself a new oil, you may be wondering how you choose between the 2 to 4 or more types of oils that they have in stock.
Best High Mileage Motor Oils
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There are things you need to know before using high-mileage oil in a new engine.
If you’re considering using high-mileage motor oil in your car, there are a few things you should know first.
For starters, high-mileage motor oil is designed for engines with over 75,000 miles on them. This means that if your engine is relatively new, you shouldn’t need to use this type of oil. Furthermore, high-mileage motor oil is typically more expensive than regular motor oil. So, if you’re on a budget, you may want to stick with the regular stuff.
Finally, while high mileage motor oil can help to extend the life of your engine, it’s not a cure-all. If your engine is already showing signs of wear and tear, this oil isn’t going to magically fix all of your problems.
So, if you’re thinking about using high-mileage motor oil in your car, just be sure to keep these things in mind.
The compatibility of engine components to any type of oil ultimately depends on the type of each mineral oil that is tested, along with the type of engine.
But it doesn’t stop there. Modulating so-called “transmission,” “transfer,” and “dilution” rates is necessary before oil can be called “high mileage” oil.
At this point, you probably understand that oil is worth the money even if you don’t actually buy it for a new vehicle.
The Myth: High Mileage Oil Is Bad for Engines That Aren’t Used Very Much?
Engines that are typically used for long periods of time, such as for commuting, don’t typically need high mileage oils and it is important to use the right oil for your engine.
If your car has an oil life of only 1-2,000 RPM (more commonly known as per vehicle miles-to-miles) per day, then it will not afford you to use high mileage oils. After this, it may be best to see if the manufacturer has a 3-2,000 RPM oil life as this is rated per vehicle minutes (miles per hour). A lot of engines will not reach the 2,000 RPM mark easily, especially over the latter half of the years after it has been used.
Engines that are used for idle carrying capacity for prolonged periods of time, may use oil that has high resistance to pressure and oxidation and thus allowing them to last longer than an engine that is only used for commuting and short periods of long-distance driving.
Engines have to withstand a great deal of pressure and heat for extended periods of time and therefore they require good oil writing and stability of the oil.
You’ll see that these are not the popularly used comparison breakdowns for oils over miles and time.
So why are they important?
Petroleum-based oils will slowly drain, and the longer you run your engine on the same type of oil, the more likely it is to fail in the latter years. Running your engine on high-mileage automotive oils can slow down engine wear. When your oil gets old, new contaminants enter the oil system and get mixed with the oil.
If you are not careful, you can be stuck with a damaged engine. Avoiding car mechanics and making sure your engine is always running with the optimal oil will help prevent the engine from error.
Features to Consider When Purchasing High Mileage Oil?
Consider buying racing or high-mileage automotive oils with extended warranties. You will be supported by the manufacturer to ensure your engine runs continuously and efficiently. Engines change how they burn fuel over time as they suck it into the engine.
There are a few benefits to using high-mileage oil in a new engine. First, high mileage oil has special additives that can help protect an engine as it breaks in. Second, high-mileage oil can help improve fuel economy.
So, if you are looking for a little extra protection for your new engine, or if you want to improve your fuel economy, consider using high mileage oil.
Related Guide: Can We Use Engine Oil for Chain Lube (2022)? Expert Opinion!
Use High Mileage Oil; When High Mileage Motor Oil is Improper?
All motor vehicles require oil to perform properly. High Mileage Motor oil is not recommended in engines with under 20,000 miles. In certain cases, however, high mileage oil can reduce the valve clearances, even though some engines have the extra oil put in the breather pipe.
Low-mileage motor oil should only be used with high-mileage diesel engines. While some people opt for the use of synthetic lubricants for low mileage, these are harmful to your engine as they wear out your engine over time.
FAQs
Should I switch to High-Mileage Engine Oil?
A high-mileage oil can be used in two ways. Switching at 75,000 miles is the first step. A second option is to switch if the engine of your older vehicle appears to be loosening up. Using high-mileage engine oil is a good idea if your engine drips oil. Your engine might benefit from denser oil if it sounds louder and rattling.
Changing your engine oil doesn’t solve any problems if you don’t have any. Since high-mileage oils are usually not API-licensed, I recommend waiting until your vehicle’s warranty period has expired before switching.
