Synthetic Oil vs. Regular Oil: What’s the Difference?

Some drivers are content to bring their car in for routine maintenance every few months and leave everything to their service technicians, while others want to know more about what their maintenance entails. For instance, when getting an oil change in Findlay, a car will either get synthetic or regular oil. If you want to know more about synthetic oil vs. regular oil, read the guide below! The service team at Spitzer Buick GMC is here to explain their differences. 

What Is Conventional (Regular) Oil?

Conventional oil, also known as “regular” oil, is a petroleum-based fluid that protects a gas-powered vehicle’s internal combustion engine and keeps it running smoothly in Van Buren. The oil provides lubrication for the engine’s moving parts, reducing friction and wear. Another role of motor oil is to help prevent engine damage that could result from high temperatures. Conventional oil comes from crude oil mined underground. 

What Is Synthetic Oil?

Synthetic oil is also petroleum-based, but its composition is more stabilized. Plus, synthetic oil offers superior lubricating properties compared to regular oil. Oxidation is less rapid in synthetic oil, which helps it retain its protective properties between oil changes. These benefits, combined with the fact that synthetic oils are chemically developed from petrochemicals in processes that target special properties, mean that synthetic oil costs more than regular oil. Here are a few more quick facts about synthetic motor oils:

• Synthetic oils are less viscous at low temperatures
• Synthetic oils contain enhanced cleaning properties 
• For vehicles with turbocharged engines, synthetic oils offer superior protection for the turbocharger components
• Synthetic oil lasts longer than regular oil, which helps offset the added cost for Arcadia drivers

Full Synthetic Oil vs. Synthetic Blend

We’ve compared synthetic oil vs. regular oil at length, but what about full synthetic oil vs. synthetic blends? As the name suggests, a synthetic oil blend contains both synthetic and conventional oil, made to offer some of the benefits of synthetic without paying quite as much extra for full synthetic. 

Can you use a synthetic blend in your vehicle? Some models strictly require full synthetic oil to optimize engine performance in McComb and beyond, which you can learn by consulting your owner’s manual. 

Book an Oil Change in Findlay

Do you have additional questions about the differences between synthetic and conventional oil or full synthetic oil vs. synthetic blends? Contact us online, and a service advisor will get back to you! You can also book a service appointment online if you’re due for an oil change in Findlay — our service team can tell you more about the type of oil we use in your vehicle!