A. If you are changing your oil regularly, such as every 3,000 miles, your engine will stay in such good shape that high mileage may not be necessary. However, many people don’t do that. In addition, the average age of cars on the road is rising so there is a need for such a product. The average age of private passenger vehicles on the road has risen from 7.2 years in 1991 to over 9.1 years today and used vehicles make up 66 percent of vehicles sold.

So-called “high mileage” oil does differ in formulation from traditional conventional motor oil. It utilizes special base oils that provide superior protection against oil “burn off” in higher mileage engines. It also contains specially formulated seal conditioners and additives that reduce deposit formations, which can lead to compression loss. If your car is five or more years old and has more than 75,000 miles on it, high mileage oil would be a good thing to consider. For a Full Service Oil Change, it usually costs about $10 more than traditional motor oil.