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

You have more choices than ever when buying a new car, truck, or SUV, including the type of engine that will power your St Louis drives. As such, you’ll need the right kind of oil when your internal combustion engine needs its next oil change. Depending on the oil you put in your engine, the oil change interval might be every 3,000 miles or even up to 10,000 miles. You should compare synthetic oil vs. regular oil because one requires a shorter oil change interval than the other. One does cost more upfront but will save you money in the long run. Discover the differences between synthetic oil vs. regular oil as you explore the options for your next oil change with this guide from Suntrup Hyundai South.

Synthetic Oil vs. Regular Oil: Understanding Regular Oil

Regular oil, or conventional oil, comes from crude petroleum extracted from just below the earth’s surface. It’s shipped to a refinery, where chemical engineers put the crude petroleum through a series of complex chemical processes to refine it into the motor oil you see in your engine. Regular oil lubricates the pistons and keeps them from overheating.

Synthetic Oil vs. Regular Oil: Know What Full Synthetic Is

Full synthetic oil, much like conventional oil, goes through the refinery. However, full synthetic oil undergoes even more refinement than conventional oil. It contains more stabilizers, anti-oxidizers, and anti-gumming agents to keep the full synthetic oil fresher for longer periods. You might need a full synthetic oil change every 5,000 to 10,000 miles. The only disadvantage to full synthetic oil is the higher upfront cost compared to regular oil. However, you’ll save money over the long term because you have fewer oil changes and your engine will last longer over the entire time you own your vehicle.

Full synthetic oils also:

• Are less viscous at lower temperatures, meaning they don’t get as thick when the temperature drops.
• Offer improved cleaning agents to keep your engine cleaner for longer periods of time.
• Better protect critical turbocharger parts (when equipped) for better performance.

Full Synthetic Oil vs. Synthetic Blends

There’s a third choice you may not know about when looking over your choices for an oil change in St. Louis. It’s important to know that when comparing full synthetic oil vs. synthetic blends, your engine won’t get the full benefits of synthetic oil when choosing a blend. But synthetic blends reduce your upfront costs when choosing full synthetic oil vs. synthetic blends, and still give you a bit more performance than conventional oil.

Pro Tip: Some manufacturers require full synthetic oil for their engines, especially in high-performance vehicles or new vehicles. We suggest reading your owner’s manual or contacting our service center near Jefferson County to find out the oil your engine needs.

Get an Oil Change in St. Louis

Looking for an oil change in St Charles? Contact us or call 314-892-2552 to schedule an appointment for your next auto service, whether you need new tires, brakes, a new battery, or whatever your vehicle requires. While you’re here, look over our service specials to save some cash on your next car maintenance.