You take your car in for an oil change and the mechanic asks, "conventional or synthetic oil?" Most of us seniors have used conventional engine oils for years. Oil was just oil wasn’t it? Choices just depended on whether it was winter or summer, no?
While synthetic oils have been around since the early 1930s, they haven't seen significant automotive use until the 1980s. That's because they benefit today's smaller displacement engines that typically run at higher RPMs and at higher temperatures, are built to more exacting tolerances, and produce far more horsepower and torque than engines of decades past, while delivering better fuel economy and less emissions. This means the requirements of motor oil are more demanding.
Recently, the American Automobile Association conducted extensive research to understand the differences between conventional and synthetic engine oils – the results can help you give an intelligent answer to the conventional/synthetic question.
In a nationwide survey, 44 percent of U.S. drivers are either unsure or don't believe that synthetic oil is better. Many drivers feel the upgrade are just an up-sell by repair facilities. Others said they aren't given a choice or think synthetic oil is too expensive.
Basically, the AAA research backed up claims that synthetic oils generally provide superior performance compared to conventional oils and are worth their additional cost.
Modern engine oil is a mixture of conventional or synthetic base stock with an additive package that provides a variety of essential functions. Conventional oils, also referred to as mineral oils since they are refined petroleum products created from plant and animal remains that became hydrocarbons over eons of exposure to heat and pressure within Earth's crust, i.e. fossil fuels. Synthetic oil is not only refined from fossil fuels but also distilled, purified and broken down into its basic molecules to remove more impurities from the crude oil and individual molecules are tailored to the demands of modern engines.
The research covered only conventional and full synthetic oils, but not semi-synthetic blends with some of the benefits of full synthetic oils at a lower cost or oils with special additives for high-mileage vehicles.
The AAA testing showed that synthetic oil outperformed conventional oil by an average of 47 percent. Based on factory-recommended schedules for oil changes, the average price difference between a conventional and a synthetic oil change is $32 at an AAA approved auto repair facility: synthetic engine oil changes the cost to $70 on average compared to an average of $38 for a change with conventional oil. For DIYers, the average cost of five quarts of synthetic oil is approximately $45 compared to about $28 for five quarts of conventional oil. Because many seniors drive fewer miles and thus oil changes are required less often, the additional cost is probably even less significant.
The majority of vehicles can use either conventional or synthetic engine oil, provided it meets the latest American Petroleum Institute (API) and International Lubricant Standardization and Approval Committee (ILSAC) specifications. Very few vehicles specifically "require" synthetic oil; however, most vehicle manufacturers require compliance to an internal oil specification for warranty purposes.
However, a synthetic oil can provide more protection in extreme operating environments such as frequent stop-and-go driving, towing, aggressive driving or operation in extreme climates. AAA's findings indicate that synthetic oil is particularly beneficial to newer vehicles with turbo-charged engines. For long-term engine reliability, important for seniors who keep their vehicles a long time, a synthetic engine oil can result in less wear over the life of the vehicle.
Also synthetic oils have a longer life and thus can provide some additional protection when manufacturer specified oil change intervals are not followed closely, something seniors are also apt to do. AAA testing showed a rapid decrease in oxidation resistance occurred in conventional mineral-based oils after 3,000 to 4,000 miles of use. Significantly better results were observed for synthetic based lubricants. It was also found that synthetic-based engine oils retain the ability to neutralize acids appreciably longer than mineral-based oils.
Regardless of the oil used, the vehicle manufacturer recommendation including intervals for oil change as found in the owners manual should be followed.
