Is Synthetic Oil the Right Choice for Your New Car?

Many drivers are unsure whether they should use synthetic oil in their new cars. Synthetic oil has a number of pluses over regular oil: it can maintain integrity in heat; lubricates better; has fairly good purity; and rarely ever becomes sludge, even after abuse. Most drivers will see the obvious benefits synthetic oil has to offer and decide to use it in their car. However, even with the synthetic oil's numerous benefits, the real difference is made in how you care for your car.

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.

One of synthetic oil's biggest perks is that it doesn't deteriorate until after a long time. Regular oil starts to break down after 6 months, and all oils should be replaced after 5K miles. If you're someone who drives less than 5K every 6 months, then mileage-wise, you're replacing your oil more often than you need to. Using synthetic oil will let you change your oil less frequently, so you can get greater mileage out of each oil change. This might save you some money, and definitely will save you on time.

Synthetic oil can withstand heat better than regular, which is one of the most common reasons people have for switching to synthetic. Regular oil starts to break down as the temperature increases, and continues to deteriorate as it gets hotter. If you regularly put your engine into situations where it will be in high heat, synthetic will help protect your engine against damage. Idling your engine for long periods of time and driving in high temperatures or altitudes will overheat your engine. Hot climates and thin mountain air won't cool your vehicle's engine very well, so people living in these climates should definitely consider synthetic oil. High performance vehicles will also benefit from synthetic oil.

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.

You might be wondering what your vehicle manufacturer recommends for your vehicle. Most manufacturers will say that "any oil that meets API standard specifications can be used in your vehicle." So normal is perfectly alright for most situations. Drivers will usually enjoy great performance from their new cars for a long time even without the extra benefit of synthetic oil, so long as they take proper care of their vehicles.

About the Author

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

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