The Best Conventional Oil for Your Car and Wallet
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Pennzoil Conventional Oil -
Mobil Super Conventional Oil -
Valvoline Daily Protection Conventional Oil -
Castrol GTX Conventional Motor Oil -
Quaker State Conventional Motor Oil -
Buyer's Guide
Non-synthetic oil (also referred to as dino or conventional oil) is extremely cheap and performs very well as long as you change your oil every 3,000-5,000 miles. In fact, if you don’t mind the added cost and hassle of short oil change intervals, it can be difficult to justify the cost of much more expensive synthetic oils.
Typically, any conventional oil that has an API SM or SL rating will do well in most applications, but our top picks of best conventional oils in 2022 were chosen because they’re cheap compared to synthetic oils, and are widely available at major retailers. They also all offer consistent performance as rated by users over the course of many years, meaning with proper maintenance your vehicle will run smoothly and reliably.
If you are a regular grease monkey or somebody looking to change their own engine oil, check out our best conventional oil buying guide.
What are the best conventional oils of 2022?
Pennzoil Conventional Oil - Best Conventional Oil Overall
Pennzoil conventional oil in the yellow bottle is extremely cheap and easy to find in most major retailers. As one of the most popular conventional oils on the market, this oil is a safe bet. It has a strong additive package which is resistant to sludge, maintains performance, and also holds up well in used oil analysis reports. As with any conventional oil, it’s important to stick to regular oil changes every 3,000-5,000 miles. For the money, you can't go wrong with Pennzoil's Conventional oil.
Mobil Super Conventional Oil - Runner Up
Mobil 1 has for many years been one of the most popular synthetic oils on the market, but Mobil's non-synthetic Super also works very well. Mobil's popular "clean" oils have been replaced with Mobile Super, reflecting some changes to the formula and additives. This oil claims to include more cleaning additives than others, with added friction-reducing additives as well. This is meant to extend engine life by protecting against wear and sludge. However, as with any conventional motor oil, it’s important to stick to regular interval oil changes of 3,000-5,000 miles.
Valvoline Daily Protection Conventional Oil - Honorable Mention
Valvoline has been making quality oils for a very long time, and can be trusted to put out good products. Valvoline's Premium Conventional Motor Oil offers excellent anti-wear protection for your engine, exceeding the minimum requirements set forth by various international standards. In lower viscosity grades, the formula has been developed to increase overall fuel economy. As with any conventional oil, change intervals should be every 3,000-5,000 miles to keep the engine clean and resist sludge buildup.
Castrol GTX Conventional Motor Oil - Consider
Castrol is a very popular choice for motor oils, being well-known for their good quality overall. Castrol GTX, a conventional oil, rates well and was developed to resist sludge and protect your engine. Their additive blend includes Castrol's TriShield technology, which attracts and traps particles that cause damage, preventing sludge from building up. This oil holds up for intervals of 3,000-5,000 miles, and is capable of helping to improve fuel economy. Although Castrol GTX has a reputation for being somewhat overpriced, it depends on your region.
Quaker State Conventional Motor Oil - Best Conventional Oil
Quaker State Advanced Durability Motor Oil is a solid overall conventional oil that’s both affordable and easy to find at most major retailers. The naming scheme can be a bit confusing, with Advanced Durability being the conventional oil, Enhanced Durability being a blend, and Ultimate Durability being a full synthetic.
The Advanced Durability motor oil is good all-around, but focuses heavy on anti-wear, even exceeding wear standards. The additive blend prioritizes minimizing friction and preventing wear, even after heavy use. Be sure to change your oil every 3,000-5,000 miles, as with any conventional oil.
Buyer's Guide
Keep Your Car Running Smooth with the Best Conventional Oil
Conventional oil is a product that is made from crude oil, providing lubrication at high temperatures. Internal lubrication is an important part of your engine’s upkeep. Without it, your engine would wear down quickly due to metal-on-metal contact. With that in mind, you are probably wondering what the best conventional oil is. The best conventional oil for you depends on several factors you should consider before you make a purchase.
