regular oil verses synthetic oil?

Question

Does it really matter if you put synthetic oil in your engine? Also will you harm your engine if you switch from regular to synthetic and then back to regular oil?

Answer 1

I have used "regular" Havoline, Mobil, Quaker State, Valvoline and the two remaining Pennsylvania oils, Gulf and Brad Penn with excellent results. I'll admit I'm and old woman concerning oil changes. In 2004 I purchased a new Camry 4 cylinder car. At that time there was a rumored oil sludging problem with all Toyota's. I figured that a little 4 cyl. motor could use the best lubricant possible so I chose to use Mobil 1 @ 2,000 miles on the car. Synthetics cold pour point is 10 - 20 degrees lower than conventional oils. The following reasons are why synthetics are superior: The high temp. flash point is higher than reg.oil. The detergent package, extreme pressure (EP), high temp vaporization, and sustained lower operating oil temps are lower than conventional oils. Mobil now offers a 15,000 between oil change full synthetic. Increases in gas mileage is claimed. I have nothing to compare my use except my Toyota's getting 35-36 on trips and 27 in town. Am-soil claims they have a 25,000 mile oil. As for myself I'm sticking to 5,000 change intervals while using the regular Mobil one. As far as you changing over it's perfectly fine. Some master engine builders break their motors in on engine dynamometers using regular detergant oil and switching to a synthedic before the engine hits a race track. A few cars around the world come with synthetics from their respective factories. The Corvette ZL6 is an example. If your motor has no oil leaks to your knowledge give a man made oil a try to see if you can pick up a few more MPG.

Answer 2

Hi,

I HAVE switched between the two, back and forth with my cars over the years, and it does NOT hurt the engine. People are wrong or just don't know about it. The main thing if you switch is that you should drain all the oil AND the filter should be changed. I've heard that mixing the two (even though there are blends out there, haha) is bad.

Now as far as protection goes syth. is better but not worth the cost unless you have a brand new car (and are concerned) or a performance engine with a high output. With syth. you can go a bit longer in between oil changes but it doesn't make up for the cost difference. I have a Northstar engine, but since it burns a little oil (all Northstars do) it's not worth the money of the synthetic because I burn through it. Not to worry about conventional with my car, but I just have to keep an eye on the levels no matter which I use. I think if you keep track of the levels regularly and change it regularly then regular oil is fine.

I firmly believe in changing fluids regularly. The most important of the fluids are Oil, Antifreeze and Transmission. Keeping all of these changed regularly has left me with a bunch of cars with well over 100,000 miles and no major engine issues.

My main suggestion would be that if you have a concern and want the extra insurance, buy Lucas' oil additve (it works with syth and regular), it gives you the protection and you don't have to add it each time to the oil. I put in Lucas' other products too. They have all been recommended by multiple mechanics to me. It's a white bottle at all the Murray's, Pep Boys and AutoZones.

Best of luck,
Brian

Answer 3

This depend on the Manufacturer's recommendation. How old or new is the other choice. New car or truck it would be worth it. Older over 5 years it would be a little too late to take advantage of the best property's of the synthetic oils. The main key to changing oil is to stay in the proper weight range as recommended by the manufacturer. A 5W30 is best all around unless the daily temperatures where you live are above average. Above 90 degree's daily driving it would be OK to use 10W30. As far as going between the two oils there are blends of these already out there, so probably would not be a big problem. Just so you know, a car starts easier with the 5W30 when it is really cold, and the 5W30 will get better fuel mileage. The Synthetic shoul make the engine last longer depending on your driving habits and use of the vehicle.

Answer 4

Switching back and forth won't hurt anything. When they first came out with synthetics it was recommended not to change back and forth, but they have since said it is ok (the formulas for synthetics have actually changed and improved). It is often recommended to extend your oil change intervals when using synthetics, but most commercial engine engineers as well as many automotive engine engineers do not recommend extending the intervals because the problem with old oil isn't so much that the oil is wearing out as the oil is getting dirty from its inviroment and it doesn't matter what you use the dirt is still there. Replacing just the oil filter will not even come close to what an oil change will do. Virtually all commercial engine engineers will quickly tell you that it is not cost effective to use synthetics in your engine. Any engine life gain is quickly offset by the added expense of the synthetic oil. On the other hand, it is very cost effective to use synthetics in your transmission and rear axle because these fluids don't get very dirty and therefore rarely need changing. Using synthetics in the rear axle and transmission will help improve fuel mileage by reducing parasitic drag - especially in cold or wet conditions - and prolong component life.

