You have probably seen all of the commercials for performance motor oil on television. Oil makers claim that the oil they produce can extend the life of your engine, increase fuel efficiency, and allow you to go longer in between oil changes. The question is do any of them live up to their claims, or is it all just marketing hype?
The truth is that many of the high performance oils DO offer some benefits over lesser quality oils, but the claims they make can often be exaggerated. Most oils will do an adequate job of protecting your engine, and, if you're looking for adequate, then you've got plenty of oils to choose from.
What you want to know is, when should you choose a performance motor oil, and how do you know if the claims made by the manufacturer are accurate? Again, I reference a common theme and that is, don't rely on someone else to tell you if an oil is good or not. Learn the basics so that you can make that determination for yourself. There ARE better oils out there, but, don't let the manufacturers con you with their clever advertisements. Do your research and PROVE or DISprove their claims for yourself.
One of the advantages that high performance oils (generally synthetic) MAY offer is that they can remain cleaner, longer than conventional motor oils (for a number of reasons that are all outlined in great detail within "The Motor Oil Bible"). The longer an oil stays clean, the better your car will perform, and the better protection it will receive - that is a fact. However, don't assume that, just because an oil carries a premium price tag or alit of glitzy advertising and sponsors, that it's necessarily a PREMIUM oil.
One selling point used to promote some high performance motor oil is that you can go longer between oil changes. If you are used to using the standard recommendations of changing your oil every 3,000 miles, you will see a significant increase in the lifespan of your oil. Of course, many newer vehicles are already calling for longer oil drains of 5, 7, even 10,000 miles or more, even with petroleum oil. So, is there really a significant benefit to moving to a premium oil?
The answer to that question depends upon how you drive, what you drive, where you drive, how long you wish to own your vehicle AND which premium oil you may be considering. The truth is, there are those that MAY be worth he premium, depending upon your situation. But, the only way you're going to know is by understanding how oils work, what the differences are between oils and how to objectively compare those high performance motor oils for yourself.
"The Motor Oil Bible" is the only viable resource out there that will answer all of these sorts of questions (as well as many more) in a way that just about any vehicle owner can easily understand.
The Motor Oil Guy
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