Why isn't High Mileage oil the "standard" oil?

C

cheesepuffs2

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Jun 3, 2021
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We're all aware that using High Mileage in a brand-new engine from day one won't cause any issues. So my question is, besides from oil companies wanting to line the shelves with more product, why isn't  all oil the "high mileage" formulation with additional seal conditioners to simplify product offerings?

In other words, imagine that vanilla Mobil 1 jugs of tomorrow just contained what Mobil 1 High Mileage is today, and then the "Mobil 1 High Mileage" name went away.

Would there be any drawbacks? Is there a compromise made with HM oils to emphasize seal conditioning at the slight expense of something else?
 
cheesepuffs2 said:
We're all aware that using High Mileage in a brand-new engine from day one won't cause any issues. So my question is, besides from oil companies wanting to line the shelves with more product, why isn't  all oil the "high mileage" formulation with additional seal conditioners to simplify product offerings?

In other words, imagine that vanilla Mobil 1 jugs of tomorrow just contained what Mobil 1 High Mileage is today, and then the "Mobil 1 High Mileage" name went away.

Would there be any drawbacks? Is there a compromise made with HM oils to emphasize seal conditioning at the slight expense of something else?
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Then another brand would bring out oil labeled high mileage, or "for new engines" and Joe public who wants to do the right thing doesn't buy the plain jane Mobil 1.

High mileage oils are not a thing in europe, I've seen Valvoline but that's about it.
 
Valid question. I never liked HM oils but I understand why they created them. If you're using a good synthetic with proper levels of seal conditioners, you shouldn't ever need a HM oil. I think it's more for those that used subpar oils and have leaks.

If you look at Amsoil's comparison chart, SS has more leak prevention (seal conditioners) than their HM oil.

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rijndael said:
How would one know if their preferred oil has the "proper levels"?
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Well any approved oil should have adequate seal conditioners. I don't know if some companies cheap out/use minimum amount etc. It's really something I don't know much about. I believe esters help keep seals in good shape.
 
buster said:
Valid question. I never liked HM oils but I understand why they created them. If you're using a good synthetic with proper levels of seal conditioners, you shouldn't ever need a HM oil. I think it's more for those that used subpar oils and have leaks.

If you look at Amsoil's comparison chart, SS has more leak prevention (seal conditioners) than their HM oil.
Click to expand...
It seems that you are saying that a "good" synthetic oil should have adequate levels of seal conditioners, but the Amsoil SS/HM has even more than you need. Is the extra's in the SS only advantageous to those doing extreme extended OCI's and of no benefit for those following OEM OCI's (or less)? Isn't this what we have learned here over the decades? Again, unless one is doing the extreme OCI's, isn't most of this just marketing: good-better-best mentality?

An analogy would be regular aspirin vs. extra strength. Why not just take 3 regular aspirin if you think you need more? Instead, the companies successfully market extra strength as better and I bet their profit margin is higher.
 
The obvious answer is one of cost.

I can only presume the assumption of the OP is that owners want the best over the long term; protecting their investment. That's a BITOG mentality.

But what about folks who lease vehicles? Why would they care about long-term viability of oil leak conditioning additives? Why not save on cheaper oils?
And what of folks who are on a fixed budget and pinch every penny just to get by? Why should they endure a higher cost product?
Further, why would such extra expense be necessary for those who drive low annual miles (the "little old lady drove the grocery once a week" kind of use)?

Think outside the box; oil isn't a one-size-fits-all product.
 
doitmyself said:
It seems that you are saying that a "good" synthetic oil should have adequate levels of seal conditioners, but the Amsoil SS/HM has even more than you need. Is the extra's in the SS only advantageous to those doing extreme extended OCI's and of no benefit for those following OEM OCI's (or less)? Isn't this what we have learned here over the decades? Again, unless one is doing the extreme OCI's, isn't most of this just marketing: good-better-best mentality?

An analogy would be regular aspirin vs. extra strength. Why not just take 3 regular aspirin if you think you need more? Instead, the companies successfully market extra strength as better and I bet their profit margin is higher.
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Good point. I really don't know. Maybe Amsoil advertises the SS having the best protection for seals due to the added ester they use. I really don't know the answer. I'm not sure how much or what type of seal conditioners these oils use.
 
But if it isn’t needed then why should it be the standard?

+200K mile Hyundai the stable doing just fine without it. I’ve only used HM oil on one vehicle and it was mainly because I was trying to reduce an oil leak. And it didn’t even work.
 
Stelth said:
How about QS All Mileage? And Super Tech All Mileage? Maybe companies are already testing your idea.
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I actually emailed Shell asking them which oil contained more seal conditioners between Pennzoil High Mileage (blend, not Platinum) and QS All Mileage, and they answered that QS All Mileage contained more seal conditioner than regular Pennzoil but less than Pennzoil High Mileage.
 
There isn't necessarily some "seal conditioning" additive in the oil. The seal conditioning/swelling that prevents leaks is coming from the group 5 base oils (esters, AN, etc) inherent seal swelling properties, which are blended into oils to varying degrees to counter the PAO inherent seal shrinking effects. Group 1-3, and especially group 4 (PAO) tend to shrink seals and make them more brittle over time. So conventional (group1-3) and "synthetic blend" (group 1-3/4) oils will not protect seals to the same degree as a group 4/5 full synthetic oil. The Amsoil SS is a good example of a group 4/5 full synthetic oil with a good dose of ester. "High mileage" is a marketing term for added ester/AN because the average person buying oil has no idea what esters/AN or oil groups mean and how they affect their engine.
 
Evo9isLife said:
There isn't necessarily some "seal conditioning" additive in the oil. The seal conditioning/swelling that prevents leaks is coming from the group 5 base oils (esters, AN, etc) inherent seal swelling properties, which are blended into oils to varying degrees to counter the PAO inherent seal shrinking effects. Group 1-3, and especially group 4 (PAO) tend to shrink seals and make them more brittle over time. So conventional (group1-3) and "synthetic blend" (group 1-3/4) oils will not protect seals to the same degree as a group 4/5 full synthetic oil. The Amsoil SS is a good example of a group 4/5 full synthetic oil with a good dose of ester. "High mileage" is a marketing term for added ester/AN because the average person buying oil has no idea what esters/AN or oil groups mean and how they affect their engine.
Click to expand...
Aren't esters/ANs a positive/sought after in an oil? Should BITOGers be pro-HM then?
 
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