In most cases, synthetic motor oil is considered better for your car than conventional oil. Synthetic oil, while more expensive, is more refined and bolstered with additives that improve your engine’s performance and longevity while keeping it clean.

The higher price might be tough to stomach at first, but it’s almost always worth it. The benefits offered by synthetic oil will mean fewer oil changes in the long run. However, every engine is different.

It’s difficult to overstate the importance of taking care of your car’s engine, which includes regular maintenance. Even the best insurance plans won’t cover engine failure caused by negligence. For everything else, though,

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Keep reading this

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guide for the differences between synthetic, conventional, and synthetic blend oils and the advantages they offer.

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Should I use conventional or synthetic oil?

The short answer is that it depends on your vehicle’s engine. Your best bet is to check your car’s manual for specifications. While synthetic oil is best for most cars, there are exceptions. In particular, it might be better to stick to conventional oil in older cars or cars with high mileage.

What is conventional oil?

Conventional oil is refined crude oil designed to lubricate a combustion engine’s components and keep them running smoothly. Anything with an engine requires oil of some kind—from cars to lawnmowers to pressure washers.

Though all motor oils are refined with additives to some degree, conventional oil has fewer of them. This makes it less expensive, but also less effective.

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Advantages of conventional oil

The main advantage of using conventional oil is that it’s the cheapest option. It will likely cost you more in the long run, though: Conventional oil is more viscous than synthetic oil because the molecules it comprises vary significantly in size. This means it runs more slowly. This thicker oil builds up in the engine, creating more friction between components, which creates more heat. Over time, this will wear down your engine faster than synthetic oil will.

Key Takeaway Conventional oil is less refined and thus cheaper, but leads to lower engine performance.

What is synthetic oil?

Synthetic oil is highly refined motor oil. It’s bolstered with a variety of additives to keep an engine clean and improve its performance. There is no standard for synthetic oil—every brand’s product is slightly different. In general, the molecules that make up synthetic oil are consistent in size, making the oil run more smoothly. For these reasons, synthetic oil is more expensive.

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Advantages of synthetic oil

There are quite a few. Synthetic oil:

Lasts longer, meaning you’ll need fewer oil changes

Performs better in extreme temperatures, protecting your engine from frosty winters or scorching summers

Can clear out built-up sludge and is less prone to buildup itself, keeping your engine clean

Causes less friction between components, letting your engine run more efficiently and improving gas mileage

Full synthetic vs. synthetic blends

You might also come across “synthetic blend oil” as an alternative to “full synthetic” oil. “Full synthetic” refers to the most highly refined oil. A synthetic blend is simply less refined. It lands somewhere between conventional and full synthetic oil, both in terms of price and performance.

There are no standards by which these terms are defined, though—it’s a spectrum, and each brand’s oil is different. Regardless of which type of oil you choose, regular oil changes are essential to keeping your engine running smoothly.

Generally, oil changes are recommended every 5,000 to 7,000 miles, though full synthetic oil could last much longer than that. Refer to your car’s owner’s manual for the most accurate information, especially if your car is still in warranty.

Key takeaway Synthetic oil is more highly refined and thus more expensive, but will improve your engine’s performance and can extend its life.

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How to do summer car maintenance

Finding affordable car insurance

Getting an oil change with synthetic oil might seem expensive, but failure to properly care for your engine could end up costing much more. Engine repairs don’t tend to be cheap, and even the best insurance policies

won’t cover damages caused by poor maintenance.

Much like how choosing the right type of oil for your engine can save you money on repairs,

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Does synthetic oil run cooler than conventional oil?

Yes. Synthetic oil causes less friction in an engine, which reduces the heat it generates. This is especially important if you live somewhere particularly hot.

What burns faster: synthetic or conventional oil?

Conventional oil burns faster than synthetic oil, requiring more frequent oil changes.

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