Answer 5

If your engine is worn, synthetic oil may extend it's life under light to moderate service, but is not a substitute for a mechanically sound lubrication system. Synthetics are pricier, but much better lubricants with substantially more forgiving service intervals, higher operating temperatures. Natural oils will do the job for far less money. The reasons why involve lengthy technical explanations which I will not entertain in text, but search on line for the why. Interesting reading. Switching back and forth does not make economic sense, but will have no detrimental effect on engine life or performance.

Answer 6

No, you will not hurt your car, and anyone who tells you that you will knows very little about the chemistry of oil or why you should change it to begin with. Synthetic oils will not break down as quickly as high-grade, regular oil, but both will "lubricate" your engine parts; it is only that synthetic oil will lubricate it longer before its lubricating properties begin to erode.. If you have a car more than five years old, you are just as well off using a good, name-brand oil (like Castrol). Newer cars, especially high-reving sports cars and many European cars, begin with synthetics and ask that you continue with them. It is much more important to use the correct "grade" of oil (like 10W - 30, 5W - 40). be sure you check your owners manual for that info, but if you have been using regular oil, just stick with it and change it per manufacturers recommendations

Answer 7

i'm a quick lube manager for 8 yrs.. i see about 350 cars a week and if your car doesn't ask for synthetic oil, then you can use either, regular oil or syn. but what matters is the viscosity. some cars will say on the oil cap or most likely on the owner's manual. synthetic is by far alot better and the best u can use, just research it and you'll find out why. its about twice as much sometimes 3 times as much but in the end its alot better than just a cheap oil that most places offer.

Answer 8

There has been debates at my work about it and going to synthetic means a more slick oil. Better for moving oil through those small bearing clearances and etc. Going from a syn back to regular I'm not sure about. I went from syn to a cheaper Synthetic blend in my car and I haven't had a problem.

Answer 9

Synthetic oil has the advantage of not breaking down due to heat as quickly as does natural oil. If you do a lot of stop 'n' go driving, there may be a slight advantage to synthetic over natural oil. If you drive in dirty conditions (dirt roads) you should change your oil more frequently than is recommended by the manufacturer. If you do mostly highway driving and/or live in a relatively clean environment, consider that most manufacturers now recommend changing oil every 6,000 to 7,500 miles. This recommendation is legitimate.

Consider the following:

Other than getting dirty, natural oil is ONLY affected by high temperature and the associated lost viscosity as occurs in the summer in stop 'n' go traffic. Even viscosity breakdown is temporary and goes away when the oil cools. That is why oil can be recycled (note: recycled oil is used by many police departments nationwide). Used oil only needs to be cleansed of particulate matter and it is as good as new ... it NEVER wears out. If you use a quality oil which has additives making it resistant to viscosity loss due to heat, use any brand you want as the brand does not matter because oil is oil.

It does not matter if the oil is synthetic or natural. Oil company marketing may attempt to convince you differently, but synthetic does not fit into the oil journals or inbetween bearing surfaces any better than natural oil as the molecular size of natural oil, measured in millionths of an inch, is more than small enough to fit inbetween all surfaces, measured in thousandths of an inch, AND all types of oil are under pressure from an oil pump. Always remember, oil is oil regardless as to what good marketing from oil companies tells you in the oil companies continued attempt to convince you to spend more. It does not matter if the oil comes from Pennsylvania or Timbuktu as all natural oil came from the decay of prehistoric plants.

Therefore, as long as you change your oil regularly, there is no advantage to brand or if it is synthetic (other than some longevity) over natural oil. So, with regard to the above information, your only real consideration is cost. Determine the cost of one synthetic oil change vs. two or, possibly, three natural oil changes and use that as your guide.

Answer 10

Well if you have an older car and you put synthetic in, you'll probably get leaks. I'm not sure why this is, but it is true. Something to do with what the seals are made with maybe. Synthetic is good and is supposed to give you better lubrication for a longer time, but it is more expensive for sure.