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Oil & Fluids

Mobil 1 vs Valvoline Motor Oil: Which One Is Better for You?

Valvoline Vs Mobil 1
Last Updated on Aug 16, 2023 By Lillian Kazmierczak

Synthetic oils have proven to be better for your car. Mobil 1 and Valvoline come to mind when choosing the best oil brand. While these synthetic oils share many similarities, most users choose an oil based on the differences. Here we will compare Valvoline vs. Mobil 1 and choose the winner in various categories.

Why choose synthetic oil?

While processing synthetic oil, removing the impurities in crude oil creates a cleaner oil that offers better engine protection and increases engine performance. Today’s aluminum engines need the improved lubrication that synthetic oils provide.

Synthetic oil doesn’t leave sludge build-up or deposit formation in your engine. Today engines have so many moving parts that need lubrication. This requires oil to protect the engine as these parts move without breaking down. Synthetic oil is made to protect your engine longer, some as long as 250,000 miles.

The higher viscosity of synthetic oil protects the engine from high temperatures and lets oil flow faster in cold winter temperatures. The increased stability of synthetic oil keeps your engine running smoothly all year long.

Turbochargers and small engines reap the benefits of synthetic oil’s better lubrication and quickness in oil flow to all parts that need it the most. Turbochargers simply run better when synthetic oil is used.

The price of Synthetic oil vs, conventional oil is higher, but it last longer, and manufacturers recommend oil changes (under regular driving conditions) at 10,000 to 15,000 miles or every six months, which can lead to significant savings over time.

Valvoline

Valvoline

In 1866, Dr. John Ellis realized he could use crude oil as a lubricant in the automobile and established the Valvoline Company. Valvoline was endorsed by the Ford company for use in their Model-T during manufacturing. Thus it became the first Original Equipment Manufacturer.

Valvoline produced its first all-climate and single-grade oils during the 1940s and 1950s. Today, Valvoline is one of the largest and most dependable oil manufacturers globally. Among the many products they offer are, high-mileage, high-performance, and synthetic oil blends as their most-used products.

Mobil 1

Mobil 1

During the 1960s, Mobil produced synthetic oil for diesel engine lubrication in the Alaskan wintery weather. 1971 saw Mobil producing fully-synthetic oil that offered premier lubrication protection.

Today Mobil 1sponsors Formula 1 and Grand Prix team as part of their motorsports endeavor. Their continued involvement in the sport led to the company creating lubricants for standard-production sports cars.

Valvoline vs. Mobil 1 – Which is Better?

Conventional Motor Oil

Valvoline

Valvoline offers several conventional motor oils, including Daily Protection and Premium Protection, in weights from 5W-30 to 10W-40.

Mobil 1

Mobil 1 has no conventional motor oil offerings but has a line of Super Conventional motor oil in multiple weights that provides an improved formula that outperforms Valvoline

Winner

Mobil 1, with its Super Conventional motor oil, is the winner.

Synthetic Oil

Valvoline and Mobil 1 both offer fuel efficiency and protection from sludge, deposits, and varnish,

Valvoline

Valvoline also offers high and cold-temperature protection and is compatible with other brands of conventional synthetic motor oils.

Mobile 1

Mobile 1 also has superb fuel efficiency, increases the life of the oil, is resistant to oil breakdown, and has test-proven anti-aging technology. Mobile 1 gives a 20,000-mile engine guarantee as well.

Winner

Mobile 1 is the winner with its anti-aging technology and 20,000-mile engine guarantee.

High Mileage Motor Oil

Valvoline

The anti-wear film in Valvoline’s High Mileage with MaxLife Technology gives high-mileage engines an extra protection layer due to the oil’s thickness and special additives. It decreases wear, prevents deposits, and provides a seal conditioner to prevent leaks. It is also less expensive than Mobile 1.

Mobil 1

Mobil 1’s High Mileage Full Synthetic Oil also has a leak sealer, reducing the chances of oil leaks. Its friction-reducing formula also reduces the build-up of sludge and oil breakdown. It also meets ILSAC CF-6 standards to increase low-speed pre-ignition damage. This high-mileage synthetic lasts for approximately 10,000 miles.

Winner

While both high-synthetic oils offer a variety of protection and performance enhancers, Valvoline’s affordable price gives it the win.

Fuel Economy

Valvoline

Valvoline doesn’t make an oil product that zeros in on fuel economy, but claims using its synthetic oil can increase fuel economy.

Mobil 1

Mobil 1’s Advanced Fuel Economy offers additives that blend with their synthetic oil to

create better gas mileage.

Winner

Mobil 1’s Advanced Fuel Economy wins the gas mileage category.

