There is little doubt that synthetic oil is better for your engine than conventional oil. While conventional oil (or mineral oil) provides enough lubrication performance, it cannot match the overall engine performance that synthetics provide.

NOTE: The secret to keep the car on the road for a long period of time is the car’s maintenance and service. Oil change services are part of it. We can help increase the lifespan of your car at the Cambridge auto repair shop.

The Truth About Synthetic Oil

Because synthetic oils are produced using complex processes, technology allows oil companies to remove impurities found in crude oil. The oil molecules can be tailored to meet the specific demands of modern cars.

Synthetic motor oil allows for longer intervals between oil changes, but it is also dependent on which brand you are using. Some brands recommend an oil change every 3000 or 5000 miles. Others range from 7500 right up to 20,000 miles. Remember that driving conditions and driving style affect the time between oil changes too.

Irrespective of those factors, you should follow the oil change guidelines as laid out in your car’s owner’s manual – especially while your vehicle is still under warranty. When you first make the switch to synthetic, make sure you take your vehicle for oil changes more frequently. This is recommended because your engine might have a build-up of sludge and deposits.

Advantages and Disadvantages

The primary benefit of synthetic motor oils is superior engine protection. Because your car’s engine parts move fast and are always rubbing and moving up against each other, they can wear down. The oil lubricates these parts thereby providing a protective layer between the moving parts. Yes, all oils do this, but synthetic oils will not break down while doing this – as blends and conventional oils do. Synthetic motor oils, therefore, protect your engine for longer.

Synthetics also result in a cleaner engine because they contain fewer impurities and are therefore able to resist sludge and deposit formation. Motor oil tends to leave deposits behind as they circulate through the engine. After a while, these deposits form sludge, reducing your engine’s ability to run at optimal levels.

Synthetic oils have better viscosity and stability than conventional oil or blends. They are specifically designed to flow quickly in winter temperatures and in extreme heat, meaning that your car’s engine is able to run smoothly any time of the year.

More and more modern cars are built with smaller engines, opting instead for turbochargers to supply the necessary power. Conventional oils tend to break down faster under turbocharged conditions. Synthetic motor oil will keep a turbocharged engine operating optimally.

Of course, the inevitable disadvantage of synthetic oils is that they are significantly more expensive than conventional motor oils. Another possible disadvantage is that they can be problematic in terms of decomposition in some industrial environments.

When switching from conventional to synthetic oil, take note of certain recommendations. If you drive a vehicle with high mileage (over 75,000 miles) that has never used synthetic motor oil, or if your vehicle has been poorly maintained, it is recommended that you ease into extended oil change intervals to allow the synthetic oil to clean up your engine. In instances like these, you should continue to observe the oil change intervals (and oil filter changes) that the owner’s manual recommends for the first few changes after switching to synthetic.

Full Synthetic vs. Synthetic Blend

Full synthetic motor oils is made from top-quality base oil. Things start to get a bit confusing when additives are incorporated. This means that all brands are slightly different, but as a rule, full synthetics offer superior protection over conventional motor oils or synthetic blends.

If you are ready for your scheduled oil change in Cambridge, Waterloo, or Kitchener, Ontario, consider treating your vehicle to synthetic oil. Contact Special Interest Automobiles Cambridge for auto oil service expert advice.