2022 test4 productsEngine Oil & Fluids
Which Motor Oil Brand Wins?
We compared 4 motor oil options head to head. Mobil 1 High Mileage came out on top. See the measured results, the runner-up, the budget pick, and a link to the full test video.
Winner
Mobil 1 High Mileage
Price shown in test: $25 for a 5 quart container
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Runner-up
Mobil 1 (full synthetic)
Price shown in test: $25 for a 5 quart container
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Budget pick
Supertech High Mileage
Price shown in test: $20 for a 5 quart container
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The measured results
Every number below is read straight from the test. Scroll sideways to see all measurements. Products are listed in the order they finished.
| Product | Cold Flow Race | Evaporative Loss | Lubricity Wear Scar | Anti Wear Additive Package | Total Base Number | Rubber Conditioning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Mobil 1 High Mileage full synthetic 5W-30$25 for a 5 quart container | won both cold flow races at minus 40 degrees, first out of the gate before and after the oil was heat cooked | best of the four oils, lost only 4.5 g over 2 hours at about 350 degrees Fahrenheit | best of the four oils, smallest wear scar at 7.29 mm | highest of the four oils per the independent oil lab report, 1,629 parts per million | 6.8, tied for the best of the four oils | tire hardness sample measured 65.5 on the durometer, a little better than the regular Mobil 1's 66.5; new O-ring weighed 1.87 g with the diameter a little larger than new and took 129 g to fold, did not prevent hardening of the old tire sample any better than the other oils |
| 2Mobil 1 full synthetic 5W-30$25 for a 5 quart container | finished in a distant fourth place in both cold flow races at minus 40 degrees | second best of the four oils, lost 4.55 g over 2 hours | second best of the four oils, wear scar of 7.34 mm | not among the top two figures called out, Mobil 1 oils generally had lower detergent dispersant levels than Supertech oils but a better base oil per the presenter | 6.7 | tire hardness sample measured 66.5 on the durometer, second best of the four oils; new O-ring weighed 1.87 g with no change in size and took about 134.36 g to fold, very close to the unexposed control O-ring |
| 3Supertech High Mileage full synthetic 5W-30$20 for a 5 quart container | finished second in both cold flow races at minus 40 degrees, close behind Mobil 1 High Mileage | third best of the four oils, lost 5.57 g over 2 hours, a little better than the regular Supertech | worst of the four oils, largest wear scar at 7.46 mm | second highest of the four oils per the independent oil lab report, 1,546 parts per million | 6.8, tied for the best of the four oils | tire hardness sample measured 64.5 on the durometer, best of the four oils; new O-ring weighed the same as new at 1.91 g with a slightly larger diameter than new and took 124 g to fold |
| 4Supertech full synthetic 5W-30$20 for a 5 quart container | finished third in both cold flow races at minus 40 degrees | worst of the four oils, lost 5.72 g over 2 hours | third best of the four oils, wear scar of 7.4 mm | not among the top two figures called out; Supertech oils generally had higher detergent dispersant levels (about 500 ppm more) than Mobil 1 oils per the oil lab report | 6.7 | tire hardness sample measured 68 on the durometer, worst of the four oils, 11 points softer than the unexposed control's 79; new O-ring weighed 1.86 g, about 0.05 g less than new, and took about 10 g less pressure than new to fold, did not swell |
How it was tested
- rubber conditioning test on old hardened tire pieces and new rubber O-rings
- Noack-style volatility (evaporative loss) test at about 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 2 hours
- lubricity or film strength test measuring wear scar size on a lubricity tester
- cold flow race at minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit, run twice (before and after the oil was heat cooked)
- independent oil lab analysis of anti-wear additive package, detergent dispersant content, and total base number
“I really like the Mobil 1 high mileage oil. It performed extremely well.”