As cars accumulate more mileage, their engines accumulate damage and wear down. Although this is normal for every engine, it can be stressful for people who need their cars for work or to make deliveries. If you are looking for a solution to keep your aging engine running smoothly, we suggest you use high-mileage oil to maintain your car.
Before we get into the details, let us first define what high-mileage oil is and how much more different it is from regular oil. Simply put, high-mileage oil is formulated for engines with many miles to them. It’s made with special additives and detergents that can help reduce oil consumption, minimizes leaks and seepage, and soften seals and gaskets that may have become brittle over time.
Vehicles that are a decade old or more can benefit more from high-mileage oil, as they have a lot of wear and tear on their engines. Switching to high-mileage oil protects your engine from further wear and tear and improves its overall performance. In this article, we will take a closer look at the benefits of using high-mileage oil. We will also review the best brands of high-mileage oil available to help you make the right choice for your car’s engine.
Overview of High-Mileage Oil
High-mileage oil is a particular type of motor oil designed for engines with 75,000 miles or more. It is formulated with special additives and detergents that will help reduce oil consumption, minimize leaks and seepage, and soften seals and gaskets that may have become brittle over time.
This type of oil is also known to protect against heat buildup and lubricates metal surfaces more effectively than regular motor oils. Unlike regular motor oils, high-mileage oils contain seal conditioners that are designed to help restore older seals in the engine that may have broken down due to wear and tear. This helps prevent further leakage, which can be especially important for cars driving for long distances, such as those living in rural areas or who often travel for work.
Furthermore, high-mileage oils enhance the performance of old engines considering that they reduce friction between engine components. This allows them to run smoother and faster. Additionally, it typically contains higher concentrations of anti-wear additives, helping reduce the amount of friction between metal parts within the engine.
Benefits of High-Mileage Oil
Using high-mileage oil on a car with an old engine can give it a wide range of benefits, like improving fuel efficiency and reducing damage. A notable benefit worth glossing over is improved fuel efficiency. Engines lose some of their lubrication as they age. High-mileage oils contain special additives and detergents that help reduce friction between the engine’s moving parts.
With lower friction, engines run smoother and more efficiently, requiring less fuel to achieve maximum performance. Essentially, this means that using high-mileage oil can help save money by reducing your trips to the gas station. As mentioned earlier, reducing engine damage is another great thing about using high-mileage oil.
High-mileage oil will slow down this deterioration by reducing the friction between the engine components, like the pistons, bearings, and cylinder walls. Furthermore, high-mileage oil can help protect older engines against serious leaks and breakdowns. Seals and gaskets slowly become brittle and break down quicker as they age. The extra additives in high-mileage oil can soften and restore these seals and gaskets, keeping the engine running smoothly and reducing the chances of leaks and breakdowns.
While some may argue that this is not extremely helpful for your car, it will lower expenses by helping you avoid unwanted repairs. All in all, you can give your engine improved fuel efficiency, reduce wear and tear, and increase protection against leaks or breakdowns if you know how to properly use this oil. It will undoubtedly help many car owners extend the life of their engines, which can help them maintain their primary mode of transportation and avoid any expensive repairs.
Limitations of High-Mileage Oil
Despite the tremendous benefits, using high-mileage oil in older engines also holds certain limitations you should consider. The first limitation of high-mileage oil we will consider is a possible reduction in the engine’s power. High-mileage oils are typically much thicker and stickier than regular motor oil.
While this allows them to provide much more lubrication and a protective layer for older engines, this can also cause unwanted resistance or drag that will reduce the engine’s performance and acceleration. To avoid this, car owners should regularly check their owner’s manual to be sure that high-mileage oil is compatible with the model of their vehicle. Another limitation to note is the potential for increased emissions. Due to its consistency, high-mileage oil will not be able to flow well in certain conditions, such as low RPMs or cold temperatures. This can cause cars to start coughing up more smoke, especially if they do not have modern emission systems. This is why owners should research their local emissions laws before applying high-mileage oil to their engines.
To sum it up, using high-mileage oil on older engines can greatly extend their lifespan and improve their overall performance. However, it would help if you always considered the potential limitations they have. All car owners should consult their owner’s manual and local emission regulations before switching to high-mileage oil. Not only this, but drivers should also look into alternatives if this oil is not recommended for their vehicle.
Conclusion
To wrap things up, switching to high-mileage oil offers numerous advantages to cars with older engines, even those with 75,000 miles or more. High-mileage oils are made with special additives and detergents that can help reduce oil consumption, minimize any leaks or seepage, and soften seals and gaskets that may have gotten brittle over time.
While there may be some limitations, the benefits of using this high-mileage oil can be the catalyst in extending the lifespan of an aging engine. If you are a car owner with a much older engine and want to improve its performance and fuel efficiency and protect it against damage, you should consider getting high-mileage oil ASAP!