Conventional motor oil, also known as dino or non-synthetic oil, is extremely cheap and performs well for about 3,000 miles before changing. Unless you’re not concerned about adding additional costs and hassle to regular oil changes, synthetic oils are much more expensive.
The API SM and SL-rated conventional motor oils will perform well in most applications. Still, our choice of the best conventional motor oils is based on price and availability. In addition to providing consistent performance across a long period of time, they are also highly reliable if properly maintained.
Check out our buying guide for the best conventional motor oil if you are a frequent grease monkey.
How Often Should I Change My Oil?
Changing the oil seems like going to the dentist twice a year. Having to do this is a pain, but it’s unavoidable. In today’s newest high-tech engines, synthetic oil can go up to 10,000 miles without an oil change. The quality of synthetic oils has improved as engine building technology has become more precise. More than half of today’s new automobiles have oil-use monitoring systems built in, which will alert you when it’s time to replace the oil.
In addition, you’ll find suggestions tailored to your individual driving preferences and circumstances. Changing the odometer twice a year might be a good idea if you drive about town most of the time, putting about 6,000 miles on the odometer every six months or so. Regular oil changes may be necessary if you frequently drive through arid regions, such as the Nevada or Arizona deserts, or if you frequently run your vehicle on a highway or long-distance route.
Local gas stations and oil change franchises recommend changing conventional oil and oil filters every 3,000 miles. That was mainly a marketing technique, to a considerable extent. It has recently become possible for owners to extend the oil life of their vehicles to 7,500 miles and even 10,000 miles on some models, depending on their driving patterns.
Editor’s Pick-Conventional Motor Oil
Best Conventional Motor Oil Reviews In 2023
1. Valvoline Daily Protection SAE 10W-40 Conventional Motor Oil
Plug your car into the most powerful motor oil ever made. Valvoline Daily Protection SAE 10W-40 Conventional Motor Oil provides exceptional protection against wear, sludge and engine deposits. It helps reduce engine temperatures in even the most severe weather and reduces friction and friction-related wear on critical engine parts.
The Original Motor Oil
Valvoline’s first breakthrough in motor oil was introducing it. And we’ve been re-inventing it ever since, from the world’s first high mileage oil to its first synthetic blend.
Original Through & Through
Valvoline became the first trademarked motor oil brand in 1866. Over the last 100 years, as engine technology has evolved, so has motor oil technology, and Valvoline has been innovating all the way.
Trusted for Over 150 Years
Not only have we been making motor oil longer than anyone else, but we’ve also been improving it longer than anyone else. Some change with the times and those who drive them.
2. Pennzoil Conventional 10W-30 Motor Oil
Pennzoil motor oil exceeds the toughest industry standards based on ILSAC GF-6 and API SP and is engineered to help prevent sludge and other damaging deposits in your engine. It provides a balance between reducing frictional losses and protection against harmful engine wear by getting between moving parts to prevent friction. No other leading motor oil provides better wear protection than Pennzoil motor oil (based on Sequence IVA wear test using SAE 5W-30).
Turbocharged Engines
Pennzoil SAE 5W-30 is a synthetic blend oil formulated to provide protection against the harmful effects of stop-and-go driving and low-speed pre-ignition (LSPI) in modern turbocharged engines. It meets or exceeds the following OEM requirements: FCA MS-6395; Ford WSS-M2C946-B1. It also exceeds the requirements of the following industry specifications: API SP and all previous categories; ILSAC GF-6. For a full list of equipment approvals and recommendations, please consult your local Shell Technical Help Desk and always consult your owner’s manual.
Pennzoil Motor Oil
Pennzoil motor oil is formulated with Active Cleansing Technology. At Pennzoil, we’re committed to engineering motor oils that are proven to protect your engine. That’s why we fortified Pennzoil motor oil to help prevent dirt and contaminants from turning into performance-robbing deposits, helping to keep engines clean and responsive.
3. Formula Shell Conventional 5W-20 Motor Oil
FormulaShell – is a premium, high-quality motor oil recommended for use in gasoline and diesel engines with or without turbochargers. FormulaShell acts as a lubricant and helps keep the engine clean by reducing the formation of gummy deposits when used properly. It also helps in protecting the emissions system by decreasing the wear on your valves, rings, and piston skirts/cylinders.
Excellent Protection
Shell Formula Motor Oils deliver unsurpassed performance for your vehicle by providing excellent protection against deposit buildup. Ideal for newer cars with high-tech engines, Shell Formula Motor Oils are engineered to help protect against sludge and corrosion.
Performance Degradation
Formula Shell Conventional 5W-20 Motor Oil is designed to keep your vehicle running safely and reliably with minimal maintenance. Formula Shell Conventional provides exceptional protection against engine wear and performance degradation while meeting most North American and Japanese OEM service fill requirements for conventional engine oils.
4. Valvoline Daily Protection Non-Detergent
Power your engine with the protection of Valvoline Daily Protection Non-Detergent oil. This oil minimizes everyday wear on your engine by providing consistent lubrication and defense against friction, oxidation, and sludge build-up. Resists oil breakdown and sludge so you can get more power out of every drop. Adding added detergents to keep your engine clean makes this oil exceptional in even the most severe weather – reducing costly repairs.
