What is the difference between synthetic and conventional motor oil?When it comes to motor oil, you have two main options – conventional or synthetic. The differences between the two begin at the molecular level and continue all the way up to how the oil is manufactured and processed. Conventional oil will cost less than the synthetic but will require more frequent oil changes. If you decide to go with the synthetic motor oil – depending on your driving habits – you can change your oil every 5,000 to 7,500 miles. Here are few key differences to consider when deciding to go with conventional or synthetic oil. Keep in mind, if you have an older, particularly vintage vehicle with the original engine, synthetic oil may NOT be recommended. Show
Conventional motor oilConventional motor oil is derived from crude oil and contains impurities. There are no additives added to the oil and it has irregularities at the molecular level. Conventional oil will accomplish the basic task of lubricating your engine by coating the vital parts of your engine that run at high speeds and providing a barrier against engine wear. Conventional motor oil will break down quicker than synthetic motor oil and require more frequent oil changes. As conventional oil ages it begins to leave carbon deposits in your engine forming “engine sludge” with continued use. This engine sludge can reduce the life of your engine. In extreme hot or cold conditions, conventional motor oil can be susceptible to the elements. In high heat, conventional oil can start to boil off causing a loss of lubrication to engine parts running at high speeds. In extreme cold conditions, conventional oil can become thick and less fluid, meaning it may not reach all of the vital engine parts quickly enough as the engine warms up, which can lead to damage. With conventional oil, it is very important to change your oil at the manufacturer’s suggested intervals. One benefit of conventional oil is that it costs about half that of synthetic. But, Driver’s Edge does offer frequent oil change specials! Synthetic motor oilContains a mixture of additives that allows the oil to break down slower and provide greater lubrication for your engine. Synthetic oil offers better performance in extreme cold or extreme heat. The synthetic oil flows and coats engine parts quicker in the cold of winter and breaks down slower in the extreme heat of the summer and continue to protect your engine from wear. Compared to synthetic blend, conventional oil can become thick in cold conditions and boil off in hot conditions. The benefits of synthetic also include extending the life of your engine. At the molecular level, synthetic oil is uniform. Due to a refining and purification process, it will keep your engine cleaner and last longer resulting in a clean running engine for years to come. Synthetic oil has also been shown to improve fuel economy and engine performance when compared to conventional oils. Synthetic oil is continuing to see improvements with modern technology and chemistry. While the cost of synthetics are greater in the short term, the long term effects of using synthetic oil over conventional will result in a car that will last longer and require less frequent oil changes. Keep in mind that synthetic oil still needs to be changed regularly, just not nearly as often as its conventional counterpart. When put side-by-side however, the technology behind the synthetic motor oil will outperform conventional motor oil every time. Book An Oil Change Appointment Synthetic oil is a lubricant made up of artificially made chemical compounds; these compounds are made by breaking down and then rebuilding petroleum molecules. What Is Synthetic Oil?Synthetic oil is a lubricant made up of artificially made chemical compounds; these compounds are made by breaking down and then rebuilding petroleum molecules. Under a microscope, a drop of synthetic oil shows millions of molecules all nearly the same size and structure. Conversely, mineral or conventional oil is made using refined crude oil. A drop of conventional oil under a microscope shows millions of molecules all with different shapes, sizes and structures. Synthetic oil can be fully synthetic or a synthetic blend and be derived from multiple base types. Full synthetic oils use a synthetic base stock, are uniquely designed molecule by molecule without using petroleum and include additives meant to help the degradation of the oil. A synthetic blend is a mix of conventional motor oil and synthetic base stocks. Adding the synthetic base stock to the conventional mineral oil gives you a little bit more protection than just using the conventional oil by itself. There are multiple types of synthetics with distinctly different properties and applications. However, most synthetics used in automotive service are polyalphaolefins (PAO). For simplicity, the primary reference to synthetic oils in this article will relate to PAOs. Most vehicles are capable of using either synthetic or conventional mineral oil that meet the American Petroleum Institute's (API) and International Lubricant Standardization and Advisory Committee (ILSAC) specifications. However, synthetic oils are often marketed as having superior performance when compared with conventional oil. This superior performance may only relate to certain properties but not others. It is possible that some formulations of conventional mineral oils may exhibit superior performance on certain properties. There have been numerous studies over the years comparing synthetic oil to conventional mineral oil. Most notably the American Automobile Association (AAA) used certified labs using American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standardized test methods to examine differences in engine oils marketed as conventional versus those marketed as full synthetic. Among other things, AAA found that, on average, synthetic oils outperformed conventional oils by 47 percent in the conducted tests. The selected tests evaluated several important physical, chemical and performance properties including shear stability, deposit formation, volatility, cold-temperature pumpability, oxidation resistance, and oxidation-induced rheological (viscosity) changes. Synthetic oil is quickly becoming the new normal, with nearly 70 percent of new cars in the 2019 model year getting either fully synthetic or a synthetic blend oil, according to Consumer Reports. Even as the number of new cars requiring synthetics continues to increase, it remains important for consumers to follow manufacturer recommendations for their vehicle when it comes to changing their oil. "Semi- or full-synthetic oils are required for most newer cars, but it is vital that the automaker's recommendations be followed, or accelerated engine wear and other problems could result," Michael Calkins, Technical Services Manager for AAA tells Machinery Lubrication. The advancement of synthetic oil has put the microscope on conventional oil. Even though conventional oil lubricates your car's engine adequately in most cases, there are some possible disadvantages to using it. These disadvantages may or may not be realized or noticed depending on various factors like marginal fluidity at extremely low temperatures, thermal and oxidative stability (prolonged chemical stability at high temperatures) and viscosity protection (against wear and friction) at high engine loads and temperatures. Advantages and Disadvantages of Synthetic OilSo, what are the advantages of switching to a synthetic as opposed to a conventional motor oil? When looking at the pros and cons, synthetic lubricants can offer meaningful advantages. The following are some of the most significant advantages synthetics (PAOs) generally have over conventional engine oils. Note, the list below assumes that the additive package would be similar between the two options which is rarely the case. Most synthetic lubricant formulations for automobiles would have a superior additive package making the comparison more complex. In other words, is the superior performance the result of the synthetic base oil or is it due to the superior additive(s) or a little of both?
