Synthetic Oil vs Conventional Oil

Drivers all throughout the West Chester, Springfield, and Philadelphia areas understand that the most common, and necessary form of automotive maintenance is the oil changes. This routine service is vital to your car’s performance, but do you know what type of oil your vehicle needs?

All vehicles require a specific type of oil to help them last and perform at their best. Synthetic oil and conventional oil are the two most common engine oils out there for your vehicle. But how do these specific oil types differ? Keep reading and our team of experts at Kia of West Chester will happily explain.

---

Important Details About Synthetic Oil

If you’re driving a brand new car that you just purchased, using synthetic oil is your best option. This oil is specifically designed to provide superior lubrication to your engine parts while keeping them cool. The most common vehicles that take synthetic oil are performance-based vehicles, luxury vehicles, and even brand new cars.

Synthetic oil goes through a major distilling process to ensure that it’s a quality oil. It gets reduced to its basic chemical structure and molecules to ensure that the impurities of the crude oil that it’s made from are removed. There are also a few extra ingredients that are put into the oil that work better with the advanced engines of today’s vehicles. Due to its purification process, and the extra additives, synthetic oils can perform well in both hot and cold temperatures, making it one of the more ideal oils for drivers who live in more temperate climates.

On top of performing well in new vehicles and sports cars, it can also accommodate different driving styles. Whether you drive under severe conditions, or you’re a commuter that engages in stop-and-go traffic on a daily basis, synthetic oil can provide the necessary protection and lubrication to help keep your engine at an optimal temperature while performing at its most efficient.

Synthetic oil has many advantages, the biggest one is its resistance to breakdown easily. It can last longer than most oils, which in the end, makes oil changes less frequent. Most vehicles can get roughly 6,000 miles out of synthetic oil, but to know the exact duration for your vehicle, please check your manual for a closer estimate.

---

How Conventional Oil Works

When you’re driving around in an older model that doesn’t feature a modern engine or a lot of miles, conventional oil is a good option. It offers enough lubrication and protection for your vehicle to perform at its best for a certain duration before needing a change. But unlike synthetic oil, conventional oil doesn’t go through a meticulous purification process, and most of its impurities and imperfections are left intact. There are additives in the oil to help it last and improve its quality, however, it doesn’t share the same tolerance to temperature, its resistance to breaking down, or even its thickness that synthetic oil is known for.

Due to conventional oil’s makeup and impurities, it doesn’t last as long as synthetic oil. This means more frequent oil changes and less efficient driving if you’ve surpassed the oil’s expected mileage. Commonly, conventional oil requires a change about every 3,000 miles, all of which depends on your vehicle’s engine. For a more exact measurement on how long conventional oil lasts in your engine, please check the manual for more details.

---

---

Which Oil Should You Use?

Not every vehicle is the same, so they require a specific oil in order to function at their best. Whether it’s to increase the lifespan of the vehicle, provide superior performance, or keep the vehicle in good health, choosing the specific oil that your vehicle needs is crucial to ensuring that your car remains in great condition. While our guide has helped explore the benefits of all these oils, be sure to find out which exact oil your engine needs by checking your owner’s manual.

If you’d like more information on synthetic vs. conventional oil, you can always contact us at Jim Sipala’s Kia of West Chester, near West Chester, Philadelphia, and Springfield, and talk to our maintenance and service professionals to learn more!