15 Best Motor Oil Brands In 2025, Ranked

Broadly speaking, all products can be divided into hedonic and utilitarian categories. The former accounts for the fun stuff, like PlayStations, jet skis, and Stratocaster guitars, while the latter could include wall grout, fungal foot powder, and motor oil.

Motor oil is one of those utilitarian products that often goes unthought of until something goes wrong or a professional tells us that we need it. Yet by checking your motor oil as part of your regular maintenance schedule, you can save yourself a lot of trouble and expense further down the line, as proper lubrication prevents overheating and engine damage from excessive friction while improving your vehicle's performance and longevity. It's also worth noting that statistically, those who maintain their motor oil spend less time freezing on the side of highways in inclement weather while wearing impractical clothing.

A wide variety of motor oils are available for different applications, but not all products are equal. When your oil is due for a change (or is just running low) you require conventional motor oil, EV motor oil, high mileage motor oil, synthetic or synthetic blend motor oil, or high-performance motor oil, it pays not to compromise on quality. Some of the best motor oil brands have been refining their products since the internal combustion engine was first created and have had long and illustrious histories in motorsports, flight, and even space travel. Here we rank the top motor oil producers according to their products' quality, range, and components while considering the performance and mileage they provide.

So here's the thing — there's nothing inherently wrong with store brand oils like this one. They are affordable motor oils that are always available in a pinch, which is helpful when you've got a vehicle that burns oil. A little research will often educate you on who is actually making these store branded oils, and nine times out of ten it's a big company that makes dozens of other brands too. This is likely true in the case of O'Reilly Motor Oil, although SlashGear's investigation led to questionable results.

Almost every auto parts store carries its own branded oil and as long as you see a few things on the label, it's probably a fine product. On the front of the bottle, there should be an API certification starburst, telling you that the oil has been certified for use in gasoline engines by the American Petroleum Institute. On the back, the API provides the label they call the donut, which is a circular graphic that provides info on the oil's performance, viscosity, and classifications. Most importantly, the middle of that donut will show the oil's weight, and it's vital to make sure that information matches what your vehicle requires, especially if you're doing your own oil change. 

O'Reilly's motor oils all carry both of these labels, and can be ordered on the O'Reilly Auto Parts website.

While it may not be as popular as other brands in this ranking outside of the U.S., Amsoil deserves a spot as a progressive and visionary company with a scientific approach to motor oil development. It specializes in synthetic motor oil products that cater to the automotive, power sports, industrial, and racing sectors, and it is a trailblazer, with its 10W-40 product becoming the first synthetic motor oil to meet American Petroleum Institute standards in 1972.

You could be forgiven for thinking that synthetic oils, like synthetic fabrics, are not as high in quality as their natural counterpart. However, the opposite is true. Synthetic oils perform much better, and this is because they contain none of the impurities of carbon-based products and don't have the molecular irregularities that can be found in natural oil.

Even if you run a station wagon on a short commute year-round, Amsoil is a motor oil that will serve you well in extremes of temperature, especially in the cold, as it is less likely to thicken than conventional oils. As a result, you will have easier cold starts and are more likely to make it to the office on time, meaning you can hit your alarm's snooze button a few more times with confidence. While Amsoil certainly produces excellent motor oil, it makes the lowest rung on this ranking due to its limited product line. The brand's products can be ordered via the Amsoil online store.

When you hear that Walmart sells its own brand of motor oil, your first instinct might be to laugh and keep looking for the name-brand yellow or silver bottles you're more familiar with. However, Walmart has plenty of exclusive store brands like Super Tech, and if you're just looking to save some money while maintaining that daily driver, this motor oil might be a good fit. For example, the price difference between a five quart bottle of Superior Protection Full Synthetic 5w30 oil from Super Tech and a comparable product from Mobil 1 is almost $10.

Walmart's best selling motor oil happens to be the company's private label product. Made by Warren Distribution, a manufacturer that produces several other store-brand oils, expert analysis has shown that Super Tech is a good lubricant, despite what many shoppers believe about store brand products. Data from the Petroleum Quality Institute of America, an independent testing facility that tested the quality of various lubricants, verified that Walmart's Super Tech oil surpasses the minimum quality requirements set forth by the American Petroleum Institute. 

Between that data and the oil's low prices at Walmart, there's really no reason to pass on Super Tech oil. It's one of the best motor oil brands out there, especially in the budget category. Maybe skip Super Tech's oil filters, though — they ranked poorly in SlashGear's look at the best oil filters.

Anyone who is a fan of motor racing and NASCAR, in particular, will be familiar with the STP No. 43 car initially piloted by Richard Petty, the seven-time Daytona 500 champion this sport-focused motor oil brand sponsored. Headquartered in Danbury, Connecticut, STP provides outstanding products that are rooted in racing legend, and it continues to be the main sponsor of the Richard Petty Motorsports car, with Darrell "Bubba" Wallace, Jr. in the seat.

