Your car is your baby, and you want to give your baby the best of everything. That’s why choosing the best full synthetic oil for your car is so important. Whether your car is a daily driving vehicle, a weekend hot rod, or an intense workhorse, there is an oil suited to the needs of your vehicle.

Motorcycles, trucks, high-performance vehicles, even classic cars, all have their own preferences, and it’s vital that you know what your vehicle needs in order to take the best care of it.

We took a look at some of the most popular lubricants that are classed as full synthetic oils on the market to help guide your decision. Here are our top ten picks for high-quality oils.

How We Chose Our Ratings for the Best Full Synthetic Oil

We looked at several factors to determine our rankings. Also, we considered things like viscosity, additives, versatility, and value. We also took into account the general popularity of the brand.

Different vehicles have varying needs depending on their age, use, and type of engine, so be sure to check your manufacturer’s specifications to get the exact right oil for your car, truck, van, or motorcycle. The best full synthetic oil on the market can still cause problems if used improperly.

Best Full Synthetic Oil for your Vehicle Table

Best Full Synthetic Oil for your Vehicle Full Review

Castrol Edge

Castrol Edge Extended Performance 5W-30 Advanced Full Synthetic Motor...Buy on Amazon

Castrol Edge Extended Performance 5W-30 Advanced Full Synthetic Motor...
  • Maintained maximum horsepower is 25 percent longer than EDGE with SPT
  • Strongest oxidation control and wear protection
  • Lowest volatility in grade among leading blends, conventional and synthetic oils

A trusted brand that has produced an advanced synthetic formula that is marvelous at adjusting to the changing temperature of your engine. What makes this oil unique is its titanium technology that helps the oil maintain its structure, even in high-performance situations.

It’s an SN oil, which is recommended by the Petroleum Quality Institute of America.

PROS

CONS

  • Great at adjusting to the changing temperature of the engine.
  • A bit overprice compared to other synthetic oil.

QUALITY

PRICE

OUR RATING

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Extended Performance

Mobil 1 Extended Performance Full Synthetic Motor Oil 5W-30, 5 QuartBuy on Amazon

Mobil 1 Extended Performance Full Synthetic Motor Oil 5W-30, 5 Quart
  • Mobil 1 Extended Performance full-synthetic motor oil 5W-30 helps protect critical engine parts for up to 20,000 miles...
  • Utilizes Mobil 1’s Triple Action+ Formula to combine outstanding engine performance, protection, and cleanliness with...
  • Meets ILSAC GF-6 standards to help provide low-speed pre-ignition (LSPI) and timing chain wear protection while keeping...

A popular oil that provides excellent cleaning and anti-wear properties while delivering high performance. Mobil 1 Extended Performance has an advanced formula that helps to reduce the number of deposits that contribute to sludge build-up.

It provides outstanding overall lubrication under many different conditions. It is exceptionally good for cold weather. Even high mileage vehicles can benefit from the properties of this oil, as it reduces sludge and deposits while preventing leaks.

Though some drivers opt to change this oil about every 7,000 miles, Mobil 1 Extended Performance is guaranteed to protect your engine for 15,000 miles. This is an excellent oil for both high-performance vehicles and everyday drivers. 

PROS

CONS

  • Provides excellent cleaning and anti-wear properties
  • Oil measurement is not accurate

QUALITY

PRICE

OUR RATING

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Amsoil

Amsoil SAE 20W-50 Synthetic Motorcycle Oil (MCV)Buy on Amazon

Amsoil SAE 20W-50 Synthetic Motorcycle Oil (MCV)
  • Reduces Friction, Heat and Wear
  • Provides Extreme Pressure Quality Protection for Gears and Chains
  • Delivers Superior Rust Protection

This particular brand is not sold on Amazon or most other third-party retail sites, so it sometimes gets overlooked when choosing oil, but Amsoil is a solid brand. Made in the United States, this brand of best full synthetic oil is renowned for its anti-wear properties, and drivers can expect to get 15,000 to 25,000 miles of use from this oil.

It ranges from about $7 to $15, depending on which formulation you choose. High-performance blends are on the higher end of the price range, whereas a more sedate driver can pick up the 10W-30

PROS

CONS

  • Renowned for its anti-wear properties
  • A little bit pricey

QUALITY

PRICE

OUR RATING

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Royal Purple

Royal Purple 12530 API-Licensed SAE 5W-30 High Performance Synthetic...Buy on Amazon

Royal Purple 12530 API-Licensed SAE 5W-30 High Performance Synthetic...
  • Better wear protection
  • Increased fuel efficiency
  • Better protection of the expensive catalytic emission system

Royal Purple is a premium oil that is trusted by drivers of high-performance vehicles. It has a particular additive called Synerlec that reacts at the molecular level with the metal surfaces in your engine.

