Should Your Car Be Using Synthetic Oil
July 20th, 2010 |If you’re looking to escape petroleum-based products, one of the places to consider a change is in a shift to synthetic motor oil.
Originally developed as a lubricant for airplane engines, synthetic motor oil made was first used in automobiles for high-performance racing engines about 30 years ago. It has become commercially available to both mechanics and car owners in recent decades.
Generally the two oils, synthetic and petroleum based are able to work together. There are both advantages and disadvantages when using synthetic oils rather than traditional ones, they are more expensive.
The major advantage of synthetic oil is the fact that oil changes are not needed as frequently. 25,000 miles is what manufacturers first thought synthetic oils would last up to. Now changes are generally recommended at 7,500 miles, which means going twice as far between oil changes, which can be enough to make up for the higher cost per quart. The reason for the longer intervals between oil changes is because synthetic motor oil decomposes slower and is less likely to evaporate. Over time is still is prone to contamination so must be changed regularly.
Natural oil has impurities that synthetic oil doesn’t because synthetic oil is made in a controlled environment. Engines suffer wear and tear over time and the phosphorus and sulfur in petroleum-based oils add to the problem, they can also attack the catalytic converter and other parts of the exhaust system.
Synthetic oils offer another advantage when vehicles are under extreme temperatures. When it is hot it remains at a consistent viscosity and does not increase in size when cooled. Synthetic oils lubricate the engine for longer and are more chemically balanced that their counterparts offering an all round better service.
Synthetic motor oil has some disadvantages, beyond the numbers you’ll see when you buy it. New engines cannot use synthetic oil due to its friction. If you however wish to use synthetic oil on a new car it must first be “broken in” by using traditional oil first.
Breaking down into the environment unintentionally is a concern that some have over certain types of synthetic oils. With synthetic oils being used, recycled and reused it means that the need to recover and recycle traditional motor oil is eliminated.
To make a decision on switching to synthetic oils consider both the price and how it will effect your engine due to how you drive your car.
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