What makes High-Mileage Engine Oils Different?
High-mileage oil contains conditioners, seal swells, antioxidants, detergents, and wear or friction additives to keep older engines running smoothly. Viscosity modifiers are typically durable and won’t lose their viscosity easily. In order to protect engine parts, these oils must remain thicker for longer periods of time.
It is inevitable that anything mechanical will loosen over time, even door handles. During the course of an engine’s life, seals, gaskets, and other non-metal components decay. Seal conditioners are added to higher-mileage oils to help increase flexibility and restore shape, which leads to fewer leaks.
Engine oils designed for high mileage engines have been developed for engines that have accumulated 60, 80, and 150,000 miles beyond their warranty periods. Check it for leaks or rattling. It is possible to protect engines in a lot of ways with this product.
FAQs
1. Can you use high-mileage oil in a low-mileage engine?
Older engines can use less oil, produce less smoke, and emit fewer emissions with this technology. Additionally, high-mileage oil minimizes leaks and oil seepage. High mileage oil could be used in a younger car without damaging it, but the issues it addresses don’t usually appear in cars less than 75,000 miles old.
2. What happens if you mix high-mileage oil with regular oil?
In no way will mixing them improve the performance or efficiency of your engine. Oil performance will also not be improved by mixing. There are two equally important points that illustrate this: Regular motor oil won’t be enhanced by adding synthetic oil.
3. Does high-mileage engine oil make a difference?
You can keep your car’s engine healthy for a longer period of time by using high-mileage oil in your high-mileage vehicle. They contain special additives and seal enhancers that minimize engine oil leaks, both internal and external.
4. Can high mileage oil cause problems?
Your vehicle may have a harder time starting if you use thicker oils like 10W-30 and 5W-20. Colder temperatures make this even more true. You can also experience an increase in your overall oil pressure if they reduce circulation around the engine.
5. Can I mix high-mileage oil with full synthetic oil?
Yes. It is safe to mix synthetic motor oil with conventional motor oil. Synthetic oil’s superior performance and benefits will be diminished if conventional oil is used.
6. Can you use high-mileage oil in any car?
High-mileage oils should not be used in new vehicles since no manufacturer recommends this type of oil. Are you worried about your engine being damaged by it? At least until the warranty expires, it would be best to follow the instructions in the owner’s manual.
7. Is it good to use high-mileage oil?
Using an oil formulated specifically for older engines may seem overkill, but it’s well worth the effort. Your engines will run more efficiently and reliably for longer with the additives in high-mileage oils.
Conclusion: If You’re Not Sure, Ask a technician!
Regardless of the quality of the oil you choose, you should continue changing it at least every two years.
This is especially important if the oil contains a lot of additives or chemical products meant to help prevent corrosion, but you’ll still need to change it even more frequently to extend the life of your engine. You should still begin changing the oil at least once a year, so having a vague idea of what the shop recommends is probably best.
Additionally, don’t just use the oil you got from the dealer because it was the least expensive option. You can easily find better deals through trusted auto manufacturers or even if what they charge you is a bit higher.
Of course, saving a little bit of cash is a good thing, but you’d be sacrificing other factors like quality to do so. Just think about it this way: you could get a better used car for the price you saved (and make a good profit, since the value of a car goes up quite frequently after a couple of years of use), but you could end up having to change the oil after 4 years. Oil is one of the most important parts of your car, especially if you want to use it a long time.
A lot of new vehicles come with another problem that they employ low quality engine oil. Usually, the engine is oiled with regular car oil as the default, or low mileage oil. For a long time, going with either option was okay, but nowadays you need to be more careful. Regular cars are designed to handle high amounts of low-pressure that move through the oil. That is not the case with a high-performance sports car.
So, when you switch the vehicle from regular to high mileage oil, you are going to have to address a few points differently. For example, high mileage oil is thicker, which means that your engine won’t benefit as much as regular oil with new components. So, you have to make sure that everything is functioning properly if you want to have the best performance.
But by switching to high mileage oil, you can extend the life of your vehicle. Basically, that means you will have to buy more accessories. You are basically spending more money to get the same service (less life with simple vehicle) with high mileage vs. Regular.