Continue reading to see our recommendations.
Why use conventional oil instead of synthetic oil?
There are many benefits to using conventional oil compared to synthetic oil.
Save money
Synthetic oils can cost up to four times as much as conventional oil. As long as you accompany conventional oil with regular oil changes, you may not need to spend extra on synthetic oil, and your car will perform just as well. That said, make sure you check the owner's manual. If your vehicle's manufacturer specifies synthetic oil, it's not a good idea to use conventional oil just to save a few bucks.
Availability
There are many options available when it comes to conventional oil, and you'll find them in stock at your local auto parts store, gas stations across the country, and even big retailers like Target or Walmart.
Better for older engines
Synthetic oils offer better performance under less-than-ideal conditions, but they're not suitable for every engine out there. Older engines tend to develop odd issues when synthetic oil is used, including hard-to-trace oil leaks or oil starvation in extreme cases. If your vehicle was designed to operate using conventional oil, stick to that instead.
Things to consider when buying conventional oil
With so many products on the market, choosing the best conventional oil might seem like more effort than it’s worth. However, with our help, you are sure to find the best-suited conventional oil for you. There are several factors you should consider when choosing the best conventional oil.
Check them out below!
API or SL rating
Look for a conventional oil that has an API (American Petroleum Institute) rating. This ensures that the oil meets the minimum standards set out by auto manufacturers.
The API rating will also tell you if the conventional oil you're considering is suitable for gasoline or diesel engines. Ratings that start with an S (for spark ignition) are for use with gasoline engines. The second letter in the rating will tell you the age of the oil technology. For example, oil with an SA label represents the oldest standard on the market, though we'll guess that you're probably not shopping for an oil for a pre-1930s automobile.
An API rating of C (compression oil) means that the oil is suitable for a diesel engine. The same rules apply for the second letter following the C in an API rating.
Additives
Look for conventional oils with a strong additive package that is resistant to sludge. Most modern conventional oils also come with plenty of cleaning additives and friction-reducing additives to extend your engine life.
Multi-grade or single grade oil
There are two types of conventional oils, multigrade and single grade oil. The latter is used almost exclusively in lawn equipment and generators, and you'll have trouble finding it outside of hardware stores. Do not use single grade oil in an automobile engine - the best case scenario is decreased performance and rough operation. Worst case? Let's just say replacement engines aren't cheap.
To get the right viscosity for your engine, you should read your owner’s manual. It should tell you what is recommended for your specific engine.
Disposal
Before purchasing any oil, make sure you know how to dispose of it correctly. Many cities have a service that collects your waste oil and disposes of it in a way that won't harm the environment. Don’t pour your oil down the drain or put it in your regular trash can; not only will this create a huge mess, but it's also highly illegal and can potentially result in both state and federal charges.
Conventional oil price range
When buying conventional oil, you should judge the price per quart. It's a good metric to figure out if you are getting the best value for your money. In most cases, you can expect to spend about $7-$9 per quart.
FAQs
Can you switch between conventional and synthetic oils?
While it won't damage your engine to swap between synthetic and conventional oil, you may find that one suits your engine better than the other. It's always best to stick with what the manufacturer recommends.
What are some good motor oil brands?
There are many motor oil brands available that offer both synthetic and conventional oil. Some of the more common brands in the US include Mobil, Castrol, Pennzoil, Valvoline, Shell, and Quaker State. In addition, there are many more brands available outside of common retail channels such as auto parts stores.
How often should I change the oil in my engine?
You should change your oil every 3,000-5,000 miles with conventional oil. Some people have found that conventional oil can potentially last much longer, but we don't recommend you try this.
What happens if you don’t change your oil?
If you don’t change your oil when needed, it can become sludge and stop lubricating your engine. Once it becomes sludge, there's the possibility of irreversible and catastrophic internal damage.