The Original Motor Oil
Valvoline’s first breakthrough in motor oil was introducing it. And we’ve been re-inventing it ever since, from the world’s first high mileage oil to its first synthetic blend.
Original Through & Through
Valvoline became the first trademarked motor oil brand in 1866. Over the last 100 years, as engine technology has evolved, so has motor oil technology, and Valvoline has been innovating all the way.
5. Castrol GTX Classic 20W-50 Conventional Motor Oil
Castrol GTX 20W-50 Conventional Motor Oil meets or exceeds the requirements of API SJ or earlier specification 20W-50 lubricant. It is suitable for automotive gasoline engines where the manufacturer recommends an API SJ or earlier specification 20W-50 lubricant. Castrol Classic 20W-50 is not approved for use in wet clutch applications such as manual transmissions.
Specially Formulated For Classic
Castrol GTX Classic is a high-performance engine oil specially formulated for classic/collector cars, muscle cars, hot rods, and race cars. Its high zinc and phosphorus content helps prevent premature aging, wear, and metal fatigue on engines with high tension valve springs or performance modifications that create high contact pressure and extreme internal temperatures.
Conventional Motor Oil
Fuel your engine with a high-quality protection from extreme pressure and wear under severe conditions using Castrol GTX Classic 20W-50 Conventional Motor Oil. Formulated to maintain tough and thick oil film even under severe conditions, this product has minimal foaming, high resistance to thermal degradation is compatible with gasoline and alcohol-based fuels, and resists fuel dilution for longer engine life.
6. Castrol 6144 Conventional Motor Oil
Castrol GTX Conventional Motor Oil is a premium conventional motor oil re-engineered with TriShield technology to actively prevent deposit build-up and provide maximum protection against viscosity and thermal breakdown. This oil is specially formulated for performance cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs. The fast-drying Castrol GTX formula provides excellent protection against viscosity and thermal breakdown and outstanding low-temperature starting capability. It’s especially recommended for Mercedes Benz vehicles.
Maximize Performance With Castrol
Protect your car’s engine and maximize performance with Castrol 6144 Conventional Motor Oil, a unique multi-functional product that provides superior protection against wear, deposits, and corrosion. Castrol 6144: it’s what moving parts need to keep moving.
Viscosity And Thermal Breakdown
Protecting your car engine from viscosity and thermal breakdown can help improve gas mileage and protect against future motor wear. Castrol Conventional Motor Oil outperforms the competition’s conventional oil, with ultra-low friction that enables better acceleration and improved fuel efficiency. In addition to advanced performance, it meets ILSAC GF-5 and API SN standards for viscosity and thermal breakdown protection. With a custom blend of premium additives, you can rest easy knowing you’re getting the best oil for your vehicle every time you fill up.
7. Valvoline Daily Protection SAE 30 Conventional Motor Oil
Valvoline Daily Protection Motor Oil is specially formulated to exceed industry standards for wear, deposit, and sludge protection. Its premium formula is designed to flow easily at cold temperatures reducing wear at startup and providing added protection against motor oil breakdown in tough conditions while keeping engines running like new.
Valvoline Daily Protection
Everyday wear on your engine causes harm over time. Still, Valvoline Daily Protection SAE 30 Conventional Motor Oil is designed to minimize that daily wear by providing consistent lubrication and defense against engine-damaging deposits. Whether you drive short commutes or long road trips, Valvoline Daily Protection SAE 30 Conventional Motor Oil is a great choice for your car or truck’s engine.
Specifically Designed To Resist
This high-performance conventional motor oil is specifically designed to resist engine wear, protect critical engine components, and optimize power and fuel efficiency. It also resists oil breakdown and sludge with added detergents, helps protect against the thermal breakdown of the oil at high operating temperatures and reduces costly repairs to your engine with its exceptional temperature protection.
8. Valvoline Daily Protection SAE 10W-40 Conventional Motor Oil
Valvoline Premium Conventional Motor Oil is specially formulated for the full life of the engine and comes in both multi-viscosity and mono-grade formulations. Multi-viscosity grades provide protection in all climates, while mono-grade oils are formulated for warmer conditions. All Valvoline oils are formulated with advanced additives for year-round engine protection.
Motor Oil Premium
Valvoline Daily Protection SAE 10W-40 Conventional Motor Oil is a premium conventional motor oil that protects against all types of deposits at all temperatures to keep engines clean and contains durable anti-wear additives that stay in the oil longer to improve protection and provide enhanced oxidation control to resist oil thickening.
High-performance
Valvoline Daily Protection SAE 10W-40 Conventional Motor Oil is a high-performance full synthetic that provides thorough anti-wear protection – exceeding the current U.S., Japanese, and European wear tests for gasoline and gasoline turbo-charged engines. Valvoline’s proprietary formula is designed to give your engine strong, reliable protection so you can drive confidently.
