Understanding Engine Oils: The Science Behind High-Performance Engine Oils

High performance oils have come a long way since the late ’60s and ‘70’s, when only a handful of high performance oils were on the market. These older oils were strictly for racing, being “armchair” formulations, basically higher quality passenger car engine oils with a few extra additives. Dyno testing wasn’t more widely available until the 90’s, so we didn’t have many changes in the high performance market until two NASCAR teams began testing and developing new formulations. This revolutionised the market, and now we have high-performance, turbo, and break-in oils in addition to traditional racing oils, each developed for specific uses. So what’s the science behind high performance oils, and what should you look out for when picking a high performance oil for your car? We’ll break it down for you. 

Synthetic vs. conventional oil

Years ago, there was only one kind of oil – conventional oil refined from crude oil. Synthetic oils and lubricants are made with chemically restructured components, creating an oil with higher purity and quality than conventional oils. Today’s lubricants are engineered to be more uniform and consistent, tailored to meet the specific high-performance demands of modern engines. The base oil is enhanced with additives that help it deliver: 

• Better wear protection.
• Extreme temperature protection. 
• Engine cleanliness. 
• Emission system protection.
• Fuel economy potential.

High-performance engine oils

High-performance engine oils are designed to provide superior protection and performance under extreme conditions. These synthetic oils are generally streetable oils with adequate detergency and dispersancy to protect the engine throughout a typical oil change interval, plus extra ZDP to protect valve train pieces with higher lift cams and stiffer valve springs. 

Imagine you need to work with a team of people to transport a wooden log. Your first option is a team of different strengths and heights – they’ll get the job done, but it will take them a bit longer and some will have to work harder as they won’t be able to reach the log as easily. That’s your engine with regular oils. 

Your second team comprises lumberjacks of the same height and strength who work together in perfect sync. This is how synthetic oils help your engine run – smoothly and efficiently thanks to their consistent additives and formulation. 

Why is high performance oil better?

Thanks to the chemically treated formulation, the chemicals and molecules are consistent and reliable. This means the oil lasts longer and performs better at lower viscosity because the components of your engine can fit together more closely. Conventional oils are prone to breaking down at lower viscosity as they have more inconsistencies, while synthetics hold up better as they are much more pure. 

Experimentation with additives and new formulations creates new performance oils with higher stability and added benefits like cleaning engine deposits. 

How do I pick the best engine oil for my vehicle?

Most of the time your mechanic will be able to help you choose the high performance synthetic oil that works best for your car. As a starting point, we recommend consulting your manual as it will give you an idea of where to start. 

Speak to our team about which of our high performance oils are right for you. We stock and supply Kendall, Petronas, Shell and Red Line so you can choose from the best.