What Is Synthetic Oil? Synthetic vs Conventional oil differences?

Choosing the right oil for an engine can be a complicated process. A lot of factors come into this process and to make an informed decision, it is essential to understand the differences between the types of engine oil.

To simplify this decision, we decided to explain exactly what synthetic engine oil is and how it compares to its famous alternative, conventional oil.

Synthetic oil is a lubricant made of artificial chemical compounds as opposed to conventional motor oil which is made of refined crude oil. It is considerably more expensive but in the long run, it improves the performance of the engine of a car as it is more durable.

Before we get into the perks of using synthetic engine oil ahead of conventional motor oil, there are a few other topics to cover:

●      What are all the options available for engine oil?

●      When and how did we come about synthetic engine oil?

Types Of Engine Oil

If we were to divide the types of oil by what they are made of, we can put them into three categories: conventional, synthetic, and synthetic blends. There is another type of oil called high-mileage oil but we decided to leave that out as it is not a distinction of base compounds.

1. Conventional Motor Oil

Conventional motor oil is also called mineral oil and as the name suggests it is made of minerals, namely crude oil. Crude oil is processed into petroleum which is then processed into refined oils. Conventional engine oil is a mixture of these refined oils and plenty of other additives. 

 2. Synthetic Engine Oil

While we will go into much more detail about what it is and what the advantage of using this oil is, at the surface level, synthetic engine oil is motor oil that is not derived solely from whole crude oil. It is made either from modified petroleum components or other raw materials. It is important to note that it is still mostly crude oil.

3. Synthetic Blend Oil

Spoiler alert: synthetic oil is quite expensive. Synthetic blends are for those looking for a balance between cost and efficiency. It will still give your engine more of a boost than conventional oil but it won’t hype it up to the level that a purely synthetic oil would.

 History Of Synthetic Oil

Synthetic oil was first put into use back in the second world war in jet engines in Germany. This oil was a last-ditch effort made by Nazi Germany when the Allied Nations did not sell them conventional oil. It’s as they say: necessity is the mother of all inventions.

It was not until the 1970s that oil made its way to the commercial market.

Synthetic Oil Vs Conventional Oil- Who Is The Winner?

We thought it would be best to illustrate the advantages and disadvantages of using each type of oil with a table. This comparison table should be a perfect guide to determining the best use of each oil.

As displayed by the table, synthetic oil pretty much wipes the floor with conventional oil. The price difference is more than made up for due to synthetic oil’s durability and its ability to shield the engine.

It is important to note a couple of things, however: first and foremost, conventional motor oil more than gets the job done for those who aren’t extensive car users. Synthetic oil is overkill for these individuals.

Secondly, if the need to change oil frequently is too bothersome, a synthetic blend would be a good option. While it doesn’t last as long as classic synthetic oil, we think the money saved justifies the shorter period.

This oil was made for heavy-duty usage; it was jet fuel. As such, modern cars seldom need this level of a performance upgrade. Enthusiasts are welcome to try this oil but it is certainly not a must-have for car owners.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Often Should I Change My Oil?

In terms of conventional motor oil, it is wise to change oil at least every 5000 miles. As we mentioned multiple times, synthetic engine oil needs to be switched out way less often. Generally speaking, it takes at least 10000 miles to even consider an oil change for this type of oil. In terms of time, that would be 6 months.

Is Synthetic Oil Environment Friendly?

Well, it would be a bit of a stretch to call synthetic oils environmentally friendly. The oil is still mostly crude oil and the chemicals used to make this oil are not exactly green. However, it is by far the better option for the environment when compared to conventional engine oil as it uses less crude oil. 

Where Should I Buy Synthetic Oil?

It is very important to check the authenticity of engine oil before making a purchase. Always buy from trusted vendors. When buying online, it is a good idea to buy from verified sellers.

Is Synthetic Oil Compatible With Old Cars?

There is a rumor going around that older cars are not compatible with synthetic oil. This is not true. Back in the day, the formula for synthetic oil wasn’t perfected and hence it damaged engine seals. This led to people believing that synthetic oil wasn’t right for their cars. 

Final Words

We hope this article was able to completely answer the question: what is synthetic engine oil? We hope our rundown on synthetic oil was able to illustrate the differences between it and conventional engine oil.

There is no clear winner between the two even though synthetic oil beats it in a lot of categories. The price difference is considerably high and that keeps conventional oil in the competition.

Related:

• Does Synthetic Oil Reduce Oil Consumption?
• Can You Mix Synthetic Oil with Regular Oil?