Founded in 1954 as a producer of oil and fuel additives to help your car run more smoothly, STP had a shrewd marketing strategy, and ever since 1960, its logo could be seen adorning race car livery and hoardings advertising its line of products. It didn't hurt that its sponsored teams were wildly successful, thanks in no small part to drivers like Petty, Mario Andretti, and Bobby Hamilton. By now a household name, STP has been making motor oil for decades. Yet, its motor oil products are limited to just two lines, namely its Pro Performance conventional oil and its SYN Full Synthetic oil, each available in grades of 5W-20, 5W-30, and 10W-30.

While STP does make excellent products that represent good value for money, its performance-based motor oils may be considered a little niche for the casual consumer. With that said, few brands have made as significant an impact on both American racing and Formula One as STP has.

Costco is one of those American megastores that drops its prices by buying in bulk. Need a set of tires, a dozen rolls of paper towels, and enough cinnamon rolls to feed your extended family? One stop shopping is the name of the game at your local Costco. While you don't need to have a membership to purchase some of the warehouse store's products, Costco's automotive services and underrated tool selection might make one worth the investment.

Costco's store brand oil, sold under the Kirkland brand, is low priced but not low quality. It's made by Warren Distribution, the same guys who make Walmart's Super Tech brand. Many users claimed that no real differences were noted when they switched from a major brand to Kirkland in their vehicles, and Kirkland Oil made SlashGear's list of some of the best products for your vehicle available at Costco. 

Kirkland Signature motor oils are available for purchase in store or online, or you can have Costco take care of the work for you, as many stores offer a number of automotive services and can assist you in finding the right product for your vehicle.

Pennzoil is another brand that prides itself on its U.S. roots, as evidenced by the cracked Liberty Bell on its logo. Yet, unlike Pennsylvania's cheesesteaks and Hershey bars, this is one native product that will keep your system running smoothly when used regularly. In fact, "Long May We Drive" is the brand's mantra that pledges to keep pushing for better results to keep drivers happier for longer. Pennzoil is a company that appears to put its customers first, so hats off to them.

Recognizable for its bright yellow cartons, Pennzoil has been around for over a century and goes from strength to strength. It offers customers exclusive service products that guarantee users protection for 15 years or 500,000 miles. While it does produce synthetic blends and conventional motor oils, it has an extensive range of full-synthetic oils, including Platinum (high-quality synthetic), Ultra Platinum (made from natural gas), High Mileage (for older vehicles), and Platinum Euro (formulated for European cars).

The brand is also a regular sponsor on the NASCAR and IndyCar circuits, with each vehicle sporting the bright yellow Pennzoil livery and logo. Its leading partner is Team Penske, and this relationship has produced excellent results over the years, with current drivers that include Scott McLaughlin and Joey Logano in IndyCar and NASCAR, respectively. While its sporting achievements inspire confidence in the Pennzoil product at large, the company is less famous globally than the higher-placed brands on this list. Either way, Pennzoil is one of America's best motor oil brands, and many of its products are available to order from Amazon.

Havoline is another motor oil company with a long history of experimentation and innovation. Most notable of these is its development of a filtration process that was introduced in 1904, which meant that you could start your Ford Model B in midwinter with just a few turns of the engine crank, as its oil would not have been reduced to a waxy, gloopy mass by the cold. Havoline later introduced corrosion-inhibiting additives, which reduced wear on the piston rings and continued to develop formulas that reduce harmful deposits within the engine.

Havoline was once owned by the Texaco oil company and has now been purchased by Chevron Lubricants, the seventh-largest oil company in the world. It has a broad range of products, including the usual conventional, synthetic blend and 100% synthetic motor oils, but one, in particular, makes Havoline stand out from the crowd, and that is its Pro RS Renewable. It comprises one-quarter of sustainably-sourced plant-based oil in a fully synthetic motor oil, which is better in terms of emissions, and by extension, better for the environment. It also boosts your vehicle's fuel economy and comes in recycled cardboard packaging when ordered from Amazon. 

This leaves us with the impression that Havoline is trying to make improvements in one of the worst industries as far as environmental preservation is concerned, and for this reason, it scores cool points on our ranking.

Established in 1866, Valvoline harks back to the days of the Old West, when prospectors thrived as "black gold" was struck across the nation. It produced the world's first branded motor oil, became the first company to supply motor oil for the mass-produced Ford Model T exclusively, and, to this day, markets itself as "The Original Motor Oil." Serving over 140 countries worldwide, Valvoline is a significant producer of synthetic, synthetic blend, high mileage, heavy duty, small engine, and performance motor oils.