The oil has increased viscosity, lubricity, and strength, giving your car powerful performance, even when the stress is on. It can improve fuel efficiency, and it is compatible with fuel containing ethanol. Royal Purple works well for both gasoline and diesel engines, and it will protect your engine from corrosion, increasing the lifespan and performance of your vehicle.

This brand of oil has high solvency properties that will remove deposits and clean your engine. It is recommended that you run short 3,000 mile intervals for the first few oil changes while the existing deposits are being flushed out, then you can switch to running about 7,500 to 10,000 miles between oil changes.

PROS

CONS

  •  Oil has increased viscosity, lubricity, and strength, giving your car powerful performance
  • A bit pricey

QUALITY

PRICE

OUR RATING

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Liqui Moly

LIQUI MOLY Synthoil Premium SAE 5W-40 | 5 L | Synthesis technology...Buy on Amazon

LIQUI MOLY Synthoil Premium SAE 5W-40 | 5 L | Synthesis technology...
  • Superior performance and long engine life in gasoline and diesel vehicles
  • Instant lubrication after cold start
  • Instant lubrication after cold start

This incredible oil is formulated with molybdenum disulfide. This additive provides smooth lubrication and increases engine longevity. In fact, you may well get over 15,000 miles of drive time out of one oil change.

This is a versatile line, with formulations for diesel, petrol, and LPG engines. Made in Germany, this oil is only available in 5-liter jugs.

PROS

CONS

  • Provides smooth lubrication and increases engine longevity
  • Great oil but quite expensive

QUALITY

PRICE

OUR RATING

$$$

Red Line

Red Line 15304 5W30 Synthetic Motor Oil - Quart (12 Pack)Buy on Amazon

Red Line 15304 5W30 Synthetic Motor Oil - Quart (12 Pack)
  • For best performance, follow the manufacturer's recommendations in your vehicle owner’s manual
  • Increases high temperature oil pressure; Protects bearings at high speeds and temperatures
  • Formulated for turbo protection; Provides upper cylinder wear protection

Red Line oil is excellent for high-performance vehicles. It has a unique polyol base that makes it stand up to high heat extremely well. It has less evaporation than most other brands out there, and it also has a stable viscosity that helps to reduce engine noise.

Detergency additives in Red Line oil keep your engine running nice and smooth. Even though it is great for high-performance vehicles, it is also suitable for everyday vehicles. It’s just an all-around outstanding oil. 

PROS

CONS

  • Less evaporation than most other brands out there
  • Average synthetic oil

QUALITY

PRICE

OUR RATING

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Green Earth Technologies 1665 G-OIL

Green Earth Technologies 1665 G-OIL 5W-30 Ultimate Biodegradable Full...Buy on Amazon

Green Earth Technologies 1665 G-OIL 5W-30 Ultimate Biodegradable Full...
  • Ultimate biodegradable G-OIL synthetic blend motor oil providers superior protection under the toughest driving...
  • Safe solution for all gasoline engines requiring conventional or full synthetic motor oil
  • G-OIL is compatible with all other motor oils

Quaker State offers a complete line of synthetic blends and fully synthetic oils that target high mileage vehicles. The company had to fight back against a bad reputation in the 1960s and ‘70s for sludging up engines, but that was then, and this is now.

Their modern formulas work fine for most vehicles. 

PROS

CONS

  • Target high mileage vehicles
  • Burned through oil in a classic car

QUALITY

PRICE

OUR RATING

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Shell Rotella

Shell Rotella T6 Full Synthetic 5W-40 Diesel Engine Oil (1-Gallon,...Buy on Amazon

Shell Rotella T6 Full Synthetic 5W-40 Diesel Engine Oil (1-Gallon,...
  • For best performance, follow the manufacturer's recommendations in your vehicle owner’s manual.
  • Better fuel economy - compared to 15W-40 oils Rotella offers enhanced fuel economy capability of 1.5% without...
  • Improved wear performance - provides a significantly increased level of protection against harmful engine wear when...

Shell Rotella is the preferred best full synthetic oil of motorcyclists. Its 5W-40 grade offers phenomenal performance at both high and low temperatures. It increases fuel economy while protecting against dirt, debris, soot, and other contaminants. It is more for motorcycles than general use, though.

