What type of motor oil is right for your car? This is an age-old question usually encountered when you’re standing in an auto parts store staring at different bottles. While the question may seem difficult to answer in the moment, there is, in fact, a way to choose which motor oil is right for your car.
For starters, let’s talk about the difference between fully synthetic, synthetic blend, and conventional motor oil. At a fundamental level, synthetic oils are more processed and reengineered compared to conventional motor oil, which is less processed after it leaves the ground. This means the molecules in synthetic motor oil have a less random and stronger structure than typical processed crude, which gives it performance benefits in today’s modern engines.
These benefits include things like maintaining its structure better at more extreme temperatures, while towing heavy loads, and during extended bouts of stop-and-go traffic. Synthetic motor oil is also more durable than conventional motor oil, allowing you to drive farther between oil changes.
Synthetic blend oils, meanwhile, are a great alternative to fully synthetic oils. They are a mixture of both synthetic and conventional oils that offer a balance between the higher performance of fully synthetic oils and the economy of conventional oils.
Many of today’s cars, however, come straight from the factory with full synthetic motor oil. Modern engines are smaller and more efficient without sacrificing performance, which means they need a motor oil that performs better at higher temperatures and pressures. At any given moment, they’re working harder than the larger, simpler, less efficient engines of old.
For all its benefits, synthetic motor oil can be a bit more of an investment. But while it’s more expensive than synthetic blend and conventional motor oil, fully synthetic oil can save you money in the long run by preventing premature engine wear that leads to costly repairs, as well as requiring fewer oil changes in your car’s lifetime.
The bottom line is if you operate your vehicle in any extreme manner – be it hot or cold locations, towing lots of cargo, or stopping and starting more than an average car – then fully synthetic motor oil is a good choice.
Companies like Castrol sell a full slate of motor oils from which to choose. In addition to the top shelf Castrol EDGE line of fully synthetic motor oils now engineered to be stronger for longer, you can also consider Castrol GTX products, a more affordable line that includes a fully synthetic option as well as synthetic blends and more affordable conventional motor oil.
The Castrol EDGE line of fully synthetic motor oils sold in the U.S. contains four products, each with their own specialty.
- Castrol EDGE: The go-to motor oil option with great performance for the widest range of vehicles, up to 20,000 miles between changes, 3X stronger against viscosity breakdown than the leading fully synthetic competitor
- Castrol EDGE Euro Car: Exceeds more stringent pressure, heat, and friction requirements of European engines; #1 brand among European auto technicians; covers nearly all European engines
- Castrol EDGE Extended Performance: Strongest and most robust oil that Castrol makes, up to 25,000 miles of protection between changes, perfect for small-yet-powerful modern engines
- Castrol EDGE High Mileage: Reduces leaks, oil burn off, and power robbing deposits in older engines; Phosphorus Replacement Technology reduces amount of this harmful chemical to protect the catalytic converter; up to 15,000 miles between oil changes
Castrol GTX motor oils are a great alternative for car owners who are price sensitive yet still demand a high level of protection for their vehicle’s powertrain. In fact, the GTX line contains all three motor oil types: fully synthetic, synthetic blend, and conventional motor oil. There’s even an option for diesel engines.
- Castrol GTX Full Synthetic: Best protection-per-dollar ratio, up to 10,000 miles between changes, 6X better engine wear protection than the industry standard
- Castrol GTX: Combination of synthetic blend oils and conventional oils offering even more value, excellent protection against engine sludge, includes quality base oils and anti-wear additives
- Castrol GTX High Mileage: Synthetic blend that helps extend engine life in older cars, same Phosphorus Replacement Technology as Castrol EDGE High Mileage, includes seal conditioners to reduce oil leaks
- Castrol GTX Classic: Conventional oil specially formulated for classic and collector cars as well as racing vehicles, additives high in Zinc and Phosphorus for extreme wear protection, compatible with alcohol-based fuels
- Castrol GTX Diesel: Versatile oil formula that can be used in diesel-powered heavy duty and commercial vehicles as well as pickup trucks, protects against oil thickening and deposit build up, ideal for use in mixed commercial fleets
Deciding which of these motor oils is right for your car depends on several factors: your budget, the age/mileage of your car, and the manufacturer’s recommendation.
If you’ve got a more modern car, feed it synthetic motor oil for its entire life to avoid issues with its more complex engine down the line. You can choose between Castrol EDGE and GTX Full Synthetic depending on your budget.
If your car is older with a lot of mileage, a fully synthetic oil like Castrol EDGE is great if you can afford it, but the Castrol GTX line also has synthetic blends designed specifically for your car’s engine that are a great value.
Either way, it’s hard to make a mistake with this decision if you stick with a trusted brand like Castrol.
