10 Best 0W-20 Synthetic Oils of 2021
There are several types of oils on the market. However, most automotive manufacturers will recommend looking for the best 0W-20 synthetic oils if you will be driving a lot in cold weather.
Before continuing, it is important to make clear what 0W-20 code means. Basically, the code is the classification of the oil viscosity by SAE (Society of Automotive Engineering).
The ‘W’ in the code stands for winter certification while the "0" is the viscosity of the oil in low temperature, and "20" is its viscosity in high temperature. These numbers mean that this oil will be ideal for low temperature driving as it will thicken less.
And to help you find the best of this synthetic oil, here we provide a comprehensive review of 0W-20 synthetic oils and provide a handy buying guide.
10 Best 0W-20 Synthetic Oils – Review
IMAGE | PRODUCT | FEATURES | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 1. Valvoline Advanced (Best Overall) | ||
 | 2. Castrol 03124 EDGE (Best Value for Money) | ||
 | 3. Liquimoly 2208 (Compatible with Most Vehicles) | ||
 | 4. Idemitsu 20102-042B (Environmental Performance at the Highest Global Standards) | ||
 | 5. Royal Purple 51020 (Superior Gasoline Engine Protection and Performance) | ||
 | 6. Castrol GTX Magnatec (Uniquely Formulated for Instant Protection) | ||
 | 7. Pennzoil Platinum SAE,SN (Excellent Superior Protection) | ||
 | 8. Valvoline High Mileage (Effective Engine Breakdown Prevention) | ||
  | 9. AmazonBasics SN Plus (Formulated for Long Drain Intervals) | ||
 | 10. MAG 1 20139 (Exceptionally High Viscosity Index) |
PRODUCT |
|---|
1. Valvoline Advanced (Best Overall) |
2. Castrol 03124 EDGE (Best Value for Money) |
3. Liquimoly 2208 (Compatible with Most Vehicles) |
4. Idemitsu 20102-042B (Environmental Performance at the Highest Global Standards) |
5. Royal Purple 51020 (Superior Gasoline Engine Protection & Performance) |
6. Castrol GTX Magnatec (Uniquely Formulated for Instant Protection) |
7. Pennzoil Platinum SAE,SN (Excellent Superior Protection) |
8. Valvoline High Mileage (Effective Engine Breakdown Prevention) |
9. AmazonBasics SN Plus (Formulated for Long Drain Intervals) |
10. MAG 1 20139 (Exceptionally High Viscosity Index) |
1. Valvoline Advanced – Best Overall 0W-20 Synthetic Oil
Photo: Valvoline
Valvoline has been making oil and other vehicle fluids from more than 150 years now, and so they have had enough time to perfect their products.
This and the fact that this particular advanced oil has been formulated for a wide variety of vehicles with 50% more wear protection makes this our best overall 0W-20 oil.
This well-formulated Valvoline 0W-20 synthetic oil handles cold temperatures exceptionally well, and will also do quite well in higher temperatures, making it ideal for different driving conditions.
By offering superior varnish and sludge protection, this oil will keep your engine. It is compatible with most synthetic and conventional motor oils, which means you can add it to your vehicle with no worries.
Because the oil flows nicely at startup, you will not have any issues firing up your car. Better yet, it is proven to improve the fuel efficiency significantly.
The oil canister that holds this oil is not very ergonomic, but the good news is that pouring from it is still quite easy.
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2. Castrol 03124 EDGE – Best Value for Money
Photo: Castrol
The Castrol 03124 Edge 0W-20 full synthetic oil offers great quality at a great price and for a premium quality oil you can be sure of getting excellent value for cash.
It uses patented fluid titanium technology to deliver superior engine performance and protection from deposits, oxidation and wear. And this means this Castrol 0W-20 synthetic oil is effective at both lubrication and cleaning.
This oil will meet and exceed the needs of top vehicle brands like Honda, Toyota, Lexus and many others. To make this oil even better, it will help improve your vehicle's overall fuel economy.
For cold starts, there are many other 0W-20 synthetic oils out there that will outperform this one, but you will still not have any issue firing up the car with this high-quality oil.
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3. Liquimoly 2208 – Compatible with Most Vehicles
Photo: Liquimoly
Liquimoly 2208 motor oil is compatible with a high range of vehicles, ideal for modern Japanese and American gas engines. Hence, you can almost be confident it will work for you regardless of the model you drive.
With heavy-duty formulation, it lasts longer than most oils out there. And this will not only spare you cash, but also ensure you do not have to waste a lot of time changing oil now and then.
This 0W-20 synthetic oil maintains its peak performance in both high and low temperatures, and hence allowing you to use it all year round effectively.
