Choosing Between Synthetic or Conventional Oil

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Choosing Between Synthetic or Conventional Oil

By Jason Green

June 25, 2013

The argument over synthetic versus conventional oil has

raged for years on automotive forums.  In

this article we will give you some knowledge to decide which oil is best for

your car.

 What is the Difference?

Conventional lubricants are made from crude oil that is

refined in order to remove impurities. Other chemicals are then blended with it

before it is bottled up and shipped to your favorite auto supply store. Despite

the best of refining methods, conventional oil will still contain certain

levels of impurities such as waxes, silicon and even dirt.

Synthetic oils are manmade and are typically derived from

alcohol or natural gas which means they start out pure and stay that way. There

are no contaminants and they tend to stay stable at a wider range of

temperatures. Synthetic oils are also more consistent, not thickening as much

in cold weather or thinning in hot.

 There is also the

synthetic blends category which is made up of oils that combine synthetic oil

with conventional. They are usually less expensive than a pure synthetic but

also don’t last as long.

Which is Better?

When looking at just performance synthetic wins hands down

and some new cars recommend using only synthetic oil, in some cases using

conventional oil will actually void the warranty.

Synthetic oil has a more consistent molecular structure when

compared to conventional oil. Without getting into a technical scientific

discussion this means that the molecules do not burn off when they get hot,

which makes the oil last longer. They also are better at transferring heat

letting the engine run cooler.

Since synthetic oils are resistant to breakdown the interval

between oil changes is drastically improved. Experts say that going 10,000 to

12,000 between changes is common which is three to four times that of

conventional oil.

Is it best for me?

There are a thousand different answers to that question so

in the end you have to do what you feel is right for your vehicle. Start by

consulting the owner’s manual. Newer vehicle often recommend full synthetic

oil. While it is more expensive, the additional costs are usually recouped due

to the oil needing to be changed less often.

Some experts claim that fully synthetic oil will improve

your gas mileage but the increase is hardly dramatic, usually falling in the 2

percent range.

There are many rumors floating around about synthetic oil

that are simply not true. Just a few examples would be:

· 

You cannot switch to synthetic if it has been

running on traditional oil for a long time.

· 

Older cars should not be run on synthetic.

· 

Cars will often develop oil leaks when switched

to synthetic oil.

 While these rumors

have persisted for years there is no proof to back up the claims.

The majority of experts recommend running fully synthetic

oils in high performance vehicles. When it comes to other

vehicle types it is really up to you and your budget. Before looking for where to service your car check

your owner’s manual and talk to a trusted mechanic to see what they recommend

and then make a decision that makes sense for you and your vehicle.