Motor oil is the MOST IMPORTANT fluid in your vehicle. Why you ask? First, the oil protects the motor from heat that comes from all the moving parts inside the engine. Oil also cleans the inside of the engine protecting it from corrosion. Most motor oils are made from petroleum crude oil processed into motor oil.
With this type of oil we recommend an oil change every 3,000-3,500 miles. Why? Because the heat and pressure inside the engine degrades the oil and it becomes quite dirty from keeping the engine clean. If the oil is left to long it will start to sludge up. When your next oil change comes around all the sludge may not come out leaving you with build up or residue inside the motor and can cause parts to plug up or corrode.
Synthetic oil is an alternative to the standard mineral oil motor oil and is used in many newer vehicles. Synthetic oil is made from chemically modified compounds (synthetic materials) and can offer several advantages to car owners who are looking for a way to prevent engine repair and go longer between oil changes, which is great for higher mileage customers. It can also improve gas mileage and improve the overall performance of the vehicle.
What Are the Advantages of Synthetic Oil?
Formulated in a lab, this man-made synthetic oil doesn’t contain chemicals that break down at high temperatures or even extreme cold temperatures. Petroleum motor oil thickens in cold temperatures, required the starter and battery to work harder to start a cold engine. Synthetic oil is not affected by the cold air. The cold temperature actually allows the synthetic oil to be quickly pumped through the engine giving you a better start up with less friction.
Synthetic oil creates less friction in the engine all the time weather it is hot or cold. When the engine has less friction, you can have better gas mileage and parts last longer. For someone driving a vehicle with less than 70,000 miles, a switch to synthetic oil will extend the life of your engine.
Synthetic oil also increases the overall performance of the car, as it’s designed to handle extreme temperatures and prolong the engine’s life. When using synthetic oil, you can change your oil every 5,000 miles rather than every 3,000 miles. Because you’re using an artificial compound that is built to last longer and needs drained less often, you’ll have less oil waste which is always a plus.
BUT ~ the biggest disadvantage is that synthetic oil does cost more. There are a lot of details in making synthetic oil so it will increase your oil change from $30 to $80-$90. However, since synthetics are way more durable, oil changes are not needed as often ~ so this helps off set this disadvantage.
What is a synthectic blend?
Because synthetic motor oil or petroleum based motor oil are fully compatible, they can be mixed. This synthetic blend oil offers many of the benefits a full synthetic offers BUT at a reduced cost. It is most important to read in your owner’s manual or consult with a automotive professional before you switch.
Should Everyone Use Synthetic Oil in their Vehicles?
There is little doubt by the experts that synthetic oil offers superior protection. While synthetic oil offers these advantages, it’s not to be used in every vehicle. Especially if you have a vehicle with high mileage, you should continue to use standard crude oil OR use a HIGH MILEAGE Synthetic Oil. Using synthetic oil in an older car and/or that may have high milage can cause an oil leak because it will go in and clean out areas that have build up. If you have a newer car with low miles, we recommend using synthetic oil or a blend. Your car will benefit from the many advantages synthetic oil offers.