Regular vs. Synthetic Oil: Which One Should You Choose for Your Car?

We all know that motor oil is essential and needs to be changed on a regular basis to ensure that we can avoid major auto repair in Athens County, OH. What you might not know, though, is that there are different kinds of oil—there’s conventional motor oil, and there’s synthetic oil. This post will teach you what you need to know about these two oil types the next time you need an oil change.

What’s the difference between the two?

Regular motor oil is refined from natural crude oil found in the ground, while synthetic motor oil is made in a lab and mimics conventional motor oil while tailoring to the needs of today’s engines. The other difference, and the one you might care most about during your next oil change in Athens County, OH, is the price difference. Choosing synthetic oil can cost a bit more, depending on the brand of oil you use and where you get your oil changed.

What are the benefits of synthetics?

Synthetic oil doesn’t just cost more money for no reason—it offers a number of advantages over standard motor oil. Here are a few reasons some car owners choose to pay a premium for synthetic oil:

• Better lubrication: Added lubricants in synthetic oils ensure that all of the components are slicker and run smoother. Better lubrication provides better engine performance at higher temperatures, and can even prolong the life of your engine. Of course, that’s assuming that you have your oil changed regularly!
• Less breakdown: Over time, both types of oils start to break down and provide less and less lubrication for your engine. That means that your oil needs to be changed every several thousand miles. Car owners that choose synthetic oil, however, can often go for longer periods without having an oil change. Talk to your mechanic or consult your owner’s manual to see when you need to schedule another oil change.
• Fewer deposits: Oil breakdown leads to what mechanics call “engine sludge.” This sludge robs your engine of performance and can lead to major problems. The good news is that synthetic oils are less likely to leave nasty deposits as they start to break down.
• Greater stability: As mentioned above, synthetic oils are designed to maintain their viscosity at higher temperatures. This ensures better performance throughout the year, especially in the summer, when it’s hot out and your engine runs hotter. Thicker oil also sticks better to your engine’s parts, helping to ensure that components of your engine aren’t continually rubbing against each other, which is a leading cause of auto repair in Athens County, OH. So, paying a bit more during your oil change can, in fact, save you from expensive repairs down the road.

Whether you opt for regular or synthetic oil, make sure you choose Dana’s Tire Center the next time you’re due for an oil change in Athens County, OH! We’ll set you up with the highest-quality oil and have your oil changed as quickly as possible so you can get back out on the road.

Categorised in: Auto Repair, Oil Change

This post was written by Writer