Your mechanic keeps telling you to switch to high mileage oil, but you still aren’t convinced. It’s not just the price increase that causes you to stall. Sure, your odometer is creeping up towards the 100,000-mile mark, but you just don’t feel like you know enough to make that call. Here are a few things that will help you decide.
How is it different?
Different types of oil are categorized by whether they are traditional or synthetic, what additives they have, and their thickness, which is called viscosity. The most important piece of criteria for choosing engine oil is the viscosity suggested in the owner’s manual.
High mileage oil has special additives that expand the seals in your engine, which helps stop leaks. The additives also get rid of gunk deposits and help prevent the parts in your engine from wearing down. It’s a good idea to use a synthetic blend rather than fully synthetic or fully traditional.
When should I start using it?
The general rule is any car over 75,000 miles should use high mileage oil. Some say that you should not switch until you have problems with your seals. However, this is a situation where an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, or something like that.
The good news is you don’t have to be afraid to mix oils. Any oil can be mixed with any other oil without the risk of damaging your engine. But it is a good idea to stick to one kind. However, if you need to top off the engine and you only have a bottle of synthetic, don’t sweat it.
Will my car run forever?
Sorry to say, every car requires maintenance, and at some point in your car’s life, the engine will probably have to be rebuilt. However, using high mileage oil can help delay that costly repair for years. So, spending that small amount right now will save you money over the long run. By the time your vehicle needs serious repairs, you might be ready for a new car rather than a new engine.
For more information about choosing the right engine oil for your car, check out this video by AutoZone.