Professional Mechanic's Opinion on HM Oils

[aquariuscsm]

I had an "internet car guru" guy tell me that High Mileage oils over time will put a layer of gunk on the internals of the engine that will ruin it. Now that sounds like [censored] to me. I'd told him i was running Mobil 1 10w40 High Mileage oil and he said it will gunk up your engine haha!

 

[buster]

These people don't know what they are talking about. I've found that mechanics often know the LEAST about motor oil.

Ashland and XOM have full tested their High Mileage products and would put a word of caution out if such a problem existed.

Again, High Mileage oils are simply boosted a bit in certain areas to help engines that were neglected from using subpar oil and or maintenance practices. There is nothing gimmicky about it. It's a niche product that Valvoline created.

Now some synthetics like Mobil 1/PU are high detergent and will clean just as good as a High Mileage oil, but they do NOT have the same amount of seal conditioners. FACT.

When you want to find something out about motor oil, do your own research and try to speak with people that know what they are talking about.

 

[Nodak]

So what some of you are saying is that using Mobil 1 High Mileage in my Rav4 that has 170,000 miles on it and uses 1qrt./3000 miles to try and slow down some of the oil consumption won't make much of a difference? I know that 1qrt.per 3000 isn't too bad, but I thought I would try the M1 to see if it helped and it really hasn't made that much difference even after I changed the PCV valve.

________________________
97 Prk.Ave.-5-30 Havoline and Wix filter
03 Corolla-5-30 Quaker State Ultimate Durability and Wix filter
04 Rav 4 Mobil 1 High Mileage 5w30 and Wix filter

 

[buster]

High Mileage oils are often "thicker" for the grade, which is where they "may" help with oil consumption.

My brother's real main seal stopped leaking when he moved to Mobil 1 High Mileage. Many others have had success with these products. They are not for everyone but do serve some purpose.

Over time, seals will start to deteriorate from the hot/cold cycle. It's just part of the aging process. Seal conditioners try and slow this down.

 

[aquariuscsm]

I always used the Mobil 1 High Mileage oil because i wanted a 40 weight and a synth.

 

[Nodak]

Originally Posted By: buster
High Mileage oils are often "thicker" for the grade, which is where they "may" help with oil consumption.

My brother's real main seal stopped leaking when he moved to Mobil 1 High Mileage. Many others have had success with these products. They are not for everyone but do serve some purpose.

Over time, seals will start to deteriorate from the hot/cold cycle. It's just part of the aging process. Seal conditioners try and slow this down.
Originally Posted By: buster
High Mileage oils are often "thicker" for the grade, which is where they "may" help with oil consumption.

My brother's real main seal stopped leaking when he moved to Mobil 1 High Mileage. Many others have had success with these products. They are not for everyone but do serve some purpose.

Over time, seals will start to deteriorate from the hot/cold cycle. It's just part of the aging process. Seal conditioners try and slow this down.



Is there really a lot of difference between let's say Mobil 1 High Mileage, Valvoline Maxlife Synblend and Supertech High Mileage. My oci's are 4,000 to 5,000- so would it make much difference if I used a cheaper syn oil.

___________________________
97 Prk.Ave.-5-30 Havoline and Wix filter
03 Corolla-5-30 Quaker State Ultimate Durability and Wix filter
04 Rav 4 Mobil 1 High Mileage 5w30 and Wix filter

 

[aquariuscsm]

Only difference i know,is the M1 is a Full Synthetic and not a blend,has 1100ppm zddp,and supposedly has a really high tbn.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: Nodak
Is there really a lot of difference between let's say Mobil 1 High Mileage, Valvoline Maxlife Synblend and Supertech High Mileage. My oci's are 4,000 to 5,000- so would it make much difference if I used a cheaper syn oil.


Personally, I'd try one of the cheaper ones, like MaxLife. I have no experience with Mobil 1 High Mileage, since it's not marketed up here; we get Mobil Super 2000 blend instead. I'm assuming the Mobil 1 High Mileage would cost more, and your OCIs aren't all that long.

 

[Nodak]

Originally Posted By: Garak
Originally Posted By: Nodak
Is there really a lot of difference between let's say Mobil 1 High Mileage, Valvoline Maxlife Synblend and Supertech High Mileage. My oci's are 4,000 to 5,000- so would it make much difference if I used a cheaper syn oil.


Personally, I'd try one of the cheaper ones, like MaxLife. I have no experience with Mobil 1 High Mileage, since it's not marketed up here; we get Mobil Super 2000 blend instead. I'm assuming the Mobil 1 High Mileage would cost more, and your OCIs aren't all that long.



Garak--Should have reponded sooner, but had to leave town for a while and just returned. Your comment on trying a less expensive High Mileage oil was on the same line of what I was thinking. Yes, Mobil 1 High Mileage is a bit more expensive - would going to a synblend like Maxlife make a difference in the engine after using full syn.? In other words would there be much of a difference between the two?

___________________________
97 Prk.Ave.-5-30 Havoline and Wix filter
03 Corolla-5-30 Quaker State Ultimate Durability and Wix filter
04 Rav 4 Mobil 1 High Mileage 5w30 and Wix filter

 

[crazyoildude]

i own an engine shop all we do is rebuild engines and i h=use High Mileage oils in my car in the summer only because they are thicker and theyu do work

 

[Nodak]

Originally Posted By: crazyoildude
i own an engine shop all we do is rebuild engines and i h=use High Mileage oils in my car in the summer only because they are thicker and theyu do work


So if a High Mileage oil is thicker, should a person change to a reg. syn. in the winter months because of colder temps.? Just thinking about the impending months ahead on those cold mornings for starting the vehicle.

