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Keeping up with maintenance on a pickup truck or SUV is vital to extending the vehicle’s life. Most trucks prefer synthetic motor oil to keep the engine in tip-top shape for whatever life throws at it. Using high-quality oil helps protect the engine and extend its life, so it is important to pick a good one.

The best advanced synthetic motor oil for pickup trucks

What is the best motor oil for a pickup truck or SUV?
Employees works on doing an oil change on a pickup truck | RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post via Getty Images

Mobil 1 Extended Performance was Forbes pick for pickup trucks’ best advanced synthetic motor oil. When it comes to choosing a synthetic motor oil, Mobil 1 is basically as good as it gets. This brand has a history of dependability when it comes to motor oil, but it can be more expensive. The Extended Performance variety is designed for up to 20,000 miles.

Price: $28 on Amazon

Forbes pick for the best budget synthetic motor oil for trucks

The AmazonBasics Full Synthetic High Mileage Motor Oil is an excellent option for those looking for a budget buy. The price is under $23 for five quarts of 5W-30 oil, making it more accessible for those who need a lot of oil. While you may have never purchased motor oil from Amazon before, it conforms to the General Motors’ DexOS standard like the rest. That means it meets the quality benchmarks required for synthetic oil.

Price: $23 on Amazon

The best motor oil for diesel trucks

You need appropriate diesel motor oil if you are lucky enough to drive a diesel pickup truck. The Shell Rotella T6 Diesel Engine Oil is easily found at Walmart for a great price of $23. Forbes warns that sometimes the three-pack isn’t cheaper than buying three individual packs. The Shell Rotella T6 is a high-quality motor oil for engines with extended heat cycles and longer service intervals, like a diesel. Shell says this oil is suitable for “virtually all modern low-emission heavy-duty engines and older hard-working diesel engines,” but check your owner’s manual if you are unsure.

Price: $23 at Walmart

Mobil 1 makes a pickup truck & SUV specific oil

The Mobil 1 Truck & SUV Motor Oil 5W20 Full Synthetic specifically “provides extra protection for hardworking truck and SUV gasoline engines.” The oil protects the engine for up to 10,000 miles between changes, which is important if you can’t seem to get an oil change regularly.

It isn’t just for trucks and SUVs, though. Mobile 1 says this oil is suitable for “all types of modern gasoline-powered vehicles, including high-performance turbocharged, supercharged, multi-valve fuel injected engines found in passenger cars, SUVs, light vans and light trucks.”

Price: $29 at Napa Auto Parts

There are now more brands and options for motor oil than ever before, making finding a good option easier. If you are looking for the best price, be sure to compare a single bottle with a multi-pack to see which one will give you the best deal. And don’t forget – always do your maintenance on schedule to avoid engine problems.

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Staff Writer

Amanda Cline

Amanda Cline is an avid fan of Formula 1 and joined MotorBiscuit in 2021. A Southwest Floridian, she easily and often finds automotive events to attend in the Tampa, Orlando, and Miami areas.
Amanda is a graduate of the University of Central Florida, where she earned a Bachelor’s in English Literature and a Master’s in Technical Communication. Combining her editorial and digital media expertise, Amanda served as a content creator for FanSided and now provides our readers with a variety of automotive subject matter like pickup trucks and SUVs, including valuable consumer advice.

Amanda closely follows many F1 drivers, including Lewis Hamilton, George Russell, and the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team. Her all-time favorite author is Shel Silverstein.