Passenger Vehicles | Synthetic Oils & FAQ's

A synthetic lubricant contains more highly refined base oils than those used in conventional mineral oils, offering excellent protection and performance. Synthetic engine oils offer a variety of benefits that help keep engines running at optimal performance for years. To understand synthetic engine oils, let's look at the origins of engine oils. There are two basic types of lubricants available:

Conventional mineral oils are the traditional lubricants

Synthetic lubricants which are growing in popularity

Both lubricant types are made from crude oil. The difference is that synthetic oils are made from more advanced refining processes and are of a higher purity and quality than conventional mineral oils. This not only removes more impurities, it enables individual molecules in the oil to be tailored to the demands of modern engines. These customised molecules offer higher levels of protection and performance.

The performance of synthetic engine oils is typically more robust, especially in terms of low temperature pumpability and high temperature stability and protection against deposits. These attributes can help towards reduced engine wear, fuel economy potential and long engine life.

Synthetic engine oils have been developed specifically to cope with extreme conditions found within modern engines. They are much more free-flowing than traditional mineral oils. The biggest benefit is greatly increased engine protection. When an engine first starts, a mineral oil takes time to circulate, allowing friction between un-lubricated parts to cause wear. In contrast, a synthetic lubricant starts circulating straight away, protecting every moving part within the engine.

Synthetic engine oils can also help to improve fuel economy. During the warm-up period of a typical truck journey, mineral oils are thicker and move more slowly, making the engine thirstier and less efficient. Synthetics, however, get to work much more quickly, so the engine reaches peak operating efficiency much sooner. Another advantage of synthetics is that they're cleaner – helping to cut engine emissions compared to conventional mineral oils.

Engine oils are made of base oils and additives. A synthetic lubricant contains more highly refined base oils than conventional mineral oils, offering superior protection and performance. Synthetic engine oils provide a variety of benefits that keep your car’s engine running at optimal performance for years, such as helping to prevent wear, keeping the engine clean, flowing easily, maintaining viscosity, preventing rust and reducing friction.

The same environmentally sound procedures should be followed as for conventional engine oils. Please contact your local Environment Agency or regulatory body for more detailed guidelines on disposal.

All engine oils are made of base oils and additives. Fully synthetic engine oils contain 100% non-conventional, high-performance fluids. Semi-synthetic engine oils (also called ‘blends’) contain a smaller percentage of these high-performance fluids in combination with conventional mineral oil.

Mobil 1 is a fully synthetic motor oil.

Mobil 1 offers very high levels of engine protection. Back in 1974, when Mobil 1 was launched, it was the first widely available automotive synthetic lubricant on the market. Today, Mobil 1 is still universally acknowledged as an advanced lubricant.

Yes. Mobil 1 is fully compatible with conventional engine oils, semi-synthetic engine oils and other synthetic engine oils if you need to mix them. However, it’s worth knowing that diluting Mobil 1 may reduce its performance.

Yes. Free-flowing Mobil 1 begins protecting as soon as the engine is started, making it the perfect choice if most of your driving involves short journeys. On short journeys – the quick trip to work, the school run or drive to the shops – the engine hardly has time to warm up before it’s turned off again, so outstanding cold start protection is needed to save engine wear.

In tests, it’s been proved that Mobil 1 still flows freely at temperatures as low as minus 40°C and it can reach all moving parts of the engine 10 seconds faster than some conventional oils at start-up. That means Mobil 1 starts protecting the engine straight away, saving it from a great deal of punishment, and saving you money on fuel and maintenance costs. And, of course, it also means more reliable starting, even on the coldest mornings.

Yes, Outstanding protection, even at the most extreme temperatures, makes Mobil 1 ideal if most of your driving involves high speed motorway cruising. If you often drive long distances on fast roads, your car’s engine will get extremely hot and could become less fuel-efficient. By virtually eliminating engine wear, Mobil 1 keeps the engine in almost the same condition as the day it was fitted. That means even during long motorway journeys, it will continue to perform at its peak, run more efficiently and use less fuel.

Yes. Tried and tested at the highest levels of motorsport, the world's leading synthetic engine oil is the very best choice for the enthusiastic driver. If performance really matters to you, you’ll continually be placing extreme demands upon your car’s engine. And, as the Mobil1-McLaren-Honda team know, using the right lubricant can make a significant difference in terms of increased power output. What's more, by using Mobil 1 you’ll enjoy the reassurance of knowing that your car’s engine has the ultimate protection, no matter how hard you drive it.

Yes. While Mobil 1 costs a little more than other engine oils (simply because it costs more to produce) you will be better off using its unique formulation, which is the result of an enormous ongoing investment in research and development.

Yes. The outstanding protection provided by Mobil 1 technology can keep your engine in virtually the same condition as the day it was fitted; potentially avoiding significant maintenance costs. Just as importantly, free-flowing Mobil 1 conserves energy in your car’s engine, helping to give better fuel consumption. So while Mobil 1 may cost you a little more upfront, it can save you money down the road.