A few disadvantages of synthetic oil to be aware of include:
Is Synthetic Oil Worth the Cost?When it comes to the price of synthetic or synthetic blends, it's not always black and white. "It is very difficult to generalize because of the many differences in oil brands and formulations. A quart of modern semi- or full-synthetic oil usually costs somewhere between four and 10 dollars, although some special blends can cost even more," Calkins explains. As of 2019, five quarts of conventional oil costs approximately $28 and an oil change with conventional oil costs about $38, according to a survey of AAA's approved auto repair facilities. Conversely, five quarts of full synthetic oil will set you back about $45, while an oil change with full synthetic oil costs about $70. This means switching from conventional to synthetic will cost the average driver about $64 per year or $5.33 per month. While a manufacturer-approved conventional oil won't harm your engine in any way, forking over the extra $30 per month and switching to a synthetic oil could save you money long-term in the way of protecting your engine's components over time. You may also make up for some of the extra costs by changing your oil less frequently. When it comes to the cost of an oil change, the change frequency of synthetic oil is longer, with most brands recommending an oil change at around 5,000 to 7,000 miles (up to 25,000 miles depending on some brands). Conventional oil changes are recommended at anywhere from 3,000 to 5,000 miles. It's important to note, if you're going to use a synthetic oil for longer oil change intervals, you should upgrade your oil filter to one also with a longer service life to match that of the synthetic oil. So, is synthetic oil better for your engine than conventional mineral oil? "In general, yes – provided the automaker's viscosity grade and other oil requirements are adhered to," says Calkins. While mineral oil does provide adequate lubrication for your vehicle's engine, synthetic oil better protects your engine through the use of higher-quality, more refined base oils. "Always use at least the type of oil recommended by your vehicle's manufacturer. If your car only calls for conventional oil, the slightly higher cost of a semi-synthetic product will provide better engine protection. Regardless of the oil used, always follow the vehicle manufacturers' recommended oil change intervals," says Calkins. Additionally, think about how long you plan to own your car. Investing in premium lubrication may slightly extend the life of your engine; However, if you are planning to sell your car long before engine failure is likely with mineral oil, the benefit of using expensive synthetics is transferred to the next owner of your car. In other words, you paid for expensive oil but gained minimal benefit during the time you owned the car. It should be said there are certain exceptions to this concept. One in particular is exposing an engine to worst case scenarios long before their normal end of life. Worst case scenarios include extreme temperatures, forgetting to change the oil on schedule, heavy loads, frequent cold starts, frequent short commutes, impaired engine cooling, etc. Synthetic Engine Oils: Digging DeeperSynthetic oil used in motor vehicles is refined from base oils or base stock oils. The American Petroleum Institute (API) categorizes base oils into five categories; the first three are oils refined from petroleum crude oil. Group IV base oils are fully synthetic, and Group V contains all base oils not in the first four groups. The API identifies two of the most common base oils used for synthetic oil as Polyalphaolefins (PAOs) and Esters (Diester and Polyol).
*Information from How to Select a Motor Oil and Filter for Your Car or Truck, 2nd Edition, by James C. Fitch When Synthetics Always Makes SenseAs mentioned, extreme conditions and worst-case scenarios demand the use of synthetics. Because they are so expensive, if you use them, insist on getting value and performance in return. Below are the passenger car applications that are ideally suited for synthetics motor oils:
There are a few instances when the right decision on whether to use a synthetic motor oil is far more unclear - or simply just a close call. In such cases, your only tactic is to use good judgment and carefully consider all facts and circumstances. For instance, the jury is still out on the value, if any, that is gained in fuel economy by using synthetic motor oils. As mentioned previously, the opposite may be true. Is regular oil or synthetic oil Better?Is synthetic oil better for my engine than conventional oil? Yes, synthetic oil is better for your engine than conventional oil. Although conventional oil (i.e., mineral oil) can provide adequate lubrication performance, it can't compete with the overall engine performance and protection provided by synthetics.
What happens if you use regular oil instead synthetic?The differences mostly come down to the oil refining process. Conventional oil, while cheaper than synthetic, is less refined and can lead to more engine sludge and gunk build-up down the road.
Is there a downside to synthetic oil?A few disadvantages of synthetic oil to be aware of include: Probably the most glaring downside of synthetic oil is the cost. The price of synthetic oil is around two to four times the price of conventional oil. Synthetics may be more prone to additives precipitation during cold storage conditions.
When should you not use synthetic oil?This being said, however, it is still not recommended to use synthetic oil in engines that have experienced significant actions – specifically, those that have reached around 75,000 miles on the odometer.
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