A car never has to have synthetic oil unless the vehicle manufacturer recommends it. For example, if your automobile is a BMW, BMW only wants synthetic oil put into their engines. This being said, an engine can switch from conventional to synthetic under certain circumstances so it is protected better. We are going to talk about the circumstances below as well as discuss the different motor oil types on the market. This gives you an opportunity to determine the best motor oil for your automobile.
Conventional
As we just mentioned, unless specified by the manufacturer, your automobile will run just fine if you use conventional motor oil. This motor oil has been around for longer than a century, which means it is safe and reliable. Conventional motor oil needs to be changed every 3,000 miles, but these changes won’t hit your pocketbook too hard because it is the least expensive oil on our list. In fact, more people use conventional motor oil than any other oil type on the market.
High-Mileage
There may come a time when you want to switch from conventional to high-mileage motor oil. This motor oil has a conventional base that includes additives to help protect older engines better and keep them operating longer. Usually, the engine should be switched to high-mileage motor oil at 75,000 miles. This motor oil also needs to be changed every 3,000 miles. This being said, it reduces the grind that builds up inside engines and prevents oil leaks.
Synthetic
If your manufacturer says you should use synthetic, you should. Otherwise, you may want to switch to synthetic if you live in an area that has extreme temperatures. For example, if you live in Fargo, North Dakota, synthetic motor oil will do a better job of protecting your engine in the winter. If you live in Phoenix, Arizona, synthetic motor oil will do a better job of protecting your engine in the summer. Synthetic contains additives that help protect engines better.
Synthetic Blend
Finally, the last motor oil that is available to consumers is a blend of synthetic and conventional motor oils. This allows a driver to get some of the benefits of synthetic motor oil at a cheaper price. If you have straight synthetic oil in your automobile, it should be changed every 5,000 miles. Some synthetic blends can also last this long. The nice thing about the blend is you get the reliability of the conventional oil combined with the added protection of the synthetic oil.
If your car is overdue for an oil change, give us a call today to set up a convenient service visit.
