Synthetic Oil vs. Conventional Oil

It’s time for an oil change! Oil changes are probably the most important vehicle maintenance you can do for your internal combustion engine over its lifespan. If you don’t change your vehicle’s oil regularly, you run the risk of destroying your engine’s pistons because of too much friction and heat.

Depending on your make and model, an oil change might happen every 3,000 miles for older vehicles to 15,000 miles for new, modern, high-end vehicles. Modern vehicles use an oil change monitoring system to tell you when it’s time for your next oil change.

When you bring your vehicle in for service from Eagan and St. Paul, you’ll have a choice between synthetic vs. conventional oil, also called regular oil, at our service center. If you’ve been wondering about the differences between synthetic oil vs. regular oil, then you’ll love this guide. Read on to find more information!

Then, feel free to contact us, schedule service, or call (651) 356-6090, and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you have!

What is Conventional Oil?

Conventional oil comes from crude oil refined to make it work in your internal combustion engine. Conventional oil lubricates the pistons as they move up and down. Its job is to reduce wear on those engine parts, preventing overheating, friction, and breakdowns while making your vehicle’s engine last longer. Conventional oil is also the least expensive option when you get an oil change. But it may not be the best option for the long-term ownership of your vehicle in the synthetic vs. conventional oil debate.

What is Synthetic Oil?

Synthetic oil, like conventional oil, comes from petroleum. However, refineries can custom-make fully synthetic oils with enhanced lubrication properties and stabilizers that make them last longer than conventional motor oil. Refineries produce synthetic motor oil to the exact specifications of the manufacturer to minimize wear and tear on the engine as much as possible. Synthetic oils oxidize less easily than conventional oils, allowing them to retain their protective properties much longer. That’s why you can go longer between oil change intervals when you use synthetic vs. conventional oils.

The lone downside is that synthetic motor oils are more expensive than regular oils at the time of purchase. Yet, you don’t bring your car in for as many oil changes. Having better wear protection improves the return on your investment for several years. For example, you might change your oil once every 3,000 miles at $45 for a conventional oil change but then once every 7,500 miles at $70 for a synthetic oil change. In that same time frame, you would have spent $90 for two conventional oil changes, so you save $20, not to mention the long-term benefits of better engine wear protection.

Synthetic oils also:

• Handle lower temperatures more easily, which is one key for frigid MN winters.
• Offer enhanced engine cleaning properties with added cleansers to keep the oil more viable for a longer time between oil changes.
• Protect turbocharger parts (when equipped) better in smaller engines to help them run more efficiently.

Full Synthetic Oil vs. Synthetic Blends

Synthetic blends of motor oils provide a third choice for car owners. These offer a mixture of synthetic oil and conventional oil to reduce the costs of your oil change while giving you some benefits of synthetic oil. It’s less expensive, but the effectiveness of the oil isn’t quite the same as full synthetic oil.

Many modern vehicles require full synthetic oil. This is true when you have a sports car or high-end luxury vehicle. Check your owner’s manual or vehicle’s information center, or contact our service experts, if you’re not sure what type of oil your vehicle needs.

Schedule an Oil Change Near St. Paul

When choosing between synthetic vs. conventional oil, we highly recommend synthetic for your vehicle. Take better care of your vehicle by stopping by our service center for an oil change when it’s ready.

Check out our service coupons to see if you can save money on your next maintenance, repair, or oil change. Make sure to read our service tips and service information hub to get the most out of your vehicle ownership. We’re happy to help in any way we can!