Synthetic vs. Conventional Engine Oils: Which is Better?

Engine oils, defined as the lifeblood of a vehicle’s engine, are a critical element of any vehicle. They are specifically produced to help the engines run smoothly and efficiently for longer. However, with the availability of various engine oils in the market, it may be challenging to determine which engine oil is best suited for your car.

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In this article, we will discuss two of the common types of engine oils, synthetic and conventional, to understand how they are different from each and how they can help in enhancing your vehicle’s performance.

What is Synthetic Engine Oil?

Synthetic engine oils, a type of automobile lubricant, are typically developed using chemical compounds. These chemical compounds are derived by frequently breaking and rebuilding petroleum molecules. Since these artificial compounds have almost identical sizes and structures, they offer enhanced and smooth functioning within the engine and reduce movement friction to some extent.

Synthetic engine oils can be divided into two types, fully synthetic and synthetic blend engine oils. Fully synthetic engine oils are considered to be the purest ones and are majorly developed using a base stock of synthetic, but their molecules do not have any kind of petroleum substance. On the other hand, synthetic blend oils are made from a combination of a synthetic base and a normal oil compound. These engine oils have dual properties, one increases the engine performance, and another ensures the highest-standard protection for the engine.

Advantages of Synthetic Engine Oils

Synthetic engine oils have several benefits for modern passenger vehicles. Following are some of the common advantages of synthetic engine oils.

1. Prevention Against Sludges

Sludges are the thick mixture of both liquid and solid compounds of poor-quality engine oils and impurities. As engine oil circulates across the engine, it gets in touch with impurities that cause the development of sludges over the time. The presence of these impurities strongly affect the performance of the engine and also cause more emission.

2. Improved Performance in Extreme Conditions

Synthetic engine oils have lower pour points than normal engine oils, which help them remain fluid even in cold temperatures. This property helps them facilitate quick and efficient engine starts and reduces the chances of damage to engine components. Synthetic car engine oils also have higher boiling points that help them survive even in high temperatures and avoid the chances of any breakdown.

Therefore, most experts recommend synthetic engine oils to be used in high-performance car engine oils.

3. Robust Engine Wear Protection Against

A car engine consists of various moving parts that generate friction and often cause wear and tear. The role of reliable engine oil is to minimize the moving friction among various engine parts and avoid chances of further damage. Synthetic engine oils offer superior performance in reducing engine friction compared to normal engine oils.

4. Comparatively Longer Oil Change Intervals

As synthetic oils have higher resistance against heat and wear, they generally have a longer life than conventional engine oils. This property makes them ideal for car owners looking to minimize maintenance and service costs.

Disadvantages of Synthetic Engine Oils

Following are some of the major drawbacks of using synthetic engine oils in your car.

1. Costlier Than Normal Engine Oils

Buying synthetic engine oils for every car owner wouldn’t be a great choice, especially when they want to minimize operational and car maintenance costs. Synthetic oils are priced a little costlier than normal engine oils.

2. Lower Fuel Economy

Another disadvantage of synthetic engine oils is that they may offer lower fuel mileage on highways than normal oils. These automobile lubricants have a variety of additives that are likely to be separated during cold temperatures, which may later affect the overall engine performance.

What is Conventional Engine Oil?

Conventional engine oils, also called normal engine oils, are a kind of automotive lubricant directly derived from crude oils. Certified conventional oil manufacturers process crude oils until they get ready to be used as a lubricant. Since these lubricants are derived from natural sources, they may have different sizes of molecules that may increase or decrease engine moving friction.

The major drawback of normal engine oils is that they tend to have a shorter life than synthetic engine oils; they also affect the maintenance and operational aspect of vehicle engines. However, this is not the whole picture to look at. Still, many car manufacturers produce models with older gen engines and recommend conventional engine oils to be used instead of synthetic ones.

Advantages of Conventional Engine Oils

Let’s briefly discuss the major advantages of conventional oils:

1. Affordable Than Synthetic Oils

Conventional engine oils are one of the cost-effective automobile lubricants available in the market. They can be up to 10% more affordable than mid-range synthetic engine oils. Normal engine oils are also readily available and suitable for most passenger vehicles, especially those built on older-generation engine technology.

2. Easily Available Across the Market

The availability of conventional engines is comparatively higher than synthetic oils. They are easily available at most gas stations and automobile service stores.

3. Capable of Improving Engine Performance

These kinds of automotive lubricants are processed from natural crude oils, and they don’t have any additives, making them suitable options to increase engine performance and lubricate it properly.

Disadvantages of Conventional Engine Oils

Following are the drawbacks of using conventional engine oils in cars.

1. Performance Constraints in High Temperature

Normal engine oils have performance limitations in high temperatures. They have different sizes of molecules that may break in hot temperatures, affecting the engine performance. Due to frequent breakdowns in extreme temperatures, these oils can also cause wear to the engine components.

2. Shorter Life Span Than Synthetic Engine Oils

The life span or the functional time of conventional oils seems shorter than that of synthetic engine oils. It means car owners are required to change their engine oils more frequently and spend more on maintenance.

Difference Between Synthetic and Conventional Engine Oil

Both synthetic and conventional engine oils have their own pros and cons. When selecting one of them, one requires to consider their vehicle type, operational requirements, and maintenance cost, among other factors.

While conventional oils are comparatively affordable and widely available, they also have a shorter life span, and the use of poor-quality of these engine oils can even cause bigger wear and tear in the engine of your vehicle. Synthetic engine oils, on the other hand, are a little expensive. However, they are more refined and have identical sizes of molecules contributing to engine performance and functional life.

Conclusion

Synthetic engine oils are artificial automobile lubricants with necessary additives to increase engine performance and life by ensuring the lowest chances of wear or tear. However, they are a little expensive and might not be right for every car owner. Conventional engine oils are more economical and perform adequately except in high temperatures.

There is no fixed answer on which engine oil, synthetic or conventional, is better; it solely depends upon the drive requirement and car model you use. Knowing which engine oil may be suitable for your car’s engine can help you ensure your vehicle's long-term performance and functional efficiency.