# Better grade engine oil, or more frequent replacing? Which is better? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [January 14, 2025, 10:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/better-grade-engine-oil-or-more-frequent-replacing-which-is-better/198696 "2025-01-14T22:06:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2025, 10:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/better-grade-engine-oil-or-more-frequent-replacing-which-is-better/198696/1 "2025-01-14T22:06:14Z")
In Ray’s current (1.14.25) _Dear Car Talk_ column, he advises the reader to use a more expensive full synthetic engine oil, rather than a less expensive synthetic blend. No dispute. But this got me to wondering, if you have a fixed budget (i.e. X dollars per year to allot to engine oil tasks), is it better to use a more expensive better grade oil, or to use a less expensive oil, but replace it & the filter more frequently? ---
**Author:** ![PvtPublic](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/pvtpublic/32/13089_2.png) [@PvtPublic](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PvtPublic)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2025, 10:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/better-grade-engine-oil-or-more-frequent-replacing-which-is-better/198696/2 "2025-01-14T22:12:41Z")
Use whatever the owners manual calls for. ---
**Author:** ![pleasedodgevan2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ad7895/32.png) [@pleasedodgevan2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pleasedodgevan2)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2025, 10:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/better-grade-engine-oil-or-more-frequent-replacing-which-is-better/198696/3 "2025-01-14T22:13:27Z")
In Maine they change oil whenever the muffler falls off. Full synthetic and filter every six months if you drive 9000 miles a year. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2025, 10:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/better-grade-engine-oil-or-more-frequent-replacing-which-is-better/198696/4 "2025-01-14T22:13:54Z")
> **[Why Expensive Oil Is A Waste Of Money](https://jalopnik.com/why-expensive-oil-is-a-waste-of-money-1797241527)** > > This story was originally published on July 27, 2017 Tester ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2025, 4:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/better-grade-engine-oil-or-more-frequent-replacing-which-is-better/198696/5 "2025-01-15T16:40:24Z")
Reminds me of using higher octane gas to improve performance when 89 octane is specified. ---
**Author:** ![ledhed75](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f6c823/32.png) [@ledhed75](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ledhed75)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2025, 6:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/better-grade-engine-oil-or-more-frequent-replacing-which-is-better/198696/6 "2025-01-15T18:02:36Z")
I change the oil in my cars every 6 months or 6000 miles, whichever comes first, with full synthetic. Part of the reason is I feel that’s cheap insurance for the engine…but another reason is the 5W-20 doesn’t seem to be available in regular dino. Personally I think regardless of what kind of oil you use, getting the oil changed on a regular basis is the key. It’s amazing how many drivers can’t get that right. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2025, 7:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/better-grade-engine-oil-or-more-frequent-replacing-which-is-better/198696/7 "2025-01-15T19:07:52Z")
I’m not sure if people in Boston really care about their cars but I guess as long as the oil meets specs, it’s fine. I just don’t understand paying $40,000 plus for a car and then worrying about an extra $20 for maintenance. I use Mobil 1 and change at 5000. Suit yourself. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2025, 7:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/better-grade-engine-oil-or-more-frequent-replacing-which-is-better/198696/8 "2025-01-15T19:46:15Z")
> [@jtsanders](#): > > higher octane oil You mean gas?? ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2025, 7:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/better-grade-engine-oil-or-more-frequent-replacing-which-is-better/198696/9 "2025-01-15T19:51:13Z")
> [@George\_San\_Jose1](#): > > is it better to use a more expensive better grade oil, or to use a less expensive oil, but replace it & the filter more frequently It is better to use the specified oil and change it at least as much as the maker recommends. No need to balance better/cheaper oil choice, use a name brand that meets spec, plus a name brand filter, and 99% of the time the engine will not suffer an oil-related issue in its lifetime. ---
**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2025, 10:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/better-grade-engine-oil-or-more-frequent-replacing-which-is-better/198696/10 "2025-01-15T22:06:13Z")
Most available oils today are SP rated. It will be the specified oil for all new vehicles and will exceed the requirements for older vehicles. If you are on a budget, find the cheapest. Follow the manufacturers recommended OCI (oil change interval) and your engine will have a long happy life, _IF_ you also follow all the other PM (preventative maintenance) requirements, coolant, filters, plugs etc. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2025, 11:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/better-grade-engine-oil-or-more-frequent-replacing-which-is-better/198696/11 "2025-01-15T23:37:57Z")
> [@bing](#): > > I’m not sure if people in Boston really care about their cars but I guess as long as the oil meets specs, it’s fine. Huh? who in Boston do you know that ever made that statement? ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2025, 12:39am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/better-grade-engine-oil-or-more-frequent-replacing-which-is-better/198696/12 "2025-01-16T00:39:02Z")
The boys from Boston said cheap oil is fine. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2025, 3:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/better-grade-engine-oil-or-more-frequent-replacing-which-is-better/198696/13 "2025-01-16T03:50:14Z")
> [@bing](#): > > The boys from Boston said cheap oil is fine. Friends of yours? Citation needed. The cheap oil guy is in Minnesota. ---
**Author:** ![cigroller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@cigroller](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cigroller)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2025, 5:29am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/better-grade-engine-oil-or-more-frequent-replacing-which-is-better/198696/14 "2025-01-16T05:29:28Z")
I think that the reference to the “boys from Boston” from @bing was probably just something that Tom & Ray (the boys from Boston) said at some point. I believe the point was just that if the oil is API/SAE certified then the “brand name” on the bottle doesn’t matter. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2025, 7:05am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/better-grade-engine-oil-or-more-frequent-replacing-which-is-better/198696/15 "2025-01-16T07:05:10Z")
The topic in the Car Talk column was: Synthetic oil or cheaper synthetic blend. Ray’s comments: > Here’s my guess: Most engines call for synthetic oil now. It’s clearly superior to the dinosaur-based stuff we’ve used since shortly after the wheel was invented. Synthetic oil lubricates better and lasts about twice as long. And most companies that manufacture – and, more importantly, have to warranty – engines, insist you use it. > > But it is a bit more expensive than conventional oil. So, in order to sell something at a lower price-point for, what’s the term? Cheapskates! They came up with this concept of “synthetic blend,” which is a mixture of dinosaur oil and synthetic oil. > > So, I’d absolutely recommend sticking to a full-synthetic oil, Ron. I mean you wouldn’t buy partially pasteurized milk, right? Or partially galvanized steel? So don’t buy slightly synthetic oil. Most Toyota and Lexus vehicles during the last 15 years use synthetic oil, but if an alternative oil is used, the oil must be change twice as often. ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2025, 1:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/better-grade-engine-oil-or-more-frequent-replacing-which-is-better/198696/16 "2025-01-16T13:05:41Z")
> [@bing](#): > > boys from Boston I thought he meant the deep fryer oil used by the Wahlbergs.