What are the differences in conventional vs. synthetic oil?
At United Auto Sales of Utica, our customers are all too familiar with how well we help them maintain their pre-owned vehicles. From the day they first purchase their used car, truck, or SUV until they book one of many appointments with our experienced parts and service team, they know we do everything we can to help them stay on the road. Keeping our customers safe and their vehicles running smoothly is one of the many reasons customers throughout Utica, Yorkville, Rome, and New Hartford, NY, see our service team as their first and only option.
The Importance of Regular Maintenance
Regular maintenance, checkups, and upkeep are essential to extending the life of your used vehicle, and the most important and easiest step is ensuring you have regular oil changes. Over time, your engine’s oil begins to break down. The longer it’s used, the more it loses its viscosity.
As your engine’s oil ages, it accumulates dirt, grime, metal particles, and other contaminants. Gradually, as the engine oil becomes less viscous, the parts and components within your engine start to experience increased wear and tear.
Some vehicle owners make the common mistake of assuming that simply pouring in new engine oil is enough. It isn’t. All this does is mix newer engine oil with higher viscosity with older, contaminated engine oil with lower viscosity. The result is the same: increased engine and component wear and tear and an increased risk of engine failure.
So, what type of engine oil is best? Is 5w-30 oil synthetic? What is the difference between 5w-30 conventional oil vs. synthetic oil?
5W-30 Conventional Oil vs. Synthetic Oil
To understand the differences between 5W-30 conventional oil vs synthetic oil, it's important to first start by defining the benefits of each.
Conventional Oil
First, 5W-30 is a viscosity rating for the oil itself. Conventional engine oil can be considered the over-the-counter option. It’s very inexpensive and can be purchased at gas stations and convenience stores. However, because it’s inexpensive, it often requires more frequent oil changes, and that additional servicing quickly erodes any savings.
- Inexpensive
- Readily Available
- Provides Sufficient Lubrication
- Acceptable for Older Vehicles
- Compatible With Most Oil Filters
- Can be Gentler on Older Vehicle Engine Seals and Gaskets
Conventional oil provides sufficient lubrication for non-turbo engines and is therefore the typical engine oil for older vehicles. It provides good performance, is compatible with most oil filters, provides relatively good protection and lubrication of engine parts, and is readily available. Finally, given that older engines were designed for conventional oils, these oils are often gentler on engine seals and gaskets.
- Less Effective Compared to Synthetic Oil
- It isn’t as Stable as Synthetic Oil
- Not Ideal for Turbo Engines
- Requires More Frequent Oil Changes
Despite these benefits, it is not as effective on newer vehicles as synthetic oil is. In addition, when exposed to prolonged heat, conventional oil can become thicker due to oxidation or even become less viscous. Ultimately, it is less stable than synthetic oil.
Synthetic Oil
While there is no hard and fast rule concerning the age of vehicles where conventional oil can be used, it’s safe to say that any vehicle before 2006 can safely run conventional oil. In addition, while conventional oil won’t necessarily damage a newer vehicle’s engine, it’s ultimately about using synthetic oil for increased performance and longevity.
Synthetic oil offers superior engine protection, ensuring engine parts and components are safely protected and lubricated against high heat, friction, and excessive wear. Synthetic oil also performs better in extreme temperatures, ensuring good flowability in colder climates and more stable results in hotter climates.
- Superior Engine Protection
- More Stable Viscosity
- Performs Better in Extreme Temperatures
- Increases Fuel Efficiency
- Greater Oxidation Resistance
- Doesn’t Degrade as Quickly
- Reduced Wear and Tear
- Longer Engine Life
- Fewer Oil Replacements
- Must-Have for Turbo Engines
Synthetic oil also improves fuel efficiency by reducing engine drag, resulting in more efficient engine operation. With greater oxidation resistance, synthetic oil doesn’t degrade as quickly as conventional oil does. In addition, synthetic oil is the ideal oil for high-performance turbocharged engines.
Because it has a more stable viscosity, engines that run on synthetic oil can extend the time between engine oil changes, providing significant savings on service charges. With stronger performance, more stable viscosity, and improved lubrication, engines running on synthetic oil are cleaner and tend to have longer engine life.
Ultimately, any car, SUV, or truck manufactured after 2007 should use synthetic oil. It’s less about saving money on the upfront cost of oil and more about the long-term savings that come from improved performance and fewer engine-related problems.
United Auto Sales of Utica: Your Ideal Parts and Service Team
At United Auto Sales of Utica, we’re not limited to only working on a specific brand or make of vehicle. Our parts and service team has extensive experience across multiple makes and models. We know what works and why, and are ideally suited to providing you with the very best in vehicle servicing, no matter what you drive.
If you need a parts and service team with extensive experience across different makes and models of vehicles, book your appointment now.