12 best engine oils for winter

Did you know that about 10% of the total number of failures of automobile engines in the winter period account for problems with the oil and lubrication system? Indeed, this technical fluid is the most important link in the stable operation of the vehicle, and the approach to its choice in cold should take into account the parameters of viscosity and stability of the oil film during heating.

Ideally, the oil should be such that the starter is able to turn the engine shaft, even in severe frost, when the base reaches maximum density. On the other hand, when warming up to temperatures above 100 degrees Celsius, it should provide a stable lubrication of friction pairs to prevent spikes, jamming and destruction of nodes with the need for a subsequent repair or overhaul procedure.

Of course, it is very difficult to choose a good product in the realities of the current market, since more than five dozen different companies are involved in producing oil. However, having sufficient experience of staff and opportunities, the magazine expert.bigbadmole.com/en/en/ conducted its own analysis of the segment, where it identified the 12 best cars for the winter period. The main criteria for the selection of representatives of the rating were consumer ratings and the conclusion of full-time experts.

12 best engine oils for winter

Nomination	a place	Name of product	price
12 best engine oils for winter	1	MOBIL 1 0W-40 4 L	2 300 ₽
	2	IDEMITSU Zepro Touring Pro 0W-30 (4 L)	2 145 ₽
	3	Motul 8100 Eco-nergy 0W30 (5 L)	3 322 ₽
	4	SHELL Helix Ultra 0W-40 (4 L)	2 074 ₽
	5	Castrol Edge 0W-30 A5 / B5 (4 L)	2 665 ₽
	6	MOBIL Super 3000 X1 5W-40 (4 L)	1 450 ₽
	7	LIQUI MOLY Molygen New Generation 5W-40 (4 L)	2 830 ₽
	8	TOYOTA SAE 5W-40 (5 L)	2 562 ₽
	9	LUKOIL Genesis Armortech 5W-40 (4 L)	1 270 ₽
	10	Nissan 10W-40 SS A3 / B4 (5 L)	1 640 ₽
	11	Gazpromneft Premium N 5W-40 (4 l)	970 ₽
	12	LUKOIL Lux Semi-synthetic SL / CF 10W-40 (4 l)	739 ₽

MOBIL 1 0W-40 4 L

Winter oil rating: 4.9

Synthetic motor oil for winter of Finnish origin, with an extensive list of specifications and approvals from leading automakers around the world. It is quite expensive, but it works out every invested ruble, protecting the motor from the destructive impact of negative factors (temperature, chemical, physical). Outperforms Zepro Touring Pro in the IDEMITSU ranking solely due to its higher popularity, but in reality the difference between them is due only to the labeling and emphasis on enhancing the effect of filler components.

By the way, the package of additional substances in MOBIL 1 is sharpened for situational use and uniform consumption throughout the entire life cycle. Unlike some of the competitors listed above, it is actively used in cars with diesel engines, compensating for a number of related disadvantages of this system by suitability for harsh working conditions. In the end, there is nothing more to talk about here: the huge (largest) number of tolerances and the emphasis on working with engines with any modifications allowed MOBIL 1 0W-40 to become a leader in an impartial user vote.

IDEMITSU Zepro Touring Pro 0W-30 (4 L)

Winter oil rating: 4.8

A step away from the leader stopped IDEMITSU Zepro Touring Pro synthetic oil - the most reliable in terms of fraud in the domestic market. It is delivered in cans with a seal and internal stamping of the sign of originality, therefore it is difficult and unprofitable to fake such a product. The composition itself is based on the use of base oil and polyalphaolefins, and contains the necessary additive package without focusing on any separate operational component.

Ideal for alkaline number (7.84 pOH), IDEMITSU Zepro Touring Pro has the lowest pour point (-47.5 degrees Celsius) and a good margin of viscosity when it reaches the boiling point of water (10.32 mm²/with). In addition, the degree of purification from impurities is striking. Thus, the content of sulfate ash is 1.0%, phosphorus - less than 0.08%, sulfur - less than 0.5%. All this splendor goes mainly to Japanese cars, but Russian enthusiasts were not too lazy to try the oil in the realities of working on European / domestic cars. The result is great - there is a positive economic effect and a significant increase in engine performance.

Motul 8100 Eco-nergy 0W30 (5 L)

Winter oil rating: 4.8

Unique in its condition, Motul 8100 Eco-nergy oil opens the top three of our rating. Its advantages are entirely based on an individual approach to the creation of a valid formula that has pronounced cleansing properties, coupled with a low evaporation rate without the formation of scale.