For more user convenience, the bottle is designed with a nice grip and an ergonomic design that will make pouring more effortless.
While this oil might not give you a huge fuel economy improvement like some options on our list, there is still a significant increase depending on the vehicle. Some vehicles will even get up to 20% fuel economy improvement.
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4. Idemitsu 20102-042B – Environmental Performance at the Highest Global Standards
Photo: Idemitsu
Idemitsu formulates this oil for anyone shopping for the best 0W-20 full synthetic oil, and it will be the perfect choice for you if you live in areas with strict emission laws.
The company formulates this oil to meet the highest levels of environmental performance and with the extremely low volatility and high piston cleanliness, less oil is burnt and there will be decreased emissions.
This engine oil is very protective for your vehicle's engine as it will contain friction eliminating additives that will help minimize wear.
If you are looking to save some cash on your gas expenditure, the improved fuel economy also makes this 0W-20 full synthetic oil an excellent buy.
This synthetic oil is available for gasoline engines only, but the good news is that Idemitsu still has a wide variety of other synthetic oils for diesel engines, and so this is hardly an issue.
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5. Royal Purple 51020 – Superior Gasoline Engine Protection and Performance
Photo: Royal Purple
Royal Purple 51020 oil is worth your money without hesitation. It is the perfect option if you are looking for something that will enhance your gasoline engine's performance and provide superior protection.
Furthermore, with enhanced protection, it keeps your catalytic converter system clean. It has been formulated to offer unbeatable wear protection while also ensuring the engine does not starve.
Besides being compatible with both synthetic and conventional motor oils, this oil can also work with fuels that have ethanol without causing any engine issues.
If you are looking for oil for a high-performance vehicle, this might not be it. But, this is not a deal-breaker as it is not what it is built for.
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6. Castrol GTX Magnatec – Uniquely Formulated for Instant Protection
Photo: Castrol
With the Castrol GTX Magnatec, you will not have to drive for several miles for your vehicle to get the protection you want as it has been formulated with intelligent molecules to deliver instant protection.
Besides instant protection, this synthetic oil is also formulated to deliver superior wear and corrosion protection to ensure your engine remains in great shape for a long time.
Sludge build-up should also not be a worry for you when using this synthetic oil as it has been formulated with unique full synthetic technology to minimize the build-up.
With this synthetic oil, fuel economy is guaranteed to improve significantly. And to make this an even better oil, it will also provide superior protection from viscosity breakdown.
Although the sound that the engine produces when using this oil is not as smooth as other synthetic oils, it is still good enough. Furthermore, the increased performance and protection make up for this.
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7. Pennzoil Platinum SAE, SN – Excellent Superior Protection
Photo: Pennzoil
With the superior protection against wear and friction, this full synthetic oil by Penzoil will be the perfect buy if you are looking for something that will help extend the life of your engine.
This synthetic oil will also deliver improved fuel economy to save you money. You can use this oil throughout the years as it will flow nicely in low temperature and also offer maximum protection in high heat.
The formulation is very effective at preventing power loss for the engine and it will also offer superior piston cleanliness.
The bottle can be a little messy when pouring. However, a little precaution is all it takes to ensure you do no pour oil all over.
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8. Valvoline High Mileage – Effective Engine Breakdown Prevention
Photo: Valvoline
Engine breakdown is a common problem that can be quite costly to repair, and hence it makes more sense to prevent it. This synthetic oil is build just for that as it has a thick and long-lasting anti-wear film that will help protect the engine from breakdown.
Also, the formulation of this full synthetic oil makes it effective at protecting the engine from heat and stress. And you can be confident that metal-to-metal wear will be minimal as it offers superior lubrication.
The oil will contain extra detergents to help with future engine wear protection, and the seal conditioners will help prevent and stop engine oil leaks.
When compared to others on our 0W-20 synthetic oil review, this one seems to burn a little too soon, but it should still be thousands of miles before you need to change it.
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9. AmazonBasics SN Plus – Formulated for Long Drain Intervals
You will not always the time or money to spare for an oil change. Hence, a full synthetic 0W-20 oil like this one that allows for longer oil change intervals will be an excellent buy.
Besides the longer oil change interval, this oil still has a lot more to offer such as a friction minimizing formulation that will help keep your engine in good shape for a long time.
This oil also offer effective rust and corrosion by preventing the build up sludge and other substances that can cause them. With this oil running through your engine, you can also be confident of significant reduction of emissions.
Checking the oil level in the bottle is not easy as there is no oil strip, but the good news is that you can still estimate accurately using the bottle size.
