Engine wear is inevitable but you can protect your engine and slow degradation down with the best engine oil in Malaysia 2022! As with the best car battery, selecting the right engine oil is just as crucial!
The price of engine oil is pretty competitive – you can get a fully synthetic engine oil for around RM100!
Sounds good? Take a look at these synthetic engine oils that are suitable for Malaysian weather!
Types Of Car Engine Oil
To begin with, there are 3 types of car engine oil around!
Motor oil, synthetic and fully synthetic.
1. Mineral oil / Conventional Motor Oil
Within the category of motor oil, there are different grades of mineral oil. All are a refined version of crude oil. This type of car engine oil is best for basic engines and simple driving.
Under a microscope:
You would see millions of molecules of different shapes and sizes. You’ll see why this matters in a moment!
2. Semi-synthetic Oil / Synthetic Blend
Combines both mineral oil (i.e. conventional motor oil) and synthetic oil.
So you get some benefits of synthetic oil at a lower price.
3. Synthetic Oil / Fully Synthetic Oil
On the other hand, synthetic oil is man-made. It’s not cheap to make synthetic oil either. Hence, the higher price tags!
Under a microscope:
You would see that a drop of synthetic oil has millions of similar sized molecules of comparable structure.
And it is designed to be like that! To reduce friction among engine components. And to keep the viscosity (i.e. thickness) of the oil more constant with varying temperature!
There may also be additives that help the oil to last longer and make it stand temperature extremes better.
11 Best Engine Oils In Malaysia 2022
- Best Budget Engine Oil (Semi Synthetic) – Petronas Syntium 800 Semi Synthetic Engine Oil 10W-40
- Best Budget Engine Oil (Full Synthetic) – Shell Helix HX8 X Fully Synthetic Engine Oil 5W-30
- Best Engine Oil For PERODUA Myvi – Shell Helix HX8 X Fully Synthetic Engine Oil 5W-30
- Best Engine Oil For Honda – Honda Fully Synthetic Ultra Green Genuine Engine Oil SN 0W-20
- Best Engine Oil For Toyota – Toyota Semi Synthetic Engine Oil SN/CF 5W-30
- Best Budget Engine Oil For Diesel Engines – Petronas Syntium 7000 Fully Synthetic Engine Oil 0W-40
- Best Engine Oil For Diesel Engines/ SUVs – Caltex Delo Sports Fully Synthetic Advance Sae 5W-40
- Best Engine Oil For Millage >100,000KM – Mobil 1 Extended Performance Full Synthetic Motor Oil 5W-30
- Best Performance Engine Oil – Shenzo Racing Oil
Best Engine Oil For PERODUA Myvi:
1. Shell Helix HX8 X Fully Synthetic Engine Oil 5W-30
New cars in urbanized areas (i.e. start-stop traffic) can benefit from the Shell Helix HX8 X Fully Synthetic Engine Oil 5W-30! Even diesel engines can use this if they have the right filter!
For a fully synthetic engine oil, the price of Shell Helix HX8 5W30 is very affordable! Allowing you to enjoy those longer service intervals! The advisable mileage usage for this engine oil is 10,000km.
There is a 5W-40 variant of the Shell Helix HX8 engine oil too. But the Helix Ultra series uses a different production technology to minimize contaminants in the oil.
And since you can sometimes get the Helix Ultra for almost the same price of the Shell Helix HX8 5W30, you may want to grab that instead!
Just be sure to get it from a reputable seller! Shell Helix engine oil bottles should have a QR code that you can validate online!
- Viscosity Grade: 5W-30
- Type: Full-Synthetic
- Volume: 4L
- Price: ~RM100
2. PERODUA Semi Synthetic Engine Oil 5W-30
PERODUA has its own engine oil, the PERODUA 4L semi 5W30! Available at the official service centers, and at their distributors.
This may be a semi-synthetic engine oil but will still last you ~7,000-8,000km before your next service! In comparison, the full synthetic version makes for 10,000km.
- Viscosity Grade: 5W-30
- Type: Semi-Synthetic
- Volume: 4L
- Price: ~RM100
Best Engine Oil For Toyota:
3. Toyota Semi Synthetic Engine Oil SN/CF 5W-30
Toyota Semi Synthetic Engine Oil SN/CF 5W-30 will take you 7,000km until you need to book your next service appointment!
It improves your engine efficiency by reducing internal friction! Besides having greater oxidation and thermal stability.
And you can still use this 5W30 engine oil for Toyota cars with mileage around the 60,000 to 80,000km mark!
- Viscosity Grade: 5W-30
- Type: Semi-Synthetic
- Volume: 4L
- Price: ~RM100
Best Engine Oil For Honda:
4. Honda Fully Synthetic Ultra Green Genuine Engine Oil SN 0W-20
If you happen to have a Honda, the best car engine oil you can get in Malaysia is the Honda Fully Synthetic Ultra Green Genuine Engine Oil SN 0W-20!
