High Mileage & Extended Performance motor oils

My 2011 Toyota Camry LE takes 0W-20 SAE synthetic motor oil. The mileage on it is starting to get up there now.
At least two brands (Mobil 1 & Valvoline) offer this type of oil in a High Mileage variety.
Is this motor oil really superior to "regular" 0W-20 SAE synthetic motor oil for high mileage vehicles?
And what about "Extended Performance" motor oils that are supposed to be good for 15,000 miles between oil changes? Are they really superior to regular motor oil?
At least two brands (Mobil 1 & Valvoline) offer this type of oil in a High Mileage variety.
Is this motor oil really superior to "regular" 0W-20 SAE synthetic motor oil for high mileage vehicles?
And what about "Extended Performance" motor oils that are supposed to be good for 15,000 miles between oil changes? Are they really superior to regular motor oil?
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Best Answer
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thecardoc3 Member Posts: 5,835
The Mobil 1 Extended performance 0W20 is an excellent choice and the easy way to tell is it is dexos approved. (the little green label on the front of the bottle) That means it will not only protect the engine correctly it will do so without damaging the catalyst and O2 sensors.5
Answers
High mileage oil isn't any "better". Some of them have seal conditioners in them, but with regular oil changes I don't much see the need for them.
If the oil is approved for the dexos spec, (which guarantees that it is the right product for your Toyota) and it is listed as Extended Performance then it is an outstanding product. However you should still follow the maintenance reminder system in your car. Just because the oil "could" go further that does not mean that the filter can or that there hasn't been some type of dilution from unburned fuel or even a small coolant leak. There has been a lot said about oil analysis. You can spend an extra $20-25 on that once in a while if you desire just to see exactly what it shows you but for most people it ends up being a pricey piece of paper if they would just service the car correctly.
I bought the car with 58,000 miles on it. It now has 110,000 miles, and it still runs like new.
To my surprise, the owner's manual recommends changing the oil only every 10,000 miles. Nonetheless, I've been changing it every 5,000 to 5,500 miles. I have NEVER deviated from that.
I understand that the most important thing is changing the oil often enough – as you can tell by my oil changes – but from what you guys are saying, it sounds to me like:
the High Mileage oil:
• might extend the life of my seals,
• might extend the life of my engine, and
• definitely will reduce the life of my catalytic converter and O2 sensors, and
the Extended Performance oil might extend the life of my engine, if I use it but still change the oil every 5,000 miles (which is exactly what I thought I’d do).
I don’t suppose there is a motor oil that is “the best of all worlds,” even if it was substantially more expensive, right? Because if there was, it would be worth it. I mean, to spend an extra $100 a year to substantially extend the life of your engine would be a no-brainer, you know?
Anyway, I’ve found that Walmart has great deals on 5-quart containers of the SAE 0W-20 full synthetic motor oil my car uses. I had gotten the “regular” Valvoline for $22 a few times, but last time I got the Mobil 1 Extended Performance for $28. For an extra $6, how could you go wrong, if it really is better?
So do I understand this all correctly? And should I get the Extended Performance, rather than the High Mileage? Or neither?
It’s good for 20,000 miles (as opposed to the 15,000 miles for Mobil-1 Extended Performance).
But I understand it’s $49 for a 5 quart jug (as opposed to the $28 I’m currently paying for the Extended Performance).
That’s fine with me, I’m happy to pay it for the very best there is, if indeed it IS the very best.
But in looking at the container, I don’t see the little green “dexos approved” label on it, but maybe that’s just because this product is so new.
So is there any word yet on whether or not this oil is guaranteed to not damage the car’s catalyst and O2 sensors?
Also, I’m using the K&N oil filter, because I was given to understand that it’s equivalent to the Mobil-1 filter, except that it’s easier to install.
But the blurb for the new Mobil-1 Annual Protection oil says that their new Mobil-1 Extended Performance Oil Filter is recommended for best results with the new Annual Protection oil, although not actually required.
I figure this is just an attempt to sell their filters, but it doesn’t hurt to check.
