Friday, August 1, 2014

The Pros And Cons Of Fully Synthetic Motor Oil

By Annabelle Holman


Unlike gasoline and windshield washing fluid, your car's engine lubricant doesn't get used up. Unless you have a leak in the system or are burning oil because of an engine flaw, you can change it periodically to keep the engine clean. There are different types of engine lube depending on how they are manufactured. The three types are mineral oil, a mineral/synthetic blend or fully synthetic motor oil.

Most automobiles can run harmlessly on standard mineral oil. Refined from crude oil, it carries a lower price tag than other oils. The next quantum leap in quality comes from synthetic blends. These are synthesized and blended in a laboratory. They are specifically designed for high performance engines and in engines that have been around for a matter of years.

Then there are the totally synthetic lubes. These are caviar for the prima donnas of motoring, your Corvette Sting-Ray and others of that ilk. They have a price tag to match. One reason for choosing these types of oils is because of their high longevity.

So, why would you want to upgrade to a fancy oil when you have been getting along just fine with the cheap stuff? One of the advantages to using the synthesized lube is for their better flow characteristics in cold climates. This is particularly useful at engine start-up, the most stressful scenario in the life of a car in terms of wear and tear.

Another reason to upgrade your automobile's lubricant is to prolong the time interval in between oil changes. Not only does this save you money in the long term on replacement oil filters and motor oil itself, it makes your life a lot easier if you perform your own vehicle maintenance.

There is a bit of an old wives tale going around about manufactured lubricants; this is the notion that they cannot be mixed with the real thing. Not true. The two types of lubricant are perfectly compatible at whatever ratio and in old cars as well as new. You can even swap back and forth from one type to another. It isn't the same thing as diesel versus unleaded gasoline, where making a mistake can be costly and embarrassing.

One word of warning, however, if you do decide to upgrade from conventional lubricants to the synthetic type. Don't skimp. This is penny wise and pound foolish. Some brands contain additives that could harm your engine. You would be much better off with the cheap stuff than by purchasing a lower-priced synthetic product. It's like anything else. You get what you pay for.

Different engines need different specifications of motor oils. If you are unsure about which type is best for your vehicle, then you should consult the manufacturer or local dealership. It is easy enough to look it up on the Internet and see what other car owners are using in their vehicles. The benefit of using a synthetic product in an older car, say, one with more than 100,000 miles on the clock is it can extend the lifetime mileage. Do remember to use the higher-priced synthetics if you decide to go that way. You will save money and heartache in the long term.




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