Valvoline, like many of its competitors, has been a great innovator in the world of mechanical engineering and has helped overcome some real-world hurdles that faced the motoring public in years gone by. For example, imagine requiring up to 18 different lubricants for specific purposes around your car. Well before 1939, this was indeed the case until Valvoline invented the all-purpose X-18 single-grade oil. Now imagine needing to switch to a different type of motor oil with each changing season. Again, this was necessary until Valvoline came up with all-climate motor oil.

While its products' qualities largely equal those of its peers in terms of quality and performance, Valvoline gets extra points in this ranking for being a pioneer in what is now a thriving industry and for not resting on its laurels, having continued to make significant progress in terms of innovation and quality. The brand produces a wide variety of motor oils, and most are available to order from Valvoline's Amazon store.

On its website, Motul brazenly claims to understand "the subtle art of lubrication." However, bragging aside, this company takes itself very seriously and prides itself on its artisan approach to motor oil production. It is heavily invested in its research and development department and has been at the forefront of motor oil production, especially in heavy industries, with its MotulTech department providing tailored industrial solutions with expertise that is carried over to its consumer products. 

This was the very same R&D department that produced the world's first semi-synthetic motor oil, Motul Century 2100, back in 1966, and in 1971 created the original fully-synthetic oil, paving the way for the full-synthetic motor oils that followed in the same decade. Motul's 300V performance product is behind over 300 racing victories, and the brand has an extensive line of consumer motor oils for various applications. These include classic cars, four-stroke engines, hybrids, and EVs, as well as its 4100, 6100, and 8100 product lines for regular engines, each with a choice of full-synthetic and mineral blends to suit various purposes. Motul's Amazon store carries a number of these oils in several formulations, giving racing teams, motorcycle riders, and even everyday drivers access to some of the world's best motor oils.

While it may be a midfielder in this ranking, there is no doubt that Motul is a quality brand with a storied history and roots going to the industrial revolution. It built Pennsylvania's first oil rig in 1966, has strong values as a company that promotes inclusivity, ingenuity, and the sharing of expertise, and has considerable heritage, having been founded in 1853. 

To say that Shell is one of the big hitters would be an understatement. The Anglo-Dutch company is ubiquitous, and its roots go as far back as the mid-19^th century when founder Marcus Samuel expanded his London antique business to include oriental seashell sales. The Shell Oil we know today was formed in 1907, and it had an income of over $42 billion in 2022. As you might expect, its product range is extensive, with over $1 billion spent annually on its research and development facility, and its motor oils reflect this commitment to quality.

Most Shell motor oil falls under the umbrella of the Helix product line, the chosen oil of the Ferrari Formula One team. This includes full synthetic, semi-synthetic, mineral engine oil, and oil for diesel engines. There is also Shell Advance, specifically for motorcycles, so the range is comprehensive. Shell also produces Helix Ultra, the first engine oil made from natural gas, which, though reassuringly expensive, provides protection for many extra miles. While most of Shell's oils are only available via specialty retailers like ML Performance, the brand also makes some of the best diesel oils on the market. Those Shell Rotella oils are easily ordered through Amazon.

Shell realizes that unless change is brought about from within the petrochemical industry, then its days are numbered. To that end, it strives for cleaner energy and invests in economically, environmentally, and socially responsible solutions. It will be interesting to see where this leaves Shell Oil in the coming years and decades, although lubricants will always be required as long as vehicles have moving parts.

Quaker State isn't the oldest brand on the list, but it's certainly no newcomer to the game. An early iteration of the company was founded in 1914 when T. G. Phinny (of the Phinny Brothers Oil Company), signed a contract with the Eastern Refining Company and the Franklin Automobile Company to deliver motor oil for their vehicles. At this point Quaker State has been a brand associated with reliable motor oil for over 100 years. It's important to note that Quaker State is now owned by Shell — keeping in mind that their acquisition in 2002 does not seem to have affected the quality of their products in any significant way since then. 

Quaker State often finds itself in Top 10 lists for popular or otherwise "best" oils, be it rankings of popular synthetic oil brands or the top end of rankings of high mileage motor oil. Quaker State is a very well-known brand that isn't going away any time soon, and can be found in effectively any store that carries motor oil in the United States. In addition, Quaker State's familiar green bottles can also be ordered from Amazon.

Royal Purple is an interesting brand of motor oil. I can't tell you the number of times I had customers bring their own purple bottles in for oil changes, all the while lecturing me on the merits of this superior lubricant over whatever we carried in the shop. While the brand's products are some of the most expensive on the market, loyalists will never hesitate to tell you that you are paying for quality. Even though online Royal Purple versus Pennzoil arguments continue to this day, there is no doubt that Royal Purple is one of the best motor oil brands on the market. The brand also makes well-regarded transmission fluids, additives, gear oils, and oil filters.

