Choosing the Best Motor Oil for Your Car – Synthetic vs Conventional

One of the biggest problems many car owners seem to encounter is really a self-made issue. Most drivers simply don’t change their oil often enough and it turns to sludge before they finally do something about it. The word out there is that synthetic oil is actually better for your engine and needs to be changed less frequently. Is this true? Let’s take a look at what expert mechanics and oil companies have to say and maybe that could solve the problem once and for all.

Royalty free photo

What You May Not Know About Synthetic Oil

Many drivers don’t take the time to fully understand synthetic oil. If you are looking for the best synthetic oil because you believe it does not originate in the ground, unfortunately you are wrong. Both synthetic motor oil and conventional motor oil begin in the ground. But as the Mobil Oil Company says, that’s where the similarity comes to an end. From there, you will find major differences.

Why Is Synthetic Oil Different with a Common Origin?

While most crude is refined, that’s where conventional oil ends. Synthetic oil will then be distilled. From there it is purified and finally broken down into molecular particles. Mobil Oil explains that not only does this process offer purer, cleaner oil but it also allows for the oil to be customized to the needs of contemporary engines. So why does it burn cleaner longer? This is why. It is purer to start with and then manufactured into a finished product specifically designed to work with modern motors.

Benefits of Synthetic Oil

There are a number of benefits inherent to synthetic oil, some of which you may not be aware of. Yes, it is purer so should run cleaner. Also, synthetic oil:

• Helps to keep your engine cleaner
• Provides better protection for your engine
• Works better at low temperatures
• Protects better than conventional oil at high temperatures
• The best protection for engines with turbochargers

Remembering that motor oil is a lubricant and why it is so important to a car’s engine, you can see why increasing numbers of manufacturers are recommending synthetic vs. conventional motor oil.

How Often Should You Change Synthetic Oil

Here’s where you should hold on to your hat! You have most likely heard that you should change your oil every 3,000 miles at a maximum. With today’s advanced technology in manufacturing synthetic oil, you are only required to change your oil every 15,000 miles. That means it lasts up to 5 times as long. So the answer to your question is a resounding yes! You don’t need to change synthetic oil as often as conventional oil.

There is no secret that because the process is so involved synthetic oil costs more than conventional oil but does it cost 5 times as much? Usually not nearly that much. The next time you change your oil or have your oil changed at an auto center, you really would be well served to make the switch to synthetic oil. It lasts longer, runs cleaner and gives ultimate protection to your engine. With all those benefits, why would you buy anything else?