Is high mileage motor oil a scam?

Table of Contents

• What is High Mileage Oil?
• Benefits of High Mileage Oil
• When to Use High Mileage Oil – when your car has high mileage, and even before it gets high miles for prevention of issues;
• Cost Considerations
• Other Factors to Consider
• Conclusion

What is High Mileage Oil?

High mileage oil is a special type of motor oil specifically designed for cars and trucks that have accumulated a lot miles. It’s formulated to handle the unique needs of an engine with over 75,000 miles and can help extend the life of your vehicle. High mileage oils typically contain special additives meant to reduce oil consumption, prevent leaks, control sludge buildup, and prevent wear on internal parts in older engines.

In addition to these performance benefits, high mileage oils may also include seal conditioners that protect aging engine seals from cracking or hardening due to extreme temperatures or age-related deterioration. These seal conditioners can help reduce leakage from gaskets and seals that are becoming brittle with age. Ultimately, using high-mileage motor oils may be just what you need if you want your car to run smoothly for many more years.

But, we have heard these types of promises, for as long as there are issues in any aspect of the world there have been easy fixes. So we really wanted to test out if these specialized oils actually help your car, or if they will just help lighten your wallet.. or purse… or crypto wallet?

Benefits of High Mileage Oil

Is high-mileage oil a waste of money, or does it really work? The answer to this question is pretty straight forward when you get down to it. High mileage oil has been designed to provide additional protection for cars with more than 75,000 miles on the odometer. It is designed to address the problems that older engines can experience due to wear and tear over time – issues such as increased levels of viscosity, increased risk of deposits and leaks, reduced fuel economy and so on.

The specialized oil contains a unique blend of additives specifically developed for use in older cars. These additives are intended to help reduce engine wear and improve performance by reducing friction between moving parts, helping maintain lubrication quality and preventing sludge buildup in the engine.

In this video, you can actually see the scientific breakdowns of the additives and makeups of the oils. It is pretty thorough and breaks down the advantages of the higher mileage oils based on the tests.

What’s great is that the guy in the video doesn’t just say these are the results, but rather these are the results and this is why they matter to you.

When to Use High Mileage Oil – when your car has high mileage, and even before it gets high miles for prevention of issues;

High-mileage oil can be a great way to extend the life of your car and prevent any costly repairs. After all, if you can avoid large maintenance expenses, why not? These types of oils are specially formulated to reduce wear and tear in higher-mileage vehicles, protecting vital engine components from breaking down over time. But when should you use it?

If your car has high mileage (usually defined as 75,000 miles or more) it’s a smart idea to switch to high-mileage oil. This type of oil is designed for vehicles with increased wear and tear on their engines, so using it when your vehicle has hit that point will help preserve its lifespan and reduce the risk of major breakdowns.

As seen in the video as well, you can actually switch to this type of oil earlier, as the additives can actually help to prevent issues. We wouldn’t suggest switching to it right away but somewhere around 50,000 miles would probably be a point where you think about making the switch.

Cost Considerations

The cost is an important factor when it comes to maintaining and servicing your car, as money doesn’t grow on trees and high mileage oil typically features specially blended oils designed to protect an engine from wear, reduce friction and extend the life of a car’s engine components.

The only downside of this oil is that it usually costs a bit more per oil change, but can be worth it if it can help avoid issues in your car in the future. So, it really is up to you to see if you think it is worth it or not. But based on that video and other info we read about it seems that it is probably worth it once you start putting the miles on your car.

Other Factors to Consider

When it comes to taking care of your car, there is more to maintenance than simply using high-mileage oil. While this type of lubricant can help reduce wear and tear on your engine components over time, other factors should be considered when performing regular maintenance.

Engine oil may be the most important factor for keeping your car running smoothly, but other fluids in the vehicle should not be overlooked. Coolant helps keep temperatures low in the engine, while transmission fluid ensures smooth shifting between gears. It’s also important to check brake lines for leaks or damage that could affect braking performance. Additionally, tires should be kept properly inflated and inspected for any uneven wear that might indicate an alignment issue or bad shocks and struts.

Lastly, regular tune-ups can help extend the life of an engine if done properly by a certified mechanic or at home if you can do it yourself. We have done a post that goes over the full value of keeping up with your maintenance. It isn’t just a cash grab and as many say… something .. something … something prevention is worth a bunch of …? Just kidding the quote is “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” Which makes sense because if you keep something from breaking in your car you don’t have to fix it… or spend any money fixing them.

Conclusion

We were honestly surprised that the video and info we found supported the statements about high-mileage products as these types of claims turn out to be closer to snake oil than motor oil. But it turns out that these additives and special additions to oil can actually help your car out. And as you saw in our terrible attempt at quoting before if you can spend a couple of dollars more per oil change and save thousands by avoiding engine issues we think it’s worth it.