Royal Purple's motor oils, most of which are fully synthetic, are known for their high quality, good reputation, and purple color. The purple colored dye used in Royal Purple's motor oil helps make the product unique and memorable, but the thousands of drivers that use the product know it's more than just a marketing gimmick — this is legitimately one of the best motor oil brands. If you're looking to save money, but not willing to skimp on the quality of your motor oil, you could always head to Harbor Freight for the tools you'll need to change your own oil. Then just stop at Royal Purple's Amazon storefront to purchase some of this high quality oil for yourself.

Like its compatriot Michelin, TotalEnergies S.A. is a hugely-successful French company serving the automotive industry with a dominant presence in motorsports. These include Formula One, Moto GP, Superbike, World Rally Championship, and Dakar Rally, among other high-profile sporting events.

Total is aptly named, as it boasts one of the most extensive product lines in this ranking, and its numbers speak for themselves. With 42 production plants and 5,800 employees serving 160 countries, it is the fourth largest producer of lubricants globally. Its range encompasses products for 17 market segments, including the automotive, marine, metalworking, mining, food processing, and chemical industries, most of which are available on Amazon. Its product line caters to downsized, thermal, and hybrid engines, diesel engines, older engines, performance engines, and regular gasoline engines, to name a few.

Lately, TotalEnergies has been accused of downplaying the effects of fossil fuels on the environment, having known for at least 50 years of the devastating outcome of melting ice caps and rising CO2 in the atmosphere. Yet like all major oil companies, it has been forced to consider renewable energy in the face of public concern, is taking steps to address its past failings, and still ranks highly in terms of product quality, range, and overall influence.

Castrol's name is a contraction of "castor oil," as its founders found that adding a measure of the popular laxative to regular motor oil assisted engines in cold starts and when operating at high temperatures. With roots in the fledgling aviation and motor industries that date back to 1899, Castrol has since provided oil for NASA and has many corporate partnerships in motor racing. Its products span several categories, including marine, industrial, EV, car, and RV applications.

Most drivers will be aware of the ubiquitous Castrol GTX conventional oil, but Castrol's range spans every type of full synthetic and synthetic blend motor oil, as well as its High Mileage and UltraClean categories. Even a special monograde oil is recommended for use in hot climates, so no stone is left unturned when it comes to Castrol's comprehensive product line, which is available on Amazon.

Castrol is a trailblazer as far as innovation and marketing are concerned. They were quick to capitalize on the public's growing interest in flight and would use the Castrol logo to advertise on banners at aviation shows. It was the first in a long tradition of oil company advertising at sporting events that exists to this day. Castrol is also a groundbreaking company, in the past and present, by providing its lubricant for the first-ever transatlantic flight and the Mars Space Rover program. Such impressive credentials cannot be overlooked, and it's no surprise that Castrol makes the second place in this ranking.

As the official motor oil of NASCAR and Chevrolet Performance, Mobil's reputation precedes it. The U.S.-based company is the chosen oil for many top auto manufacturers, with a robust research and development department that constantly strives for innovation in its product line. Like many major motor oil companies in this ranking, Mobil can trace its roots back to the mid-19^th century, having been established as the Vacuum Oil Company in 1866.

By the early 1960s, various industries required synthetic oil technologies for use in extreme temperatures, and Mobil was quick to react, having first produced bearing grease for sub-zero flight operators. By 1971, Mobil had created Mobil 1, which remains the world's leading synthetic motor oil, and the first to be made available globally. Today, and the brand's ultimate Mobil 1 – Annual Protection product is considered a breakthrough for extending oil life and providing engine protection for 20,000 miles. The best motor oil brand in our ranking has a full storefront on Amazon, making it easy to get whatever specific flavor of oil you're looking for.

Mobil 1 is the motor oil of choice for some highly-lauded marques, including Bentley, Corvette, Cadillac, Mercedes-AMG, and Porsche, with over 70 of their high-performance vehicles receiving Mobil treatment on the production line. The company is also very much in tune with the modern demands of various motor oils. It provides tailored solutions for cars with stop-start technology, turbochargers, hybrid engines, catalytic converters, or diesel particulate filters. By combining innovation and variety, Mobil 1 is the choice of many top industrial, sporting, and auto manufacturing bodies, thanks to its consistent quality across its extensive range. It's called Mobil 1 for a reason, and it makes number one on this ranking.

This list was compiled and ranked based on a variety of metrics. Included in this process are considerations for each brand's product range, price, and quality, including range, components, reported performance, and mileage included. User feedback and professional reviews were taken into account.