Due to the advancements made in car manufacturing since the 1960s and 1970s, vehicles are now owned for much longer than they used to be. One of the main factors in vehicle longevity is the increased ability to resist rust along the auto body and suspension. This means that vehicles are being driven well over the 100,000 mile mark. In fact, 200,000 miles on a vehicle is seen as normal. However, if you have one of these high mileage vehicles, then you should know that you will need to care for your car properly. Making sure that the engine is lubricated with the right oil is one important thing to do. High mileage oil added during each oil change service  is wise. To learn why this is best, keep reading.

Seal Expansion

Your engine has a number of seals and gaskets that keep the engine sealed so that oil can flow from one part of the engine to another. Oil and head gasket seals are the main seals in the engine. The oil in your car moves from the oil reservoir to the engine. The fluid lubricates parts and removes small pieces of metal and other debris. Once this happens, the oil runs through an oil filter where the contaminants are removed. The oil is stored in the reservoir so it can move back through the engine again.

However, some oil may be lost during the lubrication process if seals allow some oil to leak out of the engine. This is a common occurrence with old seals that become loose, cracked, and dry. The engine can then become hot and dirty and this reduces its performance. To help reduce this problem, high mileage oil contains a material called a seal conditioner. This additive is absorbed into the engine seals to relieve dryness. The material also causes the seals to expand so that any small leaks or openings around them are sealed off.

Burn Off Reduction

Some oil does burn off in the engine, especially if the engine runs hot during the warm summer months. When oil burns, it leaves behind a small bit of residue in the engine. This residue can stop the oil from properly cooling the engine and your car may overheat more often or continue to run hot even when the temperatures outside are not warm.

Also, the burn off process will reduce the volume of oil that is held within the oil reservoir. This will mean that you need to add oil to your car more often. If you do not do this, then the lower volume of oil will become thicker. These things can cause engine stress. This is especially troublesome for a high mile vehicles. Thankfully, high mileage oil will contain a burn off inhibitor that will stop this problem from occurring.