Although synthetic oil was once largely found in high-performance vehicles, it's being used in more mainstream engines so that automotive manufacturers can achieve improved fuel efficiency. Although conventional oil provides adequate lubrication, it doesn't compete with synthetic oil's overall engine protection and performance.
Synthetic oils are created with base oils which are of a higher quality than conventional, less-refined base oils. These higher quality base oils make synthetics:. Consumer Reports says that fully synthetic oils provide superior engine protection and performance over any synthetic blend or conventional motor oil. Visually, there is no difference. The two major differences between synthetic and conventional oil are a bit more subtle. For example, conventional 5W motor oil is a petroleum-based oil that is thick at low temperatures and thin at high temperatures.
To change this variance, oil manufacturers use additives to change the oil's properties, reducing its viscosity at lower temperatures and thickening the oil at higher temperatures. When it's freshly made, conventional 5W motor oil acts like its synthetic counterpart, but over time, the chemical additives break down or vaporize, returning the oil to its original consistency.
By contrast, synthetic oils are designed to match a specific type of multi-grade oil from the beginning. Even without additives, a synthetic 5W motor oil will not degrade or change viscosity—it may only become slightly thicker from contaminants. In general, yes, synthetic motor oil provides longer intervals between oil changes, but it depends on the brand of oil you use.
Certain brands recommend you have your oil changed every or miles. Other recommendations range from to 20, miles. Other factors that influence the time between oil changes include driving conditions and your driving style. Regardless, you should follow the oil change recommendations in your owner's manual while your vehicle is still under warranty.
If you won't take our word for it, look to the manufacturer. You should be able to find recommendations for oil in classic cars, and it's not uncommon for full synthetic to be the oil of choice.
You can even look for a stamp of approval from your car's manufacturer on the back of the jug of oil, which will tell you that the company has tested that oil for compatibility with its engines. If you're dealing with an owner's manual and recommended service intervals that were written before synthetic oil came onto the scene, you may find that you can go longer between changes after you make the switch.
These oils are engineered to last longer before breaking down, so they won't start leaving sludge in your engine as soon as conventional oils would. Some synthetics have additives that are designed to help slough off sludge. If you're switching to synthetic oil for the first time, consider easing into the longer change intervals in case there are significant deposits left from bygone lubricants.
There is, of course, one downside to using synthetic oil: it's significantly more expensive than the conventional stuff. It's up to you to decide whether the performance benefits and the longer intervals between changes outweigh the cost.
No matter what type of oil you decide to put in your car, make sure to follow the manufacturer's recommendation for viscosity. Oil chemistry and engine technology have evolved tremendously since the days of the 3,mile oil change. The majority of vehicle manufacturers now recommend vehicle owners change their oil every 7, to 10, miles, based on a normal maintenance schedule.
Why the change? The improved oils provide superior anti-wear protection while maximizing fuel economy. Also, oil life monitoring systems, which notify the driver when an oil change is needed, are becoming the standard in many new models. Instead of using the standby miles driven method, the technology monitors engine revolutions, operating temperatures and other factors to optimize the change interval selection.
Myth 3: Synthetic engine oils can wear down seals in an engine and cause leaks. During the s American Energy Crisis, there was an enormous effort to improve fuel economy by creating better synthetic oils.
The need for synthetic oils also comes from technological changes. High-performance vehicles and machinery—from jets that break the sound barrier to industrial plants—have to operate in extreme conditions and temperatures.
Highly refined engine oil allows better temperature resistance. Full synthetic oil is the purest type of synthetic oil. However, there is no global standard that grades synthetic oils. Each manufacturer has its own secret ingredients and processes. For the most part, the kind of synthetic oil found in the United States for your household vehicles is likely in the synthetic oils that use a Group III base.
That means that the full synthetic you get from your auto store is not really full synthetic. Group III is a highly refined mineral oil made. The mineral oil is refined beyond simple extraction through a process called hydrocracking. The level of refinement and additives distinguish synthetic oils from conventional mineral oils. Full synthetic oils are better understood as a grade of motor oil. Semi-refined--also called synthetic blend--oils are less refined than full synthetic oil.
Semi-synthetic oil blends traditional oil with the more technologically advanced oils. You get the advantage of additives and more refinement. But, the impurities and inconsistent molecular size of conventional motor oil are still in the blend at lower degrees.
The benefit of synthetic blends is largely a cost-vs-benefit decision. Synthetic blends are cheaper than full synthetic motor oil but higher performance than conventional oil. Because synthetic oil is better on your engine and has fewer impurities, it can go longer than conventional oils or synthetic blends. Schedule regular intervals.
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