Synthetic vs. Conventional Oil
In the past, you only had one option for the type of oil you could put in your vehicle. Today’s models often give you two choices: synthetic or conventional oil. If you don’t know much about synthetic oil, you may not know the difference between the two or which option to select when given the choice. Here’s some information about synthetic oil and how it compares to traditional engine oil.
Switching to Synthetic Oil
If you drive a vehicle that has always used conventional oil, it is possible to switch to synthetic oil. For high mileage vehicles that have never used this type of oil, it’s best to make the switch when you get your oil changed.
Synthetic oil can be good for your high-mileage vehicle to help clean out the system and get rid of the sludge in the engine. It provides the following advantages over conventional oil:
- Better wear protection for the engine
- Keeps the engine cleaner
- Synthetic oil continues to flow more easily in colder temperatures
- This type of oil protects better at higher temperatures
- Improves protection for turbocharged engines
You can keep your vehicle running longer and performing better by using synthetic oil.
Differences in Synthetic Oil
If you shop for synthetic oil, you may notice a choice between full synthetic oil and synthetic blends. A synthetic blend includes high-quality oils and conventional oil bases. Full synthetic oils contain the top-quality base oil.
Additives are included with synthetic oil just like with conventional oil. However, the type and quality of the additives can vary, which will impact the quality of the oil. When you decide to buy synthetic oil for your vehicle, you should talk to an experienced service team to determine the best oil to use.
Synthetic Oil and Oil Changes
One of the benefits for car owners to buy synthetic oil beyond how it protects the vehicle is how long you can go in between oil changes. You can generally go longer between service appointments than when using conventional oil.
Not all synthetic oils have the same recommendations for oil changes. Some will require oil changes around 3000 or 5000 miles, just like with conventional oil. Others can go up to 7500 miles or even 10,000 miles before requiring service. Other oils may go as long as 20,000 miles before getting changed out.
Along with the type of oil, you must consider conditions under which you drive most of the time and driving style. Highway driving is less harsh on the engine that driving in heavy city traffic. You should follow the manufacturer's recommendations or talk to your dealership service center for guidance.
Synthetic oil is overall a better choice for your engine. However, you need to know which brand and type of product to buy for the best results.
Bring your vehicle to D.E.L. Motors to have it serviced with synthetic oil. If you drive an older vehicle, talk to the service team about how synthetic oil can help your model last longer.