Does the high mileage oil really help?

Does the 75,000 miles and up oil really help or is it another way to get more money from people.
Is it really worth the $60+ bucks?

 

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The 5 gallon jug is ~$30 and the TOYO filter $5, where do you get $60

 

From the place I have my oil changed

 

help with what?

I've read it has a chemical that swells seals to prevent or reduce leaks

 

Help protect the motor. Basically what does high mileage oil do that the regular oil don't.

 

I've always used standard mobil1 synthetic, and my motors have always lasted well into the 100s of k miles. I wouldnt spend the extra dough unless its on sale for less than regular M1 Syn.

 

I think that additive to help swell seals is the only thing they have different that you might possibly notice an effect from. I suppose they could re-balance the additive package - to deal with increased blow-by from worn rings for instance - and that might help provide better protection. Other than that the base oils are doubtless the same as the regular oils and lubricates the same.

 

If you're having your oil changed by somebody else, you're getting ripped off. Getting full synthetic from a place that changes oil probably isn't much less than the high-mileage stuff anyway.

 

It is difficult for people without garages or strict landlords to perform oil change.
Use Mobil 1 and follow your owner manual's OCI and you will be good.

 

An oil change is a 15 minute job, probably less if they don't let it drain fully, so $25-30 for service sounds high to me. Last time I checked, WallyWorld service will do a synthetic oil and filter change for less than $50.

 

I have a 1995 Camry with 308,000 miles on it. I used to get a lot of oil leakage. Around 150k, I started using high mileage oil. It took about 2 oil changes, but the leaks disappeared. I can go 6k between oil changes (lots of highway miles) and not have to add a drop of oil. Before the high mileage oil, I had to add oil all the time. The stuff works.

My local Meinke shop charges a few extra bucks for the high mileage stuff. I used to do it myself, but for what they charge, it is worth it.

 

I will grab 4 jugs at a time of the castrol high mileage for my wife's car when it's on sale, otherwise it just gets the regular stuff. It's a '03 Cavalier, 157k miles. Does it help or not, I don't know? I do know it doesn't cost any extra when it's on sale and the engine is in good shape, on the last oil change it had it's first leak and that was some weeping out of the axle seal in the trans, not engine oil. I still always get close enough to 4L of oil draining out that I've never even bothered to check the oil between changes.

As far as paying for oil changes, that sucks, it's not a difficult job but I can appreciate what it means to not have a place to do it. If you have a car guy friend with a place to work on stuff it would be worth doing yourself. It's rewarding and it gives you the opportunity to get in there and inspect the engine & underbody and hopefully find problems while they're still a maintenance issue and not a break-down. Good chance to hang out with a buddy and talk trucks/cars too. If not though, while it sucks to pay too much it's more important that it's done competently. It's a simple job but when done carelessly very bad things can happen to your engine.

 

I wasn't criticizing for not performing his own oil changes. I didn't do my own until I got my truck (10 years of driving). Just saying that it is a rip-off, so that kind of price doesn't surprise me, and it doesn't sound like much more than a full synthetic oil change performed at a business.

 

Wow, I have never heard of that before. How long have you been doing that?