So what do you think, is the K&N just as good as the Mobil-1 Extended Performance Oil Filter?
Thanks for any help.
All viscosities of Mobil 1 Annual Protection motor oil meet or exceed the requirements of the latest industry specification (ILSAC GF-5, API SN). Additionally, Mobil 1 Annual Protection motor oil is approved by General Motors dexos1™. For a full list of industry specifications and car builder approvals, see the Mobil 1 Annual Protection product data sheet.
https://mobiloil.com/en/article/why-the-mobil-advantage/mobil-1-performance/mobil-1-annual-protection-long-lasting-oil?WT.mc_id=cpc_Google_Mobil-1-AP-Brand_Exact&WT.z_adgroup=General&WT.z_keyword=mobil-1-annual-protection&WT.tsrc=Paid-Search&WT.srch=1
https://www.mobil.com/English-US/Passenger-Vehicle-Lube/pds/GLXXMobil-1-Annual-Protection It's very likely the first series to come out had not completed testing and licensing but as you see by the links it has now done that. With the dexos approval the product has to be good at also protecting the catalyst and O2 sensors. If you thought oil has become complicated you don't even want to investigate filters.
The smaller the particles that a filter can trap the shorter its serviceable lifespan will be, aka 10 micron. Meanwhile if a filter is allowed to pass up to a 20 micron particle it would last longer but of course not clean the oil as completely as the 10 micron version. There is also a standard for how much material a filter can trap before it clogs and has to be bypassed. (dirty oil is better than no oil)
If you want to study filters, you can start here if you want to. http://standards.sae.org/j1985_201310/ There is always going to be a filter that is going better in some applications than it is in others. Any filter approved under the SAE J905 guidelines should be sufficient for a manufacturers regular service interval under normal engine conditions. When someone attempts to stray from the manufactures service schedule its anyone's guess what the results will be.
BTW, Mobile 1 annual is not approved for ACEA A5/B5 which would designate it as a long life product.
Is Mobil-1 Annual Protection motor oil dexos licensed?
If an oil filter traps 10 micron particles, then I am willing to change the filter more often than if it trapped only particles of 20 microns in size or larger. Do you know of any way that I can determine which oil filters that trap 10-micron particles will fit my 2011 Toyota Camry LE with 2.5 liter 4-cylinder engine? And how often should I change the filter? I change my oil every 5,000 miles, and I always change my oil filter at the same time. Should I change a 10-micron filter more often than that?
For example. http://www.centerforqa.com/dexos-brand1/
Notice they all expire in September. Which means you then (or should now) go to this page.
Gen II dexos1.
http://www.centerforqa.com/dexos-brand2015/
Here are some history lessons on the subject.
http://www.imakenews.com/lubritec/e_article002638642.cfm?x=b11,0,w
http://www.agcoauto.com/content/news/p2_articleid/178
http://www.amsoil.lube-direct.com/2011/04/dexos-1-amsoil-has-it/
This is from Petroleum Quality Institute of America http://www.pqiamerica.com/
There are two approved oils on either side and Amsoil's O.E. non approved product in the middle that they say meets the specs.
About filters. You just have to search and you will find information that goes way beyond just marketing hype.
http://www.fram.com/?gclid=Cj0KEQjwk-jGBRCbxoPLld_bp-IBEiQAgJaftZX-0lWp-8GBwAMhgV1-oPXigQ7eG0pYSD4tvxJLeuwaAtwi8P8HAQ
Specifically, you have to download the PDF's for the critical specifications.
http://www.fram.com/oil-filters/fram-extra-guard-oil-filter/ 95% efficiency, but what size particle???
http://www.fram.com/oil-filters/fram-tough-guard-oil-filter/ 99% efficiency, but what size particle???
Do the same for the rest, and then check out the specs for the filters you are interested in, "IF" you can find the specifications.
http://www.knfilters.com/oilfilter.htm
https://mobiloil.com/en/oil-filters/performance-oil-filters 99% efficiency at 30 microns