_____________________
97 Prk.Ave.-5-30 Havoline and Wix filter
03 Corolla-5-30 Quaker State Ultimate Durability and Wix filter
04 Rav 4 Mobil 1 High Mileage 5w30 and Wix filter

 

[LeakySeals]

I used to think Goss was full of bull in this video. But after visiting the M1 FAQ I changed my view. They use the word "sweller". http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/MotorOil/Car_Care/AskMobil/Leaking_Seals.aspx

He's also using Mobil 1 High Mileage as the example oil. Because M1 admits it in the FAQ and he's using that oil he knows something inside XOM IMO. No other High Mileage oil admits a sweller that I know of.

My personal experience - A High Mileage synthetic oil is the only synthetic I can use until I replace all rubber seals in the Camry engine in my sig. I've gone back and forth trying different synthetics. Within a few K I'm leaking from everywhere. Go back to Mobil 1 High Mileage, stopped within a few K. Because it stops and starts gradually switching back and forth I think there is a sweller agent additive. if it were just the thickness it would stop immediately after an oil change. it doesn't. Takes a few K to stop or start leaking.

No effect on the valve seals. Maybe they are burnt, maybe the swellers have no effect on the harder viton rubber of a valve seal and Goss's example using a valve seal is bogus.

So, from my experience I will not be using High Mileage oil once I replace all the rubber on that engine in the spring. Mobil 1 High Mileage got me an extra 100k without dealing with the issues. If you don't plan to repair the problems, use this oil if you have an external leak, but don't expect any miracles for valve seal related oil consumption.

 

[aquariuscsm]

So could using Mobil 1 10W40High Mileage oil *harm* the engine`s internals? I just think the guy`s full of baloney. To this day I still have professional mechanics tell me Pennzoil will sludge up your engine,and synthetic oil will ruin your engine,etc. I`d think if High Mileage oils could harm something (and the mfg knew this),there`d be a disclaimer of some sort on each and every container.

 

[buster]

From an XOM sales guy:

Quote:
In our lab testing... we have found no detrimental effects of using High Mileage oils in newer vehicles or recent rebuilds with new gaskets.

But we did find issues with using those "shock" treatment oil additives that had too much swelling agents. But that was over 3 years ago in our testing. Most High Mileage oils we did test, had just enough.

So in summary, if you have bad leaks (gasket caused-not worn piston rings etc.), using "shock" gasket swelling agents might help, and could not hurt if the gasket caused leak are large/numerous. High mileage oils have a smaller amount of these agents.

All modern synthetics now have some sort of "seal conditioners'
in them. The High Mileage synthetics of course contain more.

I personally use High Mileage Oils after I reach about 50k miles
in all my vehicles.
They contain a great additive package, and it's
softening/swelling (sealing conditioners) properties on gaskets have no ill effects.

 

[LeakySeals]

I've been using Mobil 1 High Mileage oil for 100k, the engine has never run better. I said in prior post I will discontinue use because of the seal swellers once I replace all the seals. But I love the oil for its other additives - extra cleaners and extra wear additives so I may change my mind.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: Nodak
Garak--Should have reponded sooner, but had to leave town for a while and just returned. Your comment on trying a less expensive High Mileage oil was on the same line of what I was thinking. Yes, Mobil 1 High Mileage is a bit more expensive - would going to a synblend like Maxlife make a difference in the engine after using full syn.? In other words would there be much of a difference between the two?


For your OCIs, you'd be fine with MaxLife. In my experience with the MaxLife 5w30, it definitely slowed the leaks and did hold up well (oil pressure/shear wise) under fairly heavy fuel dilution. If I felt the need again for a High Mileage oil (to deal with such issues), MaxLife would be my first choice.

For reference, it did fine in the winter up here, and you don't have any nicer winter than we do.

 

[Nodak]

Originally Posted By: Garak
Originally Posted By: Nodak
Garak--Should have reponded sooner, but had to leave town for a while and just returned. Your comment on trying a less expensive High Mileage oil was on the same line of what I was thinking. Yes, Mobil 1 High Mileage is a bit more expensive - would going to a synblend like Maxlife make a difference in the engine after using full syn.? In other words would there be much of a difference between the two?


For your OCIs, you'd be fine with MaxLife. In my experience with the MaxLife 5w30, it definitely slowed the leaks and did hold up well (oil pressure/shear wise) under fairly heavy fuel dilution. If I felt the need again for a High Mileage oil (to deal with such issues), MaxLife would be my first choice.

For reference, it did fine in the winter up here, and you don't have any nicer winter than we do




Thanks for the info. Yea-for sure you know what winter is. Is all Maxlife blended even though it does not indicate it on the jug?

________________________
97 Prk.Ave.-5-30 Havoline and Wix filter
03 Corolla-5-30 Quaker State Ultimate Durability and Wix filter
04 Rav 4 Mobil 1 High Mileage 5w30 and Wix filter

 

[A_Harman]

Yes, red bottle MaxLife is a synthetic blend. NextGen Maxlife is too if you "lean green".

 

[Nodak]

Originally Posted By: A_Harman
Yes, red bottle MaxLife is a synthetic blend. NextGen Maxlife is too if you "lean green".



Ok. Thanks-I think I'll give a try in my Rav. Thanks again guys for the info.


____________________________
97 Prk.Ave.-5-30 Havoline and Wix filter
03 Corolla-5-30 Quaker State Ultimate Durability and Wix filter
04 Rav 4 Mobil 1 High Mileage 5w30 and Wix filter

 

[crazyoildude]

i use conventional in my cars in the winter

Im not sure if the max life is a syn blend but i am sure its good oil...a little on the high priced side