Should I Use Synthetic Oil In My New Car?

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Should I Use Synthetic Oil In My New Car?

by: JasonLancaster | Total views: 1 | Word Count: 739 | View PDF | Print View
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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.

Other than synthetic's breakdown resistance and long life, there's one other common reason you should consider using synthetic. As natural oil gets hot, it starts to breakdown. The longer it stays hot, the worse the breakdown. So if you regularly operate your vehicle in such a way that the engine temperature is always high, you should run synthetic. Letting your vehicle idle for hours at a time, such as on a jobsite, will overheat the engine. So will driving in high ambient temperatures, like in the desert, or altitudes of over 10k feet. As a rule, high temperature desert air doesn't cool your engine very well, and neither does "thin" mountain air. If you live in these areas, consider running synthetic oil. Finally, synthetic oil is often used in high performance vehicles. If you are utilizing your vehicle like a high-performance car (high speeds, fast turns, you know who you are) then synthetic is a smart choice.

There are lots of people who will recommend synthetic oil to you, even if you don't need it. For instance, synthetic is recommended for drivers who have to drive in stop-and-go traffic. However, almost everyone drives in this type of traffic at some time, and not everyone needs synthetic oil. It's really only necessary if you're stuck in stop-and-go for long periods of time, and on a regular basis. Synthetic might also be recommended to people who only drive on short trips, as a means for protecting the engine. But only driving for short trips will damage your engine regardless of what oil you choose, so the recommendation is redundant. Your engine is designed to perform for 20 minutes or more. There might be a slight benefit to running synthetic for short trips, but the difference is negligible.

If you've recognized yourself in one of the above situations and have decided to opt for synthetic oil, be careful when you go to make the purchase. You may be offered a synthetic "blend" instead of pure synthetic oil to save money. However, you probably won't know exactly what's in that blend. It could be equal amounts of synthetic and regular, or you might even be getting almost entirely regular oil with a splash of synthetic. If you're going to go synthetic, it's best to go all out and get the real thing, or not do it at all. Of course, if the blend is provided and produced by your vehicle's manufacturer, then it's probably safe to use - but that's the exception.

Last but not least, what do auto manufacturers have to say about synthetics? Most state that "any oil that meets API standard specifications can be used in your vehicle." That means normal oil is just fine. For most people, new cars will operate for a very long time without the benefit of synthetic oil so long as they are properly maintained and used normally.
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