Motor Oil Types: Choosing the Right Viscosity and Grade
Full synthetic 5W-30 and 5W-20 oils plus a 10W-30, with the viscosity, specs and change interval that fit the engine.
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The oil aisle is a wall of grades and claims, and the wrong bottle is an easy mistake to make. Motor oil types differ in the base oil, the viscosity grade and the specs they meet, and the manual for the car decides which bottle fits. This guide explains what the grades mean, how to read the specs, and which of the oils here fits which engine.
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Valvoline Advanced Full Synthetic SAE 5W-30 Motor
A full synthetic SAE 5W-30 motor oil in a 1 QT bottle, with 40% stronger wear protection, 15% better deposit defense and up to 2.5X better heat protection.
Pros
- 40% stronger wear protection than industry standards
- 15% better deposit defense than industry standards
- Up to 2.5X better heat protection than industry standards
- Meets ILSAC GF-7A, API SQ, API SP and API SN with SN PLUS
Cons
- No warranty term is stated
- No change interval is stated
- Low-temperature flow is stated without a temperature figure
- No safety listing is stated
Valvoline MaxLife High Mileage Full Synthetic
A full synthetic high mileage 5W-20 motor oil in a 1 Quart bottle, made for engines with 75,000 miles or more, with seal conditioners and 50% stronger wear protection.
Pros
- 50% stronger wear protection than industry standards
- 20% stronger sludge defense than industry standards
- Up to 2.5X better heat protection than industry standards
- Seal conditioners help prevent leaks and reduce oil consumption
Cons
- No warranty term is stated
- No change interval is stated
- Only a 5W-20 grade is listed, so check the manual for the grade
- No safety listing is stated
Edge High Mileage 5W-30 Advanced Full Synthetic
A high mileage 5W-30 advanced full synthetic motor oil in a 1 Quart bottle, with a 15,000-mile change interval and reduced leaks, oil burnoff and deposits.
Pros
- 15,000 miles between oil changes, or one year, whichever comes first
- Reduces leaks, oil burnoff and power robbing deposits
- Phosphorus Replacement Technology helps extend the life of the emission system
- Meets API SP, SN PLUS, SN and SM with ILSAC GF-6
Cons
- No warranty term is stated; the warranty field only says to contact the manufacturer
- No wear or heat figure is stated
- No safety listing is stated
- Only a 5W-30 grade is listed, so check the manual for the grade
Pennzoil 10W-30 Motor Oil, 1 Quart
A 10W-30 motor oil in a 1 Quart bottle with proven wear protection and a limited warranty, suited to car, SUV, light van and truck gasoline engines.
Pros
- Proven wear protection, based on Sequence IVA wear performance using SAE 5W-30
- Helps prevent dirt and contaminants from turning into deposits
- Compatible with engine seals and all conventional oils
- Limited Warranty stated
Cons
- No wear, deposit or heat figure is stated
- No change interval is stated
- No API or ILSAC spec is listed
- Only a 10W-30 grade is listed, so check the manual for the grade
Motor oil types: what the grade means
Motor oil types differ in the base oil: full synthetic, synthetic blend or conventional. The Valvoline Advanced and MaxLife oils here are full synthetic, the Castrol Edge is full synthetic, and the Pennzoil listing states compatibility with all conventional oils without stating its own base oil type. The grade on the bottle, such as 5W-30, 5W-20 or 10W-30, is the viscosity grade, and the manual for the car states the grade the engine takes.
The size on the bottle is the amount in the bottle, not the amount the engine takes. Every oil here comes in a 1 Quart bottle, so the number of bottles for a change depends on the engine. The grade and the spec matter more than the size: a 5W-30 that meets GF-7A and a 10W-30 with no listed spec are different oils, and the manual decides which one the engine takes.
The bottle also states the specs the oil meets. The Valvoline oils meet ILSAC GF-7A and API SQ, API SP and API SN with SN PLUS, while the Castrol meets API SP, SN PLUS, SN and SM with ILSAC GF-6. The Pennzoil listing states proven wear protection based on Sequence IVA wear performance using SAE 5W-30. Check the manual for the grade and the spec, not the claims on the front of the bottle.
What the wear, deposit and heat figures mean
The Valvoline Advanced listing claims 40% stronger wear protection, 15% better deposit defense and up to 2.5X better heat protection than industry standards. The MaxLife listing claims 50% stronger wear protection, 20% stronger sludge defense and 2.5X better heat protection than industry standards. Those figures are the maker’s claims against industry standards, so compare them with the specs the oil meets and the grade the manual states.
High mileage oils and change intervals
High mileage oils are made for engines with more miles on them. The Valvoline MaxLife is made for vehicles with 75,000 miles or more, with seal conditioners that help prevent leaks and reduce oil consumption. The Castrol Edge High Mileage reduces leaks, oil burnoff and power robbing deposits, and lists 15,000 miles between oil changes, or one year, whichever comes first.
Change intervals and mileage figures come from the listing, not from the grade. A 5W-30 and a 10W-30 can carry different change intervals, so read the interval the listing states and the manual for the car.
How to pick the bottle
Match the bottle to the manual in this order:
- Grade: the manual states the grade, such as 5W-30, 5W-20 or 10W-30. The grade on the bottle must match.
- Spec: the manual states the spec, such as ILSAC GF-7A or API SP. The Valvoline oils here meet GF-7A and API SQ, and the Castrol meets GF-6 and API SP.
- Size: every oil here comes in a 1 Quart bottle, so check how many quarts the engine takes before buying.
- Interval: the Castrol listing states 15,000 miles or one year between changes. The other listings state no interval, so the manual decides.
Motor oil types for the job: the oils in this guide
The oils below cover the motor oil types in this guide, from full synthetic 5W-30 and 5W-20 to a 10W-30, so you can match the grade and the spec to the manual.
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FAQ: garage tools
What is the difference between 5W-30 and 5W-20?
Both are viscosity grades, and the manual for the car states which one the engine takes. The Valvoline Advanced here is a 5W-30 full synthetic and the MaxLife is a 5W-20 full synthetic. Do not pick a grade by the bottle; pick the grade the manual states.
Is full synthetic better than conventional oil?
Full synthetic and conventional oils differ in the base oil. The Valvoline and Castrol oils here are full synthetic, while the Pennzoil listing states compatibility with all conventional oils without stating its own base oil type. The manual states the grade and the spec, and that decides the bottle.
What does API SP or ILSAC GF-7A mean?
They are the specs the oil meets. The Valvoline oils meet ILSAC GF-7A and API SQ, API SP and API SN with SN PLUS, and the Castrol meets API SP, SN PLUS, SN and SM with ILSAC GF-6. Match the spec the manual states.
How often should I change the oil?
The Castrol listing states 15,000 miles between oil changes, or one year, whichever comes first. The other listings here state no change interval, so follow the manual for the car and the interval the listing states.
What oil suits a high mileage engine?
The Valvoline MaxLife is made for vehicles with 75,000 miles or more, with seal conditioners that help prevent leaks and reduce oil consumption. The Castrol Edge High Mileage reduces leaks, oil burnoff and power robbing deposits. Check the manual for the grade the engine takes.
Related: our best motor oil picks, our best motor oil 5w-30 full synthetic picks, the full synthetic vs synthetic blend oil comparison, the synthetic vs conventional motor oil comparison, our best motor oil for hot weather picks and our engine and shop equipment hub.
