Routine engine oil changes are essential to keep vehicles running clean and smooth. However, a trip to your local oil changing station gets confusing quickly when they ask which type of oil you want. Or, if you’re on a road trip and notice the oil level is low, you may find yourself staring numbly at the wide range of oil options offered at the local service station.
The main purpose of motor oil is to protect your engine, and it does that by:
However, as more street drivers purchase high-performance vehicles or perform after-market work that transforms their car into a high-performance version, synthetic oils are becoming increasingly popular. That said, they are not for every vehicle so beware of the upsell at local oil changing stations.
In a pinch, any oil is better than no oil, so keep that in mind in an emergency. Otherwise, always follow the oil recommendations printed in your automobile service manual. Unless you’re driving a luxury performance vehicle, odds are your car needs one of these three different types of oil.
Until fairly recently, conventional oil was the only oil available oil on the market. It is still the most commonly used motor oil. This oil is more affordable than synthetic and semi-synthetic options. It is best suited for older model cars with simple engines that drive lower to normal annual mileage ranges.
As we noted above, conventional oil works in any vehicle, even if the manual recommends other options. Keep this in mind if you are on a budget. If you don’t change your own oil, conventional oil changes in a shop are nearly half the price of synthetic options, so this is a place you can save.
Also, it’s important to note that if your car was made before synthetic options were available, you should stick to the conventional stuff. Synthetic oils contain additives that could eventually harm an older engine.
Semi-synthetic oil or synthetic blend options are often the best happy medium. They are more expensive than conventional oil but they are cleaner and often better for an engine than conventional oils if synthetic oil is recommended by the manufacturer. Full synthetics contain fewer impurities than synthetic blends, but blends still offer exceptional resistance to oxidation and maintain their performance in extreme temperatures. They help the engine run cleaner, which can also improve overall gas mileage.
However, remember that if your vehicle is an older model, designed to use conventional oil, the additives in synthetic blends could be harmful. Synthetic blends are a more affordable option for vehicles that put a heavy strain on their engines or gears due to frequent towing, hauling, or off-roading. Synthetic blends are also better for newer model vehicles driven in extreme temperatures, something most Bay Area drivers don’t have to worry about.
Full synthetic oil is designed for vehicles made for peak performance and high levels of lubrication. Unless you’re driving a sports or certain luxury vehicles, odds are your engine doesn’t need full-synthetic oil - despite what the oil change technicians try to upsell you. Your oil change will cost almost twice (or perhaps even more) than a conventional oil change and that’s a waste of your money if your vehicle doesn’t need it. Also, fully synthetic oil contains additives that can harm engines designed with conventional oil in mind.
As a post on the Firestone website explains, “Though synthetic oil is often considered "the best of the best" when it comes to motor oils, synthetics aren't right for every driver or car. For instance, only a very few car models do not recommend the use of synthetic motor oils (like some rotary engines).”
Here are additional oil changing tips to keep your engine running its best:
Oil changes are a great DIY auto maintenance task as long as you know what you’re doing and have a few simple tools and containers. If you are partial to more expensive oil options, changing your own oil will also save you a notable sum over the course of your vehicle’s lifetime. Here’s a great DIY Oil Change video to get you started. If you go this route, always take oil to legitimate oil recycling stations. Never put oil into the ground, the trash, or down a drain.
Consult your vehicle’s manual and look at their recommendations for both oil change mileage and oil type. Don’t vary from their recommendations. Conventional oil is typically changed once every 3000 miles or so, while newer engines using semi-synthetic or synthetic oil usually have oil changes every 5000 miles.
It’s a good idea to check your oil every time you get gas. It only takes a few minutes and can be done while the gas tank fills, followed by a good windshield washing.
They mean well but oil changing stations make a lot of extra profit by upselling semi-synthetic or synthetic oil options to unsuspecting car owners. Stick to what your car manual states and don’t fall into the money trap of paying extra for high-performance oil you don’t need.
Is your check engine light on or the oil tank low and you’re not sure what to do? That’s what we’re here for. Call J&T Towing, at (707) 356-4613, and one of our roadside assistance technicians will be there ASAP to help you out.
