How Often To Change Synthetic Oil

Motor oil is an engine’s lifeblood. It cleans, lubricates, cools, cushions and protects engines and other mechanical parts. Motor oil also holds in suspension sludge, harsh chemicals, contaminates and abrasive particles -things that cause engine wear.

Synthetic oil is used in most modern vehicles, especially high-performance and turbo-charged. Here’s what most of us need to know.

What Is Synthetic Oil?

Virtually all full-synthetic oil comes from high-quality crude (base) oil. Enhanced refining methods and chemically enhanced friction modifiers produce a product with exceptional engine protection not found in conventional or synthetic blended oils.

There is no standard for synthetic oil, making “full-synthetic” a marketing term. This also means no two brands are exactly the same.

Automotive manufacturers choose synthetic oil for its low viscosity. Low viscosity oil permits an engine to spin easier, run cooler and dissolve deposits left by contaminated and oxidized conventional oils. This increases gas mileage, lowers engine tailpipe emissions and keeps the engine cleaner, extending its life.

Full-synthetic oils are not recommended for pre-1990 vehicles, or those that specifically require conventional motor oils. Conversely, those same exceptional qualities that make full-synthetic so beneficial can worsen already failing oil seals and gaskets in neglected engines. Using full-synthetic in a well-maintained engine rarely causes problems.