Perhaps, the main characteristic of the French all-season synthetics can be considered the resistance to freezing: despite the fact that the etiquette contains the cipher 0W30, the real pour point is as much as -45 degrees Celsius. However, such a plus gives a weakening of another characteristic - the kinematic viscosity of the oil when heated to 100 degrees Celsius is only 9.95 mm²/ s, which greatly reduces the resistance of the oil film. For the rest, there are no strong deviations from the norm, except that the base number is 10.1 pOH, but the figure, in general, corresponds to the standards for the applicable standard. In real conditions, according to consumers, all deficiencies are somehow compensated, and the oil honestly fulfills the declared resource. Miracles!

SHELL Helix Ultra 0W-40 (4 L)

Winter oil rating: 4.7

The famous SHELL Helix Ultra oil line is the only holder of approval from Ferrari, while showing excellent results on technical characteristics in various operating modes. The all-season composition is aimed at maintaining viscosity even in the most severe frost conditions, and in terms of the critical freezing / detonation temperature (-42 and +241 degrees Celsius, respectively), it turns out to be better than its competitors.

Based on PurePlus technology, SHELL Helix Ultra 0W-40 ensures perfect engine cleanliness from the inside, preventing the formation of carbon deposits, corrosion and resistance to friction. Thereby, an increase in the working life of the power unit is achieved, which in the modern realities of road traffic are not empty words. In addition, some users have noted progress in terms of fuel economy, as well as an increased interval of mileage between replacements: particularly risky manage to drive up to 12 thousand kilometers.Unfortunately, the fact of high prices had a negative impact on popularity among consumers, and therefore the line-up did not reach the top three treasured ones.

Castrol Edge 0W-30 A5 / B5 (4 L)

Winter oil rating: 4.7

The fifth line of the rating goes to German synthetic oil from Castrol, whose composition is enhanced by Titanium FST technology. This type of additive has a positive effect on the oil film, giving it resistance to high-temperature rupture, as well as causing some increase in strength properties. For example, when countering friction in lubricated nodes.

Among the specifications, data Castrol Edge for compliance with performance indicators, appear ACEA A5 | B1 | B5 | A1, API CF | SL, and quite rare (among the representatives of the rating) ILSAC GF-2. At the same time, through independent research, it was proved that the oil suppresses the formation of solid impurity deposits, has optimal properties at low temperatures, and also increases the engine efficiency by an average of 3.1%. All this and much more strikingly distinguishes it from competitors, and even the fact of high prices does not spoil the overall impression.

MOBIL Super 3000 X1 5W-40 (4 L)

Winter oil rating: 4.7

One of two representatives of the company MOBIL on a synthetic basis, belonging to the category (and it can be seen in terms of price) of high-quality Premium grade oils. It is positioned as a technical fluid for heavily loaded, forced engines, and in this contrast it convincingly works when measured around the city or in a more rigid mode of stops and starts (typical of driving during rush hours).

One of the key features of MOBIL Super 3000 X1 is the highest degree of fluid purification from harmful impurity elements. Thus, the phosphorus content in a liter of volume is 0.0095 grams, and sulphate ash does not exceed 1.1% by weight. In addition, consumers pay special attention to the “washing” function of the oil - all metal slurry and other weed components (solid deposits on the parts) are regularly removed with oil in the sump and are collected at the filtration stage. As for approvals and correspondences, this composition has about 14 tolerances of use, though everything is mostly from European automakers (and from one American General Motors).

LIQUI MOLY Molygen New Generation 5W-40 (4 L)

Winter oil rating: 4.6

Top development of the production company Liqui Moly, based on the use of HC-synthetic technology. Which In turn, it is supplemented with the Molygen additive package, which actively opposes the processes of friction and is recreated according to the patented Molecular Friction Control technology.

It is noteworthy that this oil was tested on European and, including, Russian cars, where it showed the highest usability. It is authentically known that the resource of one of its fill will be enough for 11 thousand kilometers, and in the forced mode. According to internal studies, the effect of oil introduction is expressed by a sharp decrease in fuel consumption by 3.5%, as well as by a delicate impact on the nodes of rather old engines.In the end, consumers get another high-quality product of the synthetic segment, which is very expensive, but it definitely works out the entire amount.

TOYOTA SAE 5W-40 (5 L)

Winter oil rating: 4.6

Another product is nominally a Japanese brand, developed and tested in the European Union. It is a very strong market player in the synthetic segment, the real working life of which can reach 12 thousand kilometers. The reason for this overestimate of the main operational characteristics: strict quality control and the use of praised German developments in the field of creating lubricating fluids.