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10. MAG 1 20139 – Exceptionally High Viscosity Index
Photo: MAG 1
The higher viscosity index of this Mag1 motor oil is what sets it apart from others in its class. With an exceptionally higher viscosity, this engine oil will not thicken a lot in cold weather, and this will ensure that the battery drain and engine wear are minimized at low temperature startups.
The formulation of this fully synthetic oil is modified for friction to ensure even better wear protection. And with its unique chemistry, it will also be highly effective at minimizing sludge build-up.
You can be sure that this synthetic oil offers exceptional quality as it will meet and exceed the strict dexos1 standards. Overall, this oil will also improve the fuel economy significantly.
The design of the bottle can make it hard to pour the oil directly from it without making a mess. But, you should be okay with a cheap funnel.
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How to Buy the Best 0W-20 Synthetic Oil
Photo: Valvoline
1. Check the recommended oil for your car
Different vehicles use different types of oils. It is therefore mandatory to choose the right one for your specific vehicle type and model.
This is not only about choosing between gasoline and diesel vehicle engine oils, but also the specific requirements of the particular vehicle you drive.
Using the wrong oil in an engine will be catastrophic. It will result in damage and can kill your engine. In fact, you find in many times; the engine won’t run at all with the wrong engine oil.
2. Compatibility with Existing Oil
Besides making sure that the oil you choose is ideal for your vehicle, it is also important to make sure that it is compatible with the specific oil you already have on your vehicle.
Some 0W-20 synthetic oils will only work with conventional oils, while others are ideal for synthetic oils.
But, some like Valvoline Advanced are compatible with both oil types meaning they will work for you regardless of the oil types you have in your vehicle.
3. Full Synthetic or Synthetic Blend Oil
As you shop for the best 0W-20 synthetic motor oil, you will also need to decide whether to go for fully synthetic ones like the Idemitsu 20102-042B and many others on our list or the synthetic blend types.
While it is true that different motorists will have their preferences, there is no doubt that full synthetic offers superior performance and protection when compared to synthetic blends.
Besides being highly efficient, the full synthetic oils will also provide a longer change interval as the best ones will allow you to go for up to 15,000 miles before you need to change oil. For, the synthetic blends, you will hardly get any brand that offers a change intervals of more than 7,500 miles.
That said, the synthetic blend oils can be up to 30% cheaper than the full synthetic oils. Hence, if you are on a tight budget, they can still work for you.
FAQs
Q: Is 0W-20 Synthetic Oil Good?
A: Yes, it is one of the best oils that you can use on your vehicle as it offers superior performance at both high and low temperatures. Better yet, it is also very effective at minimizing wear and friction.
Q: How Long does 0W-20 Synthetic Oil Last?
A: It depends on the quality of the brand that you choose. However, you can expect to use it for at least 5,000 miles if you have the lower tier ones, while the top tier brands can last more than 15,000 miles.
Q: Is 5W20 better than 0W20?
A: Yes, but only for lower temperature operation given that the 0W-20 thickens less than 5W-20 in cold weather. However, their hot or operating temperate viscosity is the same (20) which means they perform the same.
Q: How Often to Change 0W-20 Oil if I Don't Drive Much?
A: The original recommended change interval for 0W-20 synthetic oil is 5,000 miles but if you do not drive much, you can go up to 10,000 miles or even more.
Conclusion
With our 0W-20 synthetic oil review above for recommendations, you should now have a clear idea on what to look for and what to buy.
While there is something for everyone on our list, the Valvoline Advanced is our best overall option as it is a product by a trustworthy brand that will deliver more wear protection and great fuel efficiency.
But, if you are looking for something that will offer you good value for money, go for Castrol 03124 EDGE.
- 10 Best 0W-20 Synthetic Oils – Review
- 1. Valvoline Advanced – Best Overall 0W-20 Synthetic Oil
- 2. Castrol 03124 EDGE – Best Value for Money
- 3. Liquimoly 2208 – Compatible with Most Vehicles
- 4. Idemitsu 20102-042B – Environmental Performance at the Highest Global Standards
- 5. Royal Purple 51020 – Superior Gasoline Engine Protection and Performance
- 6. Castrol GTX Magnatec – Uniquely Formulated for Instant Protection
- 7. Pennzoil Platinum SAE, SN – Excellent Superior Protection
- 8. Valvoline High Mileage – Effective Engine Breakdown Prevention
- 9. AmazonBasics SN Plus – Formulated for Long Drain Intervals
- 10. MAG 1 20139 – Exceptionally High Viscosity Index
- How to Buy the Best 0W-20 Synthetic Oil
- FAQs
- Conclusion
