Best Synthetic Motor Oil
Top synthetic motor oil ranked by transparent trust scores.
8 products ranked
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Top Pick
9.4
Excellent
Mobil 1 Extended Performance 5W-30
Ranked #1 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
#1
9.4
Excellent
Consensus
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Ranked #1 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- 20,000-mile guaranteed protection claim
- Meets dexos1 Gen 3 and API SP
- Excellent cold-start flow
Cons
- Costs more than standard Mobil 1
- Overkill if you change oil every 5,000 miles
Don't buy this if…
- Don't buy the extended-drain premium if your habit or warranty requires 5,000-mile changes anyway.
#2
9.2
Excellent
Consensus
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Ranked #2 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Gas-to-liquid base stock is extremely pure
- Best-in-class piston deposit test results
- Often the cheapest top-tier synthetic on sale
Cons
- No extended-drain mileage guarantee
- 5-quart jugs frequently out of stock
Don't buy this if…
- Skip it if your engine specifies a European ACEA spec like C3, which this US-focused formula doesn't carry.
#3
9.0
Excellent
Consensus
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Ranked #3 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Strong film strength under high load
- Broad OEM approval list
- Available everywhere, frequent rebates
Cons
- Standard drain interval, no extended claim
- Bottle design pours messily
Don't buy this if…
- Don't buy the 5W-30 blindly - Edge's viscosity lineup is wide, so match your owner's manual exactly.
#4
8.7
Excellent
Consensus
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Ranked #4 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- 25,000-mile or 1-year drain rating
- Outstanding oxidation resistance
- Excellent for towing and sustained high load
Cons
- Roughly double the price of mainstream synthetics
- Sold mostly through dealers, spotty Amazon stock
Don't buy this if…
- Avoid paying the premium if you lease or follow the factory 5,000-mile schedule - you'll never use the extended-drain headroom.
#5
8.5
Excellent
Consensus
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Ranked #5 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- 24,000-mile protection claim at mainstream pricing
- Strong deposit control for turbo GDI engines
- Easy-pour precision spout
Cons
- Newer formula with shorter track record
- Fewer OEM-specific approvals than Mobil 1
Don't buy this if…
- Don't buy for European cars needing VW 504 00 or BMW LL-04 approvals, which this formula lacks.
#6
8.3
Good
Consensus
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Ranked #6 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- High zinc content protects classic and modified engines
- Strong film strength for track use
- Noticeable smoothness in older V8s
Cons
- Not API SP licensed due to high ZDDP
- Expensive per quart
Don't buy this if…
- Don't run it in a late-model car under warranty - the non-API-licensed formula can complicate warranty claims.
#7
8.1
Good
Consensus
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Ranked #7 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Ideal chemistry for European engines
- Molybdenum-tungsten additive measurably cuts friction
- Excellent high-temperature shear stability
Cons
- Pricey per 5-liter jug
- Wrong viscosity for most Asian and US cars
Don't buy this if…
- Skip it if your manual calls for 0W-20 - this thick European formula will hurt fuel economy and may impede variable valve timing.
#8
7.9
Good
Consensus
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Ranked #8 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Outstanding value for diesel engines
- High soot-handling and shear stability
- Also popular for wet-clutch motorcycles
Cons
- Not designed for modern gasoline emission systems
- Heavy 5W-40 viscosity hurts economy in gas cars
Don't buy this if…
- Don't put it in a gasoline direct-injection car - its diesel additive chemistry isn't matched to GPF-equipped or low-viscosity gas engines.
Quick Comparison
How We Rank
Composite trust score from expert reviews, user sentiment, complaint analysis, and value assessment.
Trust Score
Weighted composite of all factor scores
Expert Score
Aggregated expert review ratings
User Sentiment
Community votes and review analysis
Value Score
Price-to-performance ratio
Freshness
Recency of reviews and data
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