Naturally, the best performance TOYOTA SAE 5W-40 is achieved only when used in cars of the same manufacturer. Here: both the constancy of technical characteristics under forced operation modes, and the stability of lubricating properties along with maintaining viscosity within the required limits, and satisfactory fluidity during operation of the car at temperatures below -30 degrees Celsius. All consumers who have decided to try out this oil on their own transport, talk about the stabilization of the engine and reducing fuel consumption. Add to this the increase in engine efficiency (1.3-2.7%), albeit at a very high cost.

LUKOIL Genesis Armortech 5W-40 (4 L)

Winter oil rating: 4.5

Another representative of the company "LUKOIL" with a synthetic base, suitable for use throughout the calendar year (all seasons). Unlike the semi-synthetic “Lux”, here the DuraMax additive package with individual activators is used to increase the stability of work and to evenly spend the material during the operation.

Despite the problems with the falsification of LUKOIL products, Genesis Armortech 5W-40 is doing well: it is being actively bought and recommended for others to purchase. According to consumers, it is ideal for city driving in a very hard “start / stop” mode, in which the engine experiences significant thermal overloads. The kinematic viscosity when heated to the boiling point here is 13.4 mm²/ s, which guarantees the safety of the oil film without breaking. In the aggregate of all the above characteristics and the unmarked introductory Genesis Armortech 5W-40 is among the best representatives of the synthetic oils segment, and according to the situation it has a huge number of certificates of conformity.

Nissan 10W-40 SS A3 / B4 (5 L)

Winter oil rating: 4.5

Specialized oil nominally Belgian production, designed for use in engines installed on cars Nissan line. It is a pronounced semi-synthetic with a large number of active additives and a resource reserve of 7 thousand kilometers. Conforms to the specifications of ACEA (A3 | B4) and API (CF | SL) and is in very stable demand with domestic owners of Japanese cars.

Among the strengths of the Nissan 10W-40 SS, consumers emphasize stability in terms of resource development, satisfactory performance, and the actual lack of consumption in the long term. The drawbacks are limited by the presence of the “loud” name of the manufacturer: the distributor decided to play on this and pull up the price tag is much higher than the equally strong counterparts.However, this oil is really good, and, most importantly, it is practically not falsified, which plays into the hands of both the producer and the consumer segment.

Gazpromneft Premium N 5W-40 (4 l)

Winter oil rating: 4.4

Not the most popular synthetic-based oil, offering the user a full range of useful properties at the lowest cost among the competitive segment. Gazpromneft Premium N 5W-40 was created with a tight link to standards, which can be traced throughout the whole spectrum of physico-chemical characteristics:

1. The pour point of the composition is -41 degrees Celsius;
2. kinematic viscosity when the boiling point is reached is 13.9 mm²/with;
3. base number - 9.2 units of KOH per gram.

Yes, the last point is slightly overestimated, however, it falls within the framework defined by GOST and does not cause any harm to the interacting materials.

Of the other items describing this oil, you can highlight a huge number of certificates of conformity and received approvals from automakers, including not only the domestic AvtoVAZ, but also General Motors, Renault, BMW, Volkswagen, and even Mercedes-Benz. But the most pleasant thing in the situation with the entire product line from Gazprom Neft is the extremely low number of fakes on the market. This is an excellent oil at an affordable price, worthy of a high place in the ranking of the best.

LUKOIL Lux Semi-synthetic SL / CF 10W-40 (4 l)

Winter oil rating: 4.3

Universal vsesezonka from the company "LUKOIL", which uses a semi-synthetic formula for lubrication of advanced engines of the modern level. Complies with a number of specifications (ACEA A3 | B4, OEM MB 229.1, API CF | SL) and is based on a newly developed complex of filler materials.

“Smart protection” under the straightforward name “New Formula” provides engine protection from various negative factors, such as wear by friction (additives stabilize the oil film, preventing its high-temperature rupture), corrosion of metal components, formation of insoluble deposits on parts, as well as does not interfere with the operation of the catalytic converter. All this somehow affects the characteristics of the car: fuel efficiency is slightly increased, the noise level is reduced (by a couple of decibels) and the engine efficiency increases (by 2-3%). Unfortunately, only the original oil shows such properties - numerous forgeries do not even have half of the same useful set.

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Attention! This rating is subjective, is not advertising and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you should consult with a specialist.