Synthetic or Conventional Oil for My Car?

When you walk into get your oil changed, and the guy asks you, “Do you want synthetic or conventional oil?” do you draw a blank? Do you think,  “What is a synthetic oil, anyway?”

Lets look at some of the differences between these two:   Conventional oil comes from crude oil that is pumped from the earth.  It has a long chain carbon atom and complex molecules that render a thick and viscous fluid. Synthetic oils, by contrast, have a much shorter molecular chain producing a fluid that flows more easily.

Historically, synthetic oils were developed for aircraft jet engines because of their ability to reduce friction and wear on engine parts. This friction reduction was due to synthetic oil’s ability to function dependably at severe hot and cold temps as well as to withstand rigorous and lengthy engine operation without viscosity breakdown. (from:http://autos.aol.com/article/synthetic-motor-oil/)

OK, so should I use synthetic oil in my car?While the synthetic choice is a little more expensive, it is worth it to maintain your car optimally. Some carmakers recommend using only synthetic oils for their cars. Chevy recommends using Mobil One full synthetic in some of it’s cars. Ford specifies using a 5W20 semi synthetic for it’s Ford Taurus 3.0. While synthetics are certainly a safe way to go for your motor’s maintenance, we always recommend reading the manual that came with your vehicle to see what the manufacturer recommends for your engine design.

Is it ok to mix synthetic motor oil with regular?According to Mobil Oil, it should be fine to mix oils. It is unlikely that anything bad would happen, like a gel forming with the combination of the two oils, as many car owners fear. If you have synthetic oil already in your vehicle, and you need to add more sometime later at a gas station, it is perfectly all right to add what you need so your cars engine can move freely.
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Regular maintenance is a vital part of your cars long life and health. In case you hadn’t guessed, Poutous offers professional oil changes and fluid checks with high grade synthetic oils for your car. Wherever you go to get your regular oil change, you can be assured that synthetic oils is a safe choice for your car.