To Use or Not to Use: Synthetic Oil and Your New Car

New vehicle owners often wonder if they should be using synthetic oil. There are many advantages synthetic oil has over regular oil: it lubricates more effectively; withstands high temperatures; is relatively pure; and usually won't turn into sludge even with heavy abuse. These clear benefits cause many people to assume synthetic oil is the obvious best choice. However, much of it comes down to how well you take care of your vehicle.

First of all, consider how regular you are with changing your oil. You car's oil needs to be replaced every 3 to 5K miles, before it breaks down and potentially damages your engine. Synthetic oil is a great option for drivers who tend to forget or delay oil changes, since it is breakdown resistant, even after extended use. Drivers who dutifully change their oil on schedule, however, will probably never get any benefits from synthetic oil's longer lifespan because it'll never be used long enough to make a difference.

Another benefit of synthetic is that it will last a long time without deteriorating. Let's say you drive 7k miles per year. At this rate, assuming a 5k mile oil change interval, you're only going to need an oil change every 9 months, based on mileage. Since regular oil starts to wear out after 6 months, you should either change your oil sooner than necessary or you should think about using synthetic. It may save you money to pay for one synthetic oil change a year instead of two regular oil changes, and it will definitely save you time.

One of the biggest reasons why people use synthetic oil is because of its resistance to heat. Regular oil breaks down in high temperatures, and continue to break down as the heat rises. Drivers who use their vehicles in ways that create a constantly hot engine environment should use synthetic oil. So should people who live in hot climates, such as in the desert, or at high altitudes, like in the mountains. Neither high ambient temperatures nor low air pressure are ideal conditions for keeping your engine cool, so synthetic oil would give you the best performance in these areas. Finally, if you own a high-performance vehicle or just drive like you do, consider synthetic, which is the best choice for these vehicles.

There are a lot of entities that recommend using synthetic oil, even to people who don't need it. For example, synthetic is recommended for anyone that drives in stop-and-go traffic. But since all of us drive in stop-and-go at some point, that's a bad recommendation. You should only use synthetic if you're driving in stop and go traffic long enough that your engine's cooling fan turns on, and only if you're doing so daily. Also, if you only drive short trips, people may recommend synthetic oil as a way to protect your engine. However, short trips, regardless of your choice of oil, can damage your motor. No matter whether you use synthetic or regular oil, your engine was designed run for at least 20 minutes. Running synthetic in these situations might be better, but tests have shown that the benefit is minor.

If you've decided synthetic oil is right for you, use caution when buying synthetic oil. Many places try to sell synthetic "blends" as a cost-saving measure, but the contents of this mixture aren't always the same. You could be getting regular oil with a little bit of synthetic thrown in for a higher price. The best thing to do is to buy either pure synthetic oil or not bother with it at all. The exception to this is if the blend you're buying is coming from and made by your vehicle manufacturer.

Most car manufacturers will tell you that "any oil that meets API standard specifications can be used in your vehicle." For most people, normal oil will be absolutely fine. As long as they are maintained regularly and cared for, most new cars won't need synthetic oil to perform well for a long time.

Article by: JasonLancaster | Total views: 12 | Word Count: 672

About the Author

Author Jason Lancaster, a car industry veteran, developed AccurateAutoAdvice.com. You'll find accurate auto advice and car buying tips.