If you drive a diesel vehicle, the Shell Rotella T6 formula is the way to go. The cost may be a little higher than other brands, but it’s well worth it in terms of engine protection, heat resistance, deposit control, and more.

PROS

CONS

  • Increases fuel economy while protecting against dirt, debris, soot, and other contaminants
  • Bad packaging if ship online

QUALITY

PRICE

OUR RATING

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Valvoline MaxLife

Valvoline High Mileage with MaxLife Technology SAE 5W-30 Synthetic...Buy on Amazon

Valvoline High Mileage with MaxLife Technology SAE 5W-30 Synthetic...
  • MAXLIFE TECHNOLOGY PREVENTS engine breakdown with 40% better wear protection than the industry standard
  • REFRESH AGING SEALS AND PREVENT LEAKS with seal conditioners
  • REDUCE SLUDGE, DEPOSITS, CORROSION, AND RUST with added detergents – keep motors clean inside

If you have an older engine or more than 75,000 miles logged, you may want to check out Valvoline oil. It has special additives to reduce friction, deposits and sludge, and leaks.

This will help protect your engine and extend its life. They make synthetic blends in addition to best full synthetic oil, so make sure you are choosing the right formulation.

PROS

CONS

  •  Has special additives to reduce friction, deposits and sludge, and leaks.
  • Some users experience quarter low in using this oil

QUALITY

PRICE

OUR RATING

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Pennzoil Ultra Platinum

Pennzoil Ultra Platinum Full Synthetic 5W-30 Motor Oil (1 Quart, Case...Buy on Amazon

Pennzoil Ultra Platinum Full Synthetic 5W-30 Motor Oil (1 Quart, Case...
  • Full synthetic 5W-30 engine oil with PurePlus Technology that is race trusted for extreme engine performance and is made...
  • Pennzoil Ultra Platinum comes with warranty coverage of up to 15 years or 500,000 miles, whichever comes first....
  • No other leading motor oil provides better wear protection from friction (based on Sequence IVA wear test using SAE...

This oil is superior to many oils, both synthetic and conventional when it comes to cleaning out tough deposits and reducing sludge in your engine. It is a great detergent oil, especially if you are switching from conventional oil.

It also operates amazingly well in extreme temperatures. Though this oil works well for many engines, it is not recommended for hybrids or foreign vehicles. 

PROS

CONS

  • Operates amazingly well in extreme temperatures
  •  It is not Dexos1 2nd gen certified or licensed

QUALITY

PRICE

OUR RATING

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Buyer’s Guide for the Best Full Synthetic Oil

  • So, why should you invest in best full synthetic oil as opposed to conventional oil or synthetic blends? Well, long story short, it’s just better for your car.
  • Synthetic oil is produced in a lab and is engineered to perform better under a variety of engine conditions.
  • Special additives can be included in the oil to tailor it to the needs of specific types of vehicles.
  • When shopping for oil, you’ll notice the grade, such as 5W-30 or 10W-40.
  • This is the viscosity grade, and it’s important. The first number represents the “winter” grade, and the second number represents the high-temperature grade.
  • The lower the first number is, the thinner the oil is in cold weather.
  • It needs to be thin, so the engine doesn’t have to work as hard to get started.
  • Once everything is heated up, the oil thickens to better protect the running engine.
  • You’ll need to consult your owner’s manual for the recommended viscosity grade for your particular vehicle.
  • Synthetic oil has a better viscosity index, meaning that it doesn’t get too thick or too thin when the temperature in the engine changes. It will also last longer in your vehicle.

Important Reminder

  • Less synthetic oil is lost to evaporation when compared to conventional oil.
  • You can get up to 25,000 miles out of some best full synthetic oil, while a conventional oil will generally need to be changed at least every 5,000 miles.
  • One thing you can look for when shopping for oil is the API label.
  • This is a designation given by the Petroleum Quality Institute of America.
  • They certify that engine oils meet certain quality and performance standards.
  • This can give you a good idea of the quality of the oil you are looking at, and also whether or not it is appropriate for your vehicle based on the vehicle’s age.
  • Other benefits of best full synthetic oil include better engine cleaning properties and anti-wear properties, due to the specific additives used.
  • Your engine needs oil to prevent friction internally, and best full synthetic oil is durable and effective.
  • All these factors will improve the overall fuel economy and the life of your vehicle, saving you money in the long run.

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Last update on 2023-04-15 at 07:41 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API