Can high mileage oil damage an engine

Why is it so important to use the correct oil when performing an oil change in your car or truck’s engine? Today’s vehicles have requirements for low emissions, high fuel mileage, and customers want high horsepower.

To meet these requirements modern engines are much more complicated, with internal systems such as variable valve timing. There are actuators inside the engine that are operated by engine oil based on oil pressure. If the correct grade or viscosity of the oil is not used problems with how the engine performs can arise. This could cause a check engine light to come on. We have plenty of examples of fixing a check engine light. Engine drivability problems can be solved by using the correct oil during an oil change.

What is the difference between high mileage oil and regular oil?

There have always been two different positions when it comes to this topic. Many believe that you should switch to high mileage when your vehicle reaches 75k miles. Another opinion is that you should switch if your vehicle is getting older and your engine is showing signs of loosening. If you frequently notice oil leaks on your older vehicle, you should start using high mileage oil. Engine noises such as rattling can benefit from a denser high mileage oil as well.

If you arent experiencing any of these issues there is no need to change your engine oil. Typically high mileage engine oils are not licensed and using them could affect your warranty

What makes high-mileage oil different?

High mileage oil is designed to care for older engines. The ingredients in high mileage oil care for the seals, have antioxidants, detergents, and wear and friction additives. High mileage oils contain viscosity modifiers that are durable and won’t diminish over time. This causes the oil to stay thicker for longer periods of time, helping protect your engine parts.

Over the course of the life of a vehicle, everything begins to loosen. As the engine ages, your gaskets, seals, and non-metal parts begin to wear. High mileage oils are designed with additives that increase flexibility and restore shape to these parts. This can help with oil leaks in the long run. High mileage oils are designed for engines that are beyond the warranty mileage.

What’s the downside of high mileage oil?

Some of the thicker oils, such as 10W-30 full synthetic and 5W-20 full synthetic can make your vehicle harder to start. This is especially true in colder temperatures. They can also reduce the circulation around the engine and increase your overall oil pressure. This will result in more pressure trying to push the motor oil between seals and gaskets.

What can happen if the correct oil isn’t used

If the correct oil is not used the vehicle warranty could be affected. For these reasons, at G&G Auto Repair we always look up the manufacturer’s required oil specification for every vehicle when we change the oil, and we only use an oil that we verify meets that specification. We use oil from a variety of sources. Even popular brands of synthetic oil don’t meet the specifications of every manufacturer. Whether you have your oil changed here or at another repair facility, it’s important that the correct oil is used in your vehicle’s engine.

Oil Change

Do I Need High Mileage Oil?

• Jan 14,2019

Getting old is part of life. As the years roll by, the parts that make us tick don't work as well as they once did. Cars are the same way. They wear down, and older vehicles with higher mileage need a little extra boost to keep things running smoothly. That’s where high mileage oil comes in!

Just as you can take steps to stay healthy later in life, you can give your car high mileage oil to help curb wear and tear related to old age. But how do you know when it’s time to start using it? For vehicles with 75,000 miles or more, the time may be now.

So, what exactly is high mileage oil?

As the name implies, this type of motor oil is formulated to address the specific problems encountered by high mileage vehicles, or those with more than 75,000 miles. It can help reduce oil consumption, smoke, and emissions from older engines. High mileage oil also works to minimize leaks and oil seepage.

While you could use high mileage oil in a younger car without harming it, the issues that high mileage oil addresses usually don’t appear in vehicles with fewer than 75,000 miles.

How does high mileage oil work?

High mileage oil works like a powerful multivitamin, restoring worn engine parts and preventing further wear and tear.

As the seal conditioners within high mileage oil expand and rejuvenate seals, less oil seeps out from your engine. This results in less oil consumption, which means fewer oil changes and fewer engine problems down the road.

High mileage oils also contain various antioxidants, detergents, and additives to decrease wear and friction—all things that are advantageous for engines past their prime. These ingredients clean out the grime and sludge that naturally builds up over time, while simultaneously minimizing friction so your engine purrs like a kitten.

Who needs high mileage oil?

Cars with more than 75,000 on their odometer can usually benefit from high mileage oil. Older vehicles with fewer miles can benefit too, as engine seals can erode over time regardless of mileage. Degraded seals mean leaking oil, and leaking oil means your engine isn't working at its best.

You might want to switch to high mileage oil if:

• You back your car out of the garage and find oil stains on the ground where your car was parked. Oil drips could indicate a loosening of engine parts.
• You look under the hood and notice oil streaks on lower engine parts.
• Your engine sounds louder than normal. A rattling noise might signal that your engine could benefit from denser motor oil, i.e., high mileage oil.

If you’re committed to preserving your vehicle for the long run, stick to regularly scheduled preventative maintenance services, especially oil changes with high mileage oil.

How does my engine benefit from high mileage oil?

High mileage oil addresses specific weaknesses in your engine that are related to old age. It’s like a healing ointment for overused engine parts.

• Reduced oil consumption: High mileage vehicles tend to leak and burn off more oil than younger cars due to degraded engine seals. High mileage oil rejuvenates degraded seals, which leads to less oil consumption and burnoff.
• Less engine sludge: Older engines tend to accumulate sludge left behind by other motor oils. High mileage oil breaks up and dissolves residual sludge.
• Protection from damage: High mileage vehicles tend to suffer from more general wear and tear than younger cars. The additives in high mileage oil preserve and protect your entire engine.

I'm ready for my high mileage oil change!

Regardless of how many (or how few) miles you have on your vehicle, regularly scheduled oil changes are critical for keeping your car running newer, longer. When you head in for your next oil change at a nearby Firestone Complete Auto Care, ask your technician about a high mileage oil change, especially if you’ve observed oil stains in your driveway or heard engine rattling. A high mileage oil change could help your car hit its next big milestone!

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