9. Valvoline Daily Protection SAE 30 Conventional Motor Oil
Valvoline Daily Protection Motor Oil is specially formulated to exceed industry standards for wear, deposit and sludge protection to help keep engines running like new. Developed with high-quality additives and premium base oils, it’s designed to reduce wear and provide added protection against motor oil breakdown in tough conditions.
Automotive Engineers
Motor oil is made from crude oil and lubricates clean and cool engines. Types of motor oil include conventional, synthetic, diesel, bio-based, hybrid (blends of conventional and synthetic), and recycled oils. Motor oil varies in weight and viscosity, as well as additives that some manufacturers add to the oil during the refining process. A numerical code system created by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) grades motor oils according to viscosity–the higher the number between 0 and 60, the more viscous (thicker) the oil is. Most consumer motor oils are graded by two numbers, with the first indicating cold weather (Winter or “W”) performance.
Conventional Motor Oils
This oil is conventional motor oil, which is refined from crude oil or petroleum products. Conventional motor oils may or may not have additives included after refining. Conventional motor oils are more versatile than synthetic or hybrid motor oils because they are suitable for use with nearly all types of modern vehicle engines, from cars and trucks to motorcycles, ATVs, farm equipment, and more.
10. Ultra1Plus SAE 10W-30 Conventional Motor Oil API SL
Ultra1Plus is the oil of choice for diesel engines. It provides optimal protection and helps to increase fuel efficiency by minimizing engine wear even in extreme operating conditions, such as those found on heavy trucks or construction equipment.
Gasoline Engine Oil
Ultra1Plus SAE 10W-30 Motor Oils, API SL is a gasoline engine oil blended with group II paraffinic base stocks and a premium additive package. This oil exhibit good anti-wear, anti-oxidant, anti-foaming, detergent, and dispersant characteristics and exceed the performance requirements of API SL. With an advanced additive technology base that prevents wear in engines of passenger cars, light trucks, and sport utility vehicles (SUVs), Ultra1Plus SAE 10W-30 Motor Oil is the strongest choice for today’s car owners.
Excellent Wear
Ultra1Plus is a 10W-30 conventional engine oil that keeps your engine protected by providing excellent wear protection and corrosion protection. With engine oil, you want to ensure that you’re preventing deposits from forming in your engine, which can cause damage over time, especially after running for quite some time. This will allow your engine to last longer, so you can save money and time!
Best Conventional Motor Oil Buying Guide
Viscosity
To choose a conventional motor oil that meets your requirements, you must consider its viscosity grade. For those who live in hotter climates or ring their cars’ engines often, a viscosity of 10W-40 is recommended. Synthetic oil in the 5W-30 range is suitable for commuting in warm or cold climates. If your vehicle is subjected to arctic conditions, a 5W-20 or 0W-20 conventional oil is suggested.
Application
There is an application label on all types of conventional oil. Regular motor oil is commonly used in diesel engines, motorcycles, and vehicles with higher mileage. Before purchasing the best conventional oil for your car, research its condition.
Accessibility
Before adding it to your ride, you should ensure the brand of synthetic oil you choose is compatible with other types of oil. If it is not, it will have to be drained before it can be filled up with synthetic. Verify the kind of oil your vehicle needs by consulting your owner’s manual. As an example, conventional oil works best for most vintage vehicles.
Additives
To enhance certain properties, conventional motor oils add additives of their own. For example, a viscosity-index-improver ensures that oil won’t get too thin at higher temperatures.
Adding a detergent to your engine is an efficient way to remove engine deposits. Before purchasing synthetic engine oil, determine which additives offer the benefits that are most important to you.
Cost
Having second thoughts about investing in a high-end full conventional oil brand is totally understandable, especially if the price premium is too steep for you. Conventional oil brands that are more expensive aren’t always better than less expensive ones. To find the best synthetic oil for your needs, compare conventional oils and read reviews online.
Frequently Asked Question: Best Conventional Motor Oil
What Is Conventional Motor Oil?
An oil-based lubricant like conventional motor oil is derived directly from the crude oil itself. Aside from being able to lubricate at high temperatures, it also maintains its structure over time. The longer your engine lasts, the less wear it will sustain.
Is Conventional Oil Good Enough?
Sure. The overall performance and protection of synthetic oil outweigh conventional oil’s lubrication. As a result of their production, synthetic oils have a higher level of quality than conventional oils with lesser refinement.
Is Conventional Oil Better For Older Engines?
In fact, conventional oils are better for older engines since they flow slower than synthetics. Because conventional oil provides better lubrication for older engines, these vehicles can begin considering conventional oil over synthetic options.
Is 5w 20 Conventional Oil?
Conventional oil is normally the standard oil for new cars. There are currently many viscosity grades available under the service level SM designation. These days, most car manufacturers recommend 5W-20 or 5W-30. Conventional oils evaporate more quickly than these oils.
Conclusion
Make sure to use the best conventional motor oil for your vehicle. The engine you have, how it’s been maintained over time, and what kind of driving conditions you experience all play a role in which oil is right for you.
Simply put, if your car needs synthetic blend or oils due to its age and maintenance history, that should be used regardless of whether it costs more!