Heat Viscosity

Valvoline

Valvoline claims it protects the engine at extremely high and low temperatures but does not give specific temperatures. Its high viscosity offers protection from extreme heat.

Mobil 1

Mobile 1 Annual Protection’s higher viscosity protects the oil and engine against temperatures up to 400 degrees F and temperatures as low as -53 degrees F.

Winner

Mobile 1 offers the highest heat viscosity at over 400 degrees F.

Performance

Valvoline

Valvoline’s SynPower offers excellent performance in pickup trucks and SUVs. It provides 10x better protection in extreme temperatures and offers 40-50% more protection than industry standards require. It has a lower price than Mobil 1, so it is an excellent alternative to its counterpart.

Mobil 1

Mobil 1 Extended Performance Full Synthetic Oil provides the timing chain with wear protection, keeps the engine clean, and improves fuel economy. Its low-speed pre-ignition protection also meets ILSAC GF-6 standards.

Winner

Valvoline wins for superior wear protection 4x greater than Mobil 1 based on 5W-30 grade tests done by oil experts, and its better additive technology that increases extreme temperature protection.

Properties of Protection

Valvoline

Valvoline contains high-quality anti-wear additives, and detergent additives, leading to excellent engine performance and protection. Valvoline conducted Sequence IVA wear tests that proved Valvoline SynPower offers 40-50% more protection than required by industry standards. It also provides 10x better protection in extreme temperatures.

Mobil 1

Mobil 1 has a more extensive variety and more synthetic oils than Valvoline. These include meeting ILSAC GF-6 standards to increase the engine’s protection during low-speed pre-ignition. Mobil 1 claims that it provides parts and engine protection up to 20,000 miles for approximately one year.

Winner

Both oils offer supreme protection and engine performance. Their protections make them the best in their respective uses and create a tie in this category.

Technology

Valvoline

Valvoline’s Maxlife technology fights sludge in older engines and decreases deposits, and friction.

Mobil 1

Mobil 1 has proved its Mobile 1 Annual motor oil can extend oil life while combating oil breakdown with its proprietary anti-aging technology.

Winner

Since each manufacturer offers technology their counterpart doesn’t, this category is a tie.

Damage reduction

Valvoline

Valvoline reduces  Low-Speed Pre-Ignition damage in Turbo Gasoline Directly Injected (TGDI) engines, damage that can ruin an engine.

Mobil 1

Mobil 1 anti-aging technology and superb wear protection protect your engine from heat and low-speed pre-ignition damage.

Winner

Mobil 1 wins damage reduction with its anti-aging technology and superb wear protection.

Engine uses

Valvoline

Diesel, hybrid, and gas engines run very well on Valvoline SynPower 5w-30 Fully Synthetic Engine Oil.

Mobil 1

Mobil 1 10w-40 Advanced Full Synthetic Oil is a widely used oil in gas, European, and diesel engines and is more commonly used than its Valvoline equivalent.

Winner

Valvoline and Mobil 1 offer a large selection of oils for four-stroke, diesel, turbocharged, and gas engines. In that respect, it is a tie, but Mobil 1s wider uses gives it the edge to make it a winner.

Price

Valvoline

Valvoline is the least expensive of the two oils in all oil selections.

Mobil 1

Mobil 1 is the more expensive of the two oils in all offerings, with their Mobil 1 5w-20 Synthetic Motor Oil being one of the most expensive oils on the shelves.

Winner

Valvoline’s more affordable oil selections win the price wars.

Environmental Impact

Mobil 1 and Valvoline have impacted the environment in the past, but synthetic oil is the cleanest and most environmentally friendly of all motor oils. It is touted as harmless to the environment and carcinogen-free because it is refined, purified, and distilled.

Is one brand of synthetic motor oil better than another?

Some brands of motor oil offer a higher quality than others, but when it comes to synthetic motor oil, the application and who uses it decide the better brand. Most people have a brand they prefer over another.

You can purchase the most expensive brands and get the same properties in a less expensive alternative. It just depends on the vehicle you use and what you prefer.

About the author

Lillian Kazmierczak

As far as I can remember, I would say I have been a car nut for my whole life. My father was a car dealer who used to change and repair his cars himself. This gave me the opportunity to get around all sorts of cars and get my hands dirty repairing vehicles from an early age.

A great fan of Japanese quality and German preciosity, my deep passion lies in older models that I believe have a flair that takes me back to my childhood! I also love their extraordinary durability and reliability when compared to today’s modern models.

When not out taking a ride, I enjoy socializing with fellow motorheads online and consuming any car facts and figures I can get my mind on!

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