by Tammy Williams
VehicleMD Staff Writer
Originally published in Winter 2009 Issue

Engines have many moving parts. Oil must get to all of those parts to keep your engine functioning at its best. In order for the oil to get where it needs to go, seals are located at various places throughout your engine. Believe it or not, these seals need extra care as a vehicle ages, and high-mileage motor oil can help you give them just that.

High-mileage motor oil has special properties that set it apart from other oils. One of these is a special additive—seal conditioners. Think of these conditioners like hand lotion. Applying lotion regularly will keep your hands from becoming cracked and dry. The conditioners in high-mileage motor oil work in much the same way, helping to keep the seals in your engine from becoming cracked and brittle.

Every time you drive, your engine goes through a cycle of hot and cold. It is cold when it first starts, but as you drive it warms up. All these cycles of hot and cold can take their toll on a higher-mileage vehicle, especially on the seals, which can dry out, crack and, eventually, even allow oil to leak out.

“Seal conditioners, just like hand lotion, help prevent seals from drying and cracking, so they do not leak,” said John Ackerman, associate brand manager for Valvoline MaxLife Motor Oil.

Leaking engine seals can lead to oil loss; hence you may start to notice spots of oil on your driveway. Oil is the lifeblood of the engine, and if an engine starts to lose oil, it becomes less efficient and may even stop functioning all together. Oil loss can be devastating to any vehicle, especially a high-mileage vehicle.

To keep high-mileage vehicles—and their engines—running their best, they need special care. So, ask your technician if high-mileage motor oil is right for your vehicle.