This engine oil is made to the American Petroleum Institute’s (API) latest specification standards and is suitable for all Honda models (with the exception of Civic Type R and Accord V6 engine).
A genuine bottle (It should have a sealed cap) of this only cost ~RM150.
We personally use this engine oil for our 8-year old Honda City (2013 model). Having switched from previously using semi-synthetic engine oil (also from Honda).
And have not experienced any leaking! It helps our car go for longer intervals in between oil changes!
The engine runs smooth still, especially on the highway! So we’re not planning on changing up our engine oil any time soon.
- Viscosity Grade: 0W-20
- Type: Full-Synthetic
- Volume: 4L
- Price: ~RM150
Best Semi Synthetic Engine Oil Malaysia:
5. Petronas Syntium 800 Semi Synthetic Engine Oil 10W-40
Maybe you prefer to invest in the best car dash cam this time round:
Then, the Petronas Syntium 800 Semi Synthetic Engine Oil 10W-40 is an affordable alternative to the pricier full synthetic oils in this list!
The Petronas Syntium range caters for F1 track cars and passenger cars with newer engines. In a busy city environment!
While °CoolTech™ helps to regulate the temperature inside the engine!
- Viscosity Grade: 10W-40
- Type: Semi-Synthetic
- Volume: 4L
- Price: ~RM75
Best Fully Synthetic Engine Oil Malaysia:
If you can afford to get the best car mat, then your car’s engine deserves a fully synthetic engine oil too!
6. Mobil 1 Extended Performance Full Synthetic Motor Oil 5W-30
It’s possible to get ~20,000km out of the Mobil 1 Extended Performance Full Synthetic Motor Oil 5W-30 between services!
But you should be changing it every 5,000km to 10,000km to be on the safe side!
You’ll believe it when you drive your car after and find that the engine runs smoother! And also at the next service – the oil will be close to the color as when you first put it in!
Experienced car mechanics share that it prolongs the life of car engines across different car brands and models (e.g, Subaru, Toyota, Ford, Hyundai, etc):
Even for drivers who are not diligent about their car’s upkeep! There is no deposit built up in the engines either, as with other engine oils.
And it does not matter if your car has more than 100,000km mileage on it! You can still use this engine oil.
- Viscosity Grade: 5W-30
- Type: Full-Synthetic
- Volume: 4.4L
- Price: ~RM175
7. Petronas Syntium 7000 Fully Synthetic Engine Oil 0W-40
Also from the Petronas Syntium range:
Petronas Syntium 7000 Fully Synthetic Engine Oil 0W-40 works for high performance cars and passenger cars (plus gasoline and diesel engines without a diesel particulate filter system)!
Believe it or not, it suits cars that use biofuels too! It’s a reliable alternative for the previous car engine oil (Mobil 1 Extended Performance Full Synthetic Motor Oil 5W-30) in this list!
It keeps the engine running quiet (like the Mobil 1 Extended Performance Full Synthetic Motor Oil 5W-30) and the engine seems smooth once the heat increases (i.e. engine is warmed up).
The mileage you can use this engine oil for is up to 7,000km.
- Viscosity Grade: 0W-40
- Type: Full-Synthetic
- Volume: 4L
- Price: ~RM170
Best Engine Oil For Car With High Mileage:
8. Shell Helix High Mileage Semi-Synthetic Engine Motor Oil 15W-50
When your mileage dial hits above 100,000km, switch to the Shell Helix High Mileage Semi-Synthetic Engine Motor Oil! Because this engine oil is designed for high-mileage cars!
This semi-synthetic oil can prolong the life of your faithful car engine:
Removing more than 30% of sludge right from the first service. That’s due to the Active Cleansing Technology of the formula!
However, since this is a semi-synthetic engine oil, you will have to change it out between 5,000 to 7,000KM.
- Viscosity Grade: 15W-50
- Type: Semi-Synthetic
- Volume: 4L
- Price: ~RM120
Best Diesel Engine Oil:
9. Caltex Delo Sports Fully Synthetic Advance Sae 5W-40
Anyone who likes to go off road (or up Cameron Highlands) with their SUV or pickup truck:
Has the option of choosing the fully synthetic Caltex Delo Sports Fully Synthetic Advance SAE 5W-40! The low-SAPS formula is made for diesel engines under heavy-duty use.
Although, there is a gasoline-compatible engine oil in the same range!
- Viscosity Grade: 5W-40
- Type: Full-Synthetic
- Volume: 6L+1L
- Price: ~RM315
Best Performance Engine Oil:
10. Shenzo Racing Oil High-RPM Fully Synthetic Engine Oil 15W-40
Shenzo Racing Oil 100% Synthetic Japan Engine Oil is a fully synthetic engine oil made in Japan. Its high viscosity suits even older cars with more than 100,000km on them!
With the right filter, it is compatible with many Japanese and Korean car brands (Toyota, Nissan, Suzuki, Mitsubishi, Honda, Kia, Hyundai, etc).
You can use this engine oil in Perodoa cars too. It’s meant to last you 10,000km before your next engine oil change.
