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eTyres care about our customers. The
following article may be of interest.
Your Engine, Your Baby: Synthetic or
Conventional Oil
by Michael Walker
One central argument between car enthusiasts and on
Internet car forums alike is what oil is better for your
car, synthetic or conventional. Before synthetic oils
became available for regular automobiles, the argument
centered solely on brand types and weight. But now, with
the advent of these synthetics all over the market, what
is truly the best choice for your engine? Let's explore
both of these worlds to find out.
Conventional oil is rated according to a SAE system.
This scale is used so that you know what type of oil is
best for your car given the environmental conditions
(temperature, city driving, etc.) of where you live. The
first number, for example on 10W30 motor oil, is 10
followed by a "W". This "W" indicates that the number
before it is the viscosity rating of the oil. The lower
this number, the better the oil is for colder climates.
The higher the number, the better it is for hotter
driving conditions.
Synthetic oils, on the other hand (before their
commercial release) were used in many military vehicles
and fighter jets. Airlines also use synthetics in their
engines. The synthetic oil has been designed not to
break down as quickly and can tolerate extremities in
temperature and weather (hot to cold).
One of the major differences between conventional and
synthetic oils is that synthetics are treated with more
additives that protect your engine for a longer amount
of time before you have to change it. And, while we
don't want to get into all the molecular chemistry
involved in the making of these oils, we should mention
that they also last longer in hotter conditions and
won't "gel" in colder ones, like conventional oil. In
other words, synthetics have more additives, which
greatly protect the car from viscosity breakdown. They
are designed to withstand temperature extremes. It may
be safe to say that extreme driving conditions call for
the use of synthetics.
On the financial side of the matter, synthetics cost a
whole lot more; up to three or four times as much as
regular conventional oil. But, the wonderful thing is
that you don't have to change your oil every 3,000
miles; recommended with conventional oil use. In fact,
you may not have to change it until well after 25,000
and up to 50,000 miles as long as the oil filter is
changed every 10,000 miles. So, the cost at first might
scare consumers away, but the long-term benefits of
synthetic oil use are substantial.
However, you will still have to be responsible for your
car's maintenance check-up every 3,000 miles or so. With
regular oil-changes, you are automatically checking over
the car for other problems (or if you don't an
inspection mechanic does). It might help you find a
problem that could be dealt with, that could've gone
unchecked. Also, you'll want to check the synthetic oil
every now and then to be sure that it isn't contaminated
and/or that there isn't any moisture build-up.
With normal everyday driving, perhaps conventional oils
work best for you. You aren't driving in extreme
conditions and you swear allegiance to regular oil. That
may be fine. Synthetic oil cannot really offer you
anything that conventional oil cannot under normal
operating conditions. However, the definition of extreme
driving states that if you do a lot of short driving
(two to twenty miles) daily, it's hard on your car. And,
specialists agree that this constitutes extreme driving
due to the faster breakdown of the structure of
conventional oil.
Another major reason that many are choosing the
synthetic route is that it contains fewer impurities;
impurities that can cause your engine harm, perhaps to
the point of premature engine wear. With conventional
oil, there's no way to totally rid, filter or clean the
impurities from the natural elements. That's another
reason why synthetic oils do not have to be changed as
much even in extreme driving conditions.
You'll want to be careful; however, if you do decide
that you want to give synthetic oils a try. If you've
been driving your 1983 Ford Thunderbird for years using
10W30, you may not want to switch using your
conventional oil brand.
Conventional oils have solvents that stick to gaskets
and seals and often cause them to swell a certain way.
These gaskets and seals have been used to the same oil
for years and the switch to any other type of oil
(whether it is to a different conventional oil brand, or
an upgrade to a synthetic) may be harmful. The oil you
change (or upgrade to) will also have solvents and
additives, different from the original. So in other
terms, the changing of oils could result in oil leaks
and/or a once small oil leak becoming bigger due to the
reaction the seals and gaskets will have to the change
(not because of the oil itself). If you think that this
might be the case for you (i.e. if you have an older car
using conventional oil), it's recommended that you not
try synthetic oil until you have an engine (or new car)
with relatively virgin gaskets and seals that will be
able to acclimate much more easily to the chemical
changes of the newer type of oil.
It's easy to see that that fanfare for one or the other
is an argument that has really been explored. It's best
for you to decide what will fit your personal needs. If
you have an older car, you may want to wait until you
upgrade. However, if you have a newer car, the benefits
of synthetic oils are easily seen. Again, it's solely
dependent upon you and the conditions where you drive.
Synthetics are shown to provide their best protection
above 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Most people do not drive
their cars this hot. However, many do drive in cities,
where driving times are considered to be more of a
"stop-and-go" nature, which may be considered "extreme"
in many circumstances. When the time comes for you to
make a decision, at least you'll be informed of the
differences of each. And, until that time, no matter
what, keep up that automotive pride!
About the Author
Michael Walker is a freelance author providing tips and
hints on engine related topics such as JDM motors, used
import engines and engine swaps. His articles are a
valuable source of information for the auto enthusiast. |
