Motor Oil Nov 2022 Test: Which Brand Wins?
In our Nov 2022 test 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.
Mobil 1 High Mileage
Price shown in test: $25 for a 5 quart container
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Mobil 1 (full synthetic)
Price shown in test: $25 for a 5 quart container
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Supertech High Mileage
Price shown in test: $20 for a 5 quart container
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The quick take
The short version of why each pick lands where it does, built straight from the measured results.
“I really like the Mobil 1 high mileage oil. It performed extremely well.”
Best in 1 of 1 measurements, including Total Base Number.
Best in 1 of 1 measurements, including Total Base Number.
Best in 1 of 1 measurements, including Total Base Number.
The measured results
Every number below is read straight from the test. Products are listed in the order they finished.
Cold Flow Race
- 1Mobil 1 High Mileage full synthetic 5W-30
won both cold flow races at minus 40 degrees, first out of the gate before and after the oil was heat cooked
- 2Mobil 1 full synthetic 5W-30
finished in a distant fourth place in both cold flow races at minus 40 degrees
- 3Supertech High Mileage full synthetic 5W-30
finished second in both cold flow races at minus 40 degrees, close behind Mobil 1 High Mileage
- 4Supertech full synthetic 5W-30
finished third in both cold flow races at minus 40 degrees
Evaporative Loss
- 1Mobil 1 High Mileage full synthetic 5W-30
best of the four oils, lost only 4.5 g over 2 hours at about 350 degrees Fahrenheit
- 2Mobil 1 full synthetic 5W-30
second best of the four oils, lost 4.55 g over 2 hours
- 3Supertech High Mileage full synthetic 5W-30
third best of the four oils, lost 5.57 g over 2 hours, a little better than the regular Supertech
- 4Supertech full synthetic 5W-30
worst of the four oils, lost 5.72 g over 2 hours
Lubricity Wear Scar
- 1Mobil 1 High Mileage full synthetic 5W-30
best of the four oils, smallest wear scar at 7.29 mm
- 2Mobil 1 full synthetic 5W-30
second best of the four oils, wear scar of 7.34 mm
- 3Supertech High Mileage full synthetic 5W-30
worst of the four oils, largest wear scar at 7.46 mm
- 4Supertech full synthetic 5W-30
third best of the four oils, wear scar of 7.4 mm
Anti Wear Additive Package
- 1Mobil 1 High Mileage full synthetic 5W-30
highest of the four oils per the independent oil lab report, 1,629 parts per million
- 2Mobil 1 full synthetic 5W-30
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
- 3Supertech High Mileage full synthetic 5W-30
second highest of the four oils per the independent oil lab report, 1,546 parts per million
- 4Supertech full synthetic 5W-30
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
Total Base Number
- 1Mobil 1 High Mileage full synthetic 5W-306.8
tied for the best of the four oils
- 2Mobil 1 full synthetic 5W-306.7
- 3Supertech High Mileage full synthetic 5W-306.8
tied for the best of the four oils
- 4Supertech full synthetic 5W-306.7
Rubber Conditioning
- 1Mobil 1 High Mileage full synthetic 5W-30
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
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
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
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.”
