When you go to get your oil change service done you probably don’t think too much about the type of oil they’re putting into your engine. But it is important to know what type of oil your car’s manufacturer recommends for your vehicle so you don’t put in the wrong oil and shorten the lifespan of the engine.
Many newer cars have high-performance or turbocharged engines in them which generate more heat than conventional engines. Because of this heat, these high-performance engines need oil which can sustain higher temperatures without breaking down as easily.
In these cases, the type of motor oil you use makes a big difference. Here’s a comparison of the three main types of engine oil on the market today.
Related: Common Oil Change Scams to Be Aware Of
Conventional vs Synthetic Blend vs Full Synthetic
In a nutshell, full synthetic oil is far superior to conventional oil because of its longevity. Full synthetic oil also won’t break down as quickly when it faces hot temperatures from the engine or from the weather outside.
Engine operating temperature is the biggest factor when it comes to engine oil but climate can also have some effect. That is why if you live in Arizona or some other southern state with extremely high temperatures, it’s a good idea to have full synthetic oil in your vehicle so it doesn’t break down that quickly.
There is actually a third choice for oil that a lot of people don’t talk about. It is the synthetic blend oil which is kind of like a hybrid of conventional oil and full synthetic oil. The two oils are basically mixed together so that you’ll have oil that is a little bit better than conventional oil.
People may want to purchase the synthetic blend because it is cheaper than full synthetic oil and still has more longevity than conventional oil. Of course, full synthetic oil has a longer change interval but it is more expensive.
Overall, you should purchase full synthetic oil if you don’t mind paying a little more for it. Synthetic oil creates less resistance inside of a car’s engine which means you’ll have better engine efficiency and horsepower.
As a result, you’ll end up using less gas in your vehicle and promote a better fuel economy. Plus, if you don’t typically drive long distances with your vehicle then your engine isn’t going to heat up as much.
So you could get away with changing your synthetic oil every 5,000 or even 10,000 miles instead of every 3,000 miles like you had to do with conventional oil. But make sure you also consider the car manufacturer’s recommended oil change interval.
Make sure you don’t go too long before an oil change and oil filter change because the oil will break down from being too old at this point.
The post Conventional vs Synthetic Blend vs Full Synthetic (Engine Oil Comparison) appeared first on CarTreatments.com.