When accelerating, the engine seems smoother. And you might find that you don’t need to fuel up on petrol as much with this engine oil!
This particular product is also popular for its affordability as a thicker full synthetic oil!
Other variants (5W-30, 5W-40, 10W-30, etc) of the Shenzo Racing Oil 100% Synthetic Japan Engine Oil are more expensive (~RM200). Because these are made for driving in cold weather!
- Viscosity Grade: 15W-40
- Type: Full-Synthetic
- Volume: 4L
- Price: ~RM140
Best Budget Performance Engine Oil:
11. Tokyo Drift Fully Synthetic Japan Formula Engine Oil 5W-40
Another engine oil touting a Japanese formula:
The cheaper Tokyo Drift Engine Oil can take your car for up to 15,000km mileage! Your car engine will stay relatively quiet even at high speeds! Acceleration feels smoother too.
And you may notice that your car engine is more responsive. With increased power (i.e. feels light). This feeling remains more or less the same until around the 10,000km mark!
However, this engine oil doesn’t seem to do much for fuel consumption. Maybe just a slight improvement, at most.
So you may only want to use it for your daily work commutes, rather than long inter-state drives! For the latter, you can try the Shenzo Racing Oil 100% Synthetic Japan Engine Oil instead.
- Viscosity Grade: 5W-40
- Type: Full-Synthetic
- Volume: 4L
- Price: ~RM90
Why Is Synthetic Oil Better?
From a study by the American Automobile Association (AAA):
“Synthetic oil outperformed conventional oil by an average of 47 percent in its independent evaluation, offering vehicles significantly better engine protection for only $5 more per month when following a factory-recommended oil change schedule.”
The study used 8 industry-standard ASTM tests to test the following qualities:
- Cold-temperature pumpability
- Oxidation resistance
- Oxidation-induced rheological changes
- Shear stability
- Deposit formation
- Volatility
Synthetic Oil VS Conventional Motor Oil
When you buy a new car, there’s a high chance it will use semi- or full-synthetic oils!
One major benefit of synthetic oil is that you can go longer periods between services (yay!). For Malaysia, typically, oil change is per 10,000km. Or after 6 months. Whichever comes first.
In comparison, semi-synthetic oil will take you as far as 5,000km before you need to change it (i.e. or 3 months).
The drawback is that a full synthetic engine oil is more expensive.
How Synthetic Oil Can Save You Money
However, because of the longer change intervals (i.e. lifespan of the oil), you will save money in the long haul! While protecting your engine’s components over time.
Which further saves you extra costs to repair/ replace spoilt parts.
And if you take your car to the workshop or service center to change engine oil, you’ll save on the charges too. Since you need to change it less frequently!
Therefore, our list below only features synthetic oils – either fully or semi synthetic ones!
How To Buy The Right Engine Oil For Your Car
Remember, the main goal is to get genuine engine oil that is a suitable grade for your car!
What does your car require?
You can check this in the respective handbook that came with your car. It will specify the minimum oil quality. As well as the viscosity grade.
Why is this significant?
Viscosity (thickness) of engine oil degrades over time naturally. Thick oil provides better lubrication for the mechanical bits in your engine!
And this is why viscosity is the dominant factor that decides how often you service your car!
1. Engine Oil Viscosity Grade
If you look at the bottles that engine oil is sold in:
You will see numbers like 15W-40, or 20W-50.
The numbers represent the viscosity index of the engine oil. Which means how resistant the oil is to thinning at different temperatures.
Since the front numbers (and the letter W) show the winter viscosity:
Malaysians only need to refer to the last 2 digits! How the oil performs at higher temperatures.
2. Your Car Age & Engine Type
Generally, a higher viscosity number like 40 or 50 is preferable.
Especially if:
- The car has a very old engine
- You like going fast
And if your car has high mileage, you may require a specific engine oil. To further protect the engine!
There’s such a thing as high mileage oils! Made for cars between or above the 120,000km mark.
This also depends on how well you look after your engine (i.e. how you drive and maintain your car)! As well as the quality of the oil filter that you use!
Likewise for different engine types:
You should use their respective engine oil according to the manual.
Informative video:
3. Beware Of Fake Oils
Pay extra attention! Fake oils (and fake oil filters) are present in the mainstream market.
The price tag is a dead giveaway! If the price is too good to be true, it’s likely fake. You have to resist buying these at all costs because they cause damage to your engine!
You have to resist buying these at all costs because they cause damage to your engine!
So it’s important that you check the quality certification of a product before getting it. Even better if the engine oil is certified by the American Petroleum Institute (API)!
Other signs of a fake product include different packaging, and lack of a seal or a broken seal.
Conclusion
Unless you really know your stuff, the best engine oil in Malaysia is the one written in your car manual. As recommended by the manufacturer of your car.
Otherwise, it’s worth spending on the Mobil 1 Extended Performance Full Synthetic Motor Oil 5W-30 to maximize the intervals between services!
