10 Best 5W30 Synthetic Oils of 2020

If you are on a tight budget, then you can go for this affordable 1 quart (32-ounce) fully synthetic motor oil, which is designed for use only in gasoline engines.

Despite this low price, the oil is actually designed to protect modern turbocharged engines from the effects of low-speed pre-ignition due to its high-quality base oil plus a high-performance additive formulation.

Other than this, the product gives your engine wear protection by providing superior lubrication, cleans engine sludge much better than conventional oil and other oil blends, and also keeps the pistons up to 50% cleaner than when using other types of oils.

You also get improved fuel economy, reaching up to 550 miles per year as compared to using other “dirty oils”, as well as engine protection from harsh cold winters and hot, humid summer days.

Liqui Moly’s 2038 takes the top spot specifically due to its wide compatibility, in which the fully synthetic motor oil can be used in gas and diesel engines, delivering the same results.

These results include improving the smooth running of the engine by helping to maintain the optimal oil pressure in the engine as it is running at different speeds.

The 2038 engine oil also helps in improving the rapid oil delivery to all the engine parts while operating or starting up at low temperatures.

In the end, your engine gets reliable lubrication in both low and high temperatures, and this extends the lifespan of your engine because of the continuous and reliable protection against wear and tear.

On the downside, this product comes in a small 1-liter pack (33.81 ounces) and it does not clean the engine.

Even though this 5W30 motor oil is only compatible with gasoline engines, it performs really well, and can also provide high-performance lubrication in engines running on ethanol fuel blends.

The product is particularly a high-performance oil because it provides better protection against damages on the catalytic emission system, which results in massive savings because this system is usually very expensive and doing a replacement might really hurt your pocket.

On top of this, the oil increases your engine’s fuel efficiency while also providing better protection against wear and tear in the engine, as well as other forms of corrosion inside.

Another benefit is that you get quite a lot of oil in the pack, which is sold in a 5-quart bottle (160 ounces), and this is probably enough for doing a complete oil change in your car.

If you have a big gas-powered truck that requires a lot of oil when doing the oil change, then this VV955-6PK from Valvoline should be your go-to option. This is because the product is packed in 1-quart (32-ounce) bottles, but comes as a 6-pack, which means you get a total of 192 ounces.

Though expensive, this is quite a lot of oil and is enough for large engines, and if you have a small gas engine, then you will have plenty remaining for your next oil change.

After this oil change, this 5W30 synthetic oil will maintain your engine’s fuel efficiency, all while meeting the performance requirements for supercharged, turbocharged and naturally aspirated engines in passenger cars running on the North American continent.

The oil also provides high-temperature protection when the engine is under high performance, and also low-temperature protection by improving the oil flow, especially during startup.

Another benefit your engine gets is sludge and varnish protection, which leads to improved engine cleanliness on the inside.

Mobil 1’s 94001 is an advanced synthetic motor oil that is used as the official motor oil in the Nascar world due to its high-performance characteristics.

These characteristics most importantly include keeping your engine performing as good as new due to the included anti-wear additive, which helps reduce friction in all the moving components inside the engine as much as possible.

The product also keeps the engine looking new by eliminating sludge and varnish build-up, which effectively means that cleanliness is maintained inside.

On top of this, the oil is a seal conditioner that helps prevent leaks, leading to consistent and reliable lubrication for high-performance engines.

Other features include controlling oil breakdown for longevity, compatibility with gas engines only and a large quantity of six 1-quart bottles, which means you get a total of 6 quarts or 192 ounces of oil.

This 5W30 synthetic oil is specifically designed for extended performance and is actually guaranteed to give you 20,000 miles between oil changes.

The oil achieves this kind of performance because it is engineered with fluid titanium technology, which offers maximum strength under pressure. This reduces friction on metal-to-metal contact across a wide range of driving speeds, leading to extended performance.

Apart from this, the product is 3 times as viscous as other synthetic oils, which gives an extended performance, while sludge plus varnish formation is reduced so as to improve the engine’s response.

With this kind of capability, the oil is recommended for extreme applications such as high-performance driving, racing, towing and hauling, as well as frequent short trips on extremely cold or hot temperature environments.

On the downside, the 1597B1 is designed only for gas engines, but it comes in a 5-quart bottle (160 ounces), which is quite enough for a complete oil change in most gas engines.

Mag 1’s pk6 stands out from the rest due to its FMX friction modifier formulation, which reduced wear-and-tear in the engine by up to 56% more as compared to standard motor oils.

The oil is also highly viscous, which gives better lubrication for improved engine response and better fuel economy, and is formulated with High Phos Retention 2DP for extended performance against wear and tear.

Other features include engine protection from cold temperature wear during startup, compatibility with gas engines only and a quantity of 1 US quart, which is quite a small amount and more bottles may be required for a complete oil change.

This 100% pure synthetic motor oil is designed to do a lot of performance boosting in your engine, such as improving the fuel efficiency for increased mileage, as well as increased torque and horsepower for improved throttle response.

Apart from this, the oil contains an exclusive additive package, which makes the product an ultimate anti-wear agent, as well as a thermal and shear stabilizer. Combined, these features make this the top-rated 5W30 synthetic oil in our review.

However, the lubricant is only meant for gas engines and it comes in a small 1-quart container.

This lubricant is specifically designed to give longer drain intervals in 4-stroke engines because it has a high resistance to viscosity and thermal breakdown, which leads to extended performance.

The 5-quart oil achieves this because it has a high-tech synthetic oil base that is supported by high-performance additives.

With this formulation, the product promotes an extended use because of the quick lubrication at startup, as well as consistent performance in lubrication on all other operating conditions.

Apart from this, the oil is compatible with both gas and diesel engines, and in both, it helps the engine start and warm-up smoothly, while also resisting thinning at high temperatures. However, the lubricant does not clean the engine.

Shell Rotella’s 550050318 is the most expensive 5W30 synthetic oil in this review but it comes in a large quantity, with six 1-quart bottles that give you a total of 192 ounces of lube for a complete oil change in your gas engine.

However, what stands out most about this oil is that it is designed for gas-powered trucks and SUVs, providing superb protection to their engines when under high performance from hauling and towing trailers.

The lubricant is designed to outperform conventional motor oil during such driving conditions by preventing thinning at high temperatures, thereby maintaining optimal lubrication at all times.

Aside from this, the product also maintains cleanliness inside the engine by preventing the formation of damaging deposits such as sludge and varnish, and this results in improved throttle response and increased power output.