When it comes to your car’s engine, there are plenty of things you need to keep an eye on. After all, if something goes wrong with your engine, the result could be catastrophic. That’s why it’s important to know what type of oil is best and when you need to get it changed. With so many different options out there, it can be difficult to decide which type of engine oil is right for you, especially if you have little experience working on cars as a hobby. That’s why we’re here to give you the rundown on synthetic vs regular engine oils and which one is better for your car.
What is Engine Oil?
Engine oil is typically a type of lubricant that’s used inside the engine of your vehicle. It helps with reducing friction so that the engine’s parts can smoothly move against one another. Engine oil also helps to reduce the heat that’s produced during the combustion process of your engine, which is crucial for preventing potential problems down the road. Engine oil is typically stored in a reservoir located near the engine of your vehicle. The oil pump inside your engine is designed to continuously pump fresh oil into the engine so that engine parts can be lubricated.
Synthetic Oil
Synthetic engine oils are synthetic compounds created in a laboratory. This type of oil is created from a combination of organic compounds, inorganic compounds, and other chemicals. The main benefit of synthetic oil is that it is considerably more durable than regular engine oils. This means that synthetic oil can withstand higher temperatures, which makes it ideal for newer vehicles equipped with turbochargers that require higher temperatures in order to function as intended. Synthetic oils also contain more additives than regular oils, which makes them great at reducing friction and wear in the engine.
Regular Oil
Regular oils are typically derived from crude oil. They are blended with additives to make them more resistant to oil breakdown. The main benefit of regular oil is that it can be found at a lower price than synthetic oil, which makes it more affordable for consumers. Although regular engine oil is less durable than synthetic engine oil, it still does an excellent job of lubricating your engine.
Which One is Better?
Overall, synthetic engine oils are generally better than regular oils. That’s because synthetic oils are more durable and are better at preventing engine wear. However, synthetic oils are also more expensive than regular oils, which means that not everyone can afford to purchase synthetic oils. That’s why most car owners will choose to purchase regular oils for their vehicles. The only time synthetic oils are more beneficial than regular oils is for people who drive cars that are brand new and have high mileage. This is because synthetic oils can withstand higher temperatures better than regular oils.
When Should You Change Engine Oil?
This is an important question, especially if you’re going with synthetic engine oil. Synthetic oils are generally more durable than regular oils, which means that they can last longer. But in some cases, it’s better to change synthetic oil more often than you would change regular oil. For example, it’s recommended that you change synthetic oil every 7,500 miles or every 10,000 miles with semi-annual oil change intervals. When it comes to regular oils, you’ll want to change the oil every 7,500 miles, or every 5,000 miles with semi-annual oil change intervals. At the end of the day, the best way to determine when you need to change your oil is by reading your car’s owner’s manual. This will help you figure out the best type of oil to use and when you need to change it.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are plenty of benefits associated with synthetic oil compared to regular oil. That’s why it’s recommended that you use synthetic oil if your car is new and is equipped with a turbocharger. If you have a car that’s a little older, synthetic oil may not be necessary. In that case, it’s best to go with regular oil because it’s cheaper. That said, no matter what type of oil you choose, it’s important that you only ever use oil that has been approved by your car’s manufacturer. If you choose synthetic oil, you can expect your engine to last considerably longer than it would with regular oil.
