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For those who don't like to read, we'll summarize it here.
| Synthetic oil costs
more when you buy it, but lasts longer than conventional oil.
This means you don't have to change it as often and you'll save
money and time, plus help the environment by using fewer natural
resources. If your vehicle's model year is 1998 or newer and
it has less than 100,000 miles on the odometer, ask your auto
service technician if you should be using synthetic oil. |
Now here are the facts that back up our
statement.
The typical motorist doesn't consider the
type of engine oil that goes in a vehicle at each oil change, yet
modern vehicles have up to five different viscosity and blending
options that can make a difference on performance, economy and engine
life.
Conventional Oil
Maybe your grandfather's motor oil isn't the best choice for your
modern vehicle. This is your traditional petroleum-based lubricant
that uses standard base stock oil with friction modifiers. It is
designed to meet SAE specifications for standard vehicle operation
in a normal manner. With today’s stop-and-go driving and extreme
temperatures, conventional oil rarely fits the normal driver’s
needs. Conventional oil also breaks down faster, requiring frequent
oil changes. Over time, petroleum-based oils begin to oxidize and
create sludge, leaving damaging residue inside the engine.
Synthetic Oil
Synthetic oil was developed for high-temperature use in jet aircraft
engines decades ago. Engineers realized that petroleum-based oils
break down and lose their lubricating capabilities when exposed
to high heat.
Formulated in a laboratory, man-made synthetic oil doesn't contain
the naturally occurring chemicals that break down at high temperatures.
It is also manufactured without many of the chemical compositions
that contribute to oil oxidation and sludge buildup. Synthetic oil
can tolerate temperatures that would burn up petroleum-based oils.
Synthetic oil performs admirably in heat,
but also offers many benefits in extreme cold. Petroleum-based motor
oil thickens in cold temperatures, requiring the starter and battery
to work much harder to start a cold engine. Synthetic oil is not
as affected by low temperatures, and it will flow much easier at
engine start-up. As an added benefit, the cold temperature properties
allow it to be quickly pumped throughout the engine, offering much
improved start-up protection against friction.
Synthetic oils contain many
additives. These keep the inside of the engine clean, and add additional
engine protection for extended periods. Below is a chart comparing
conventional, synthetic blend, and pure synthetic oils and the long-term
financial and environmental implications of using each type.
Synthetic Blends
By using a product that blends the economy
of conventional oil with the science of synthetics, you put the
attributes of both types to work in your car. A synthetic blend
is chemically stable, so it won't break down as quickly as does
conventional oil. There's no sludge or build-up that causes long-term
problems. The result: Fewer oil changes are required, saving you
time and money. You'll also consume fewer oil products and produce
less waste. It's great when you can help the earth while saving
money!
As you can see from the chart, by
multiplying $7 in savings per oil change by 13 oil changes, an initial
investment in synthetic oil results in long-term savings of around
$91 over a 100,000-mile period. You would also make 20 fewer visits
to your automotive service provider for regular maintenance. That's
time and gasoline that you can put in other places.
Synthetic oil is not right for every
car or driving situation, but think what could happen if the owners
of just 10% of America’s 250 million vehicles used pure synthetic
oil. Over a 100,000-mile period for those vehicles, the economic
savings would be almost $3 billion! The environmental impact of
such a change would save 487.5 million gallons of oil!
And
while we're talking about motor oil...
AutoXtend is a waste oil disposal site. You can bring us your old
motor oil for correct disposal.
Read More About Driving Green
Green Home Page
| Oil Economics 101 | Tire
Economics 101 |
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