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Should I Use Synthetic Oil In My New Car?

by: JasonLancaster
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New vehicle owners often wonder if they should be using synthetic oil. There are many advantages synthetic oil has over regular oil: it lubricates more effectively; withstands high temperatures; is relatively pure; and usually won't turn into sludge even with heavy abuse. These clear benefits cause many people to assume synthetic oil is the obvious best choice. However, much of it comes down to how well you take care of your vehicle.

For starters, how often do you change your oil? If you're a disciplined car owner who replaces the oil every 3 to 5K miles, then you'll never notice a difference between regular and synthetic oils. Oil changes are meant to prevent engine damage from oil breaking down. Synthetic's benefit here is that it resists breakdown, even after regular use. So if you tend to forget to change your oil regularly, synthetic oil is the best option for your car. But if you're regularly replacing your oil at the recommended mileages, then synthetic oil probably won't add any extra protection to your engine.

One of synthetic oil's biggest perks is that it doesn't deteriorate until after a long time. Regular oil starts to break down after 6 months, and all oils should be replaced after 5K miles. If you're someone who drives less than 5K every 6 months, then mileage-wise, you're replacing your oil more often than you need to. Using synthetic oil will let you change your oil less frequently, so you can get greater mileage out of each oil change. This might save you some money, and definitely will save you on time.

One of the biggest reasons why people use synthetic oil is because of its resistance to heat. Regular oil breaks down in high temperatures, and continue to break down as the heat rises. Drivers who use their vehicles in ways that create a constantly hot engine environment should use synthetic oil. So should people who live in hot climates, such as in the desert, or at high altitudes, like in the mountains. Neither high ambient temperatures nor low air pressure are ideal conditions for keeping your engine cool, so synthetic oil would give you the best performance in these areas. Finally, if you own a high-performance vehicle or just drive like you do, consider synthetic, which is the best choice for these vehicles.

There are a lot of entities that recommend using synthetic oil, even to people who don't need it. For example, synthetic is recommended for anyone that drives in stop-and-go traffic. But since all of us drive in stop-and-go at some point, that's a bad recommendation. You should only use synthetic if you're driving in stop and go traffic long enough that your engine's cooling fan turns on, and only if you're doing so daily. Also, if you only drive short trips, people may recommend synthetic oil as a way to protect your engine. However, short trips, regardless of your choice of oil, can damage your motor. No matter whether you use synthetic or regular oil, your engine was designed run for at least 20 minutes. Running synthetic in these situations might be better, but tests have shown that the benefit is minor.

If you've recognized yourself in one of the above situations and have decided to opt for synthetic oil, be careful when you go to make the purchase. You may be offered a synthetic "blend" instead of pure synthetic oil to save money. However, you probably won't know exactly what's in that blend. It could be equal amounts of synthetic and regular, or you might even be getting almost entirely regular oil with a splash of synthetic. If you're going to go synthetic, it's best to go all out and get the real thing, or not do it at all. Of course, if the blend is provided and produced by your vehicle's manufacturer, then it's probably safe to use - but that's the exception.

Last but not least, what do auto manufacturers have to say about synthetics? Most state that "any oil that meets API standard specifications can be used in your vehicle." That means normal oil is just fine. For most people, new cars will operate for a very long time without the benefit of synthetic oil so long as they are properly maintained and used normally.

About the Author

Author Jason Lancaster, an auto industry veteran, developed AccurateAutoAdvice.com. You'll find accurate auto advice and car buying tips.

Should I Use Synthetic Oil In My New Car?

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