Time for an Oil Change?

If your oil changes are costing close to $100 chances are your engine requires synthetic oil. The metal components of your vehicle (such as steering racks and steering gearboxes) need oil to stay lubricated, but there is more than one type of oil available. Most vehicles take conventional or natural oils which are derived directly from crude oil. This oil has many natural properties which protect and lubricate the engine over long periods of time.

A downside to natural oil is that it contains many impurities such as sulfur which can slow down the flow of oil throughout the engine. Over time contaminants can also build up and create deposits or wax within the engine.  With this in mind, synthetic oils were developed with specific chemical properties in order to create a more consistent substance. While natural oils can break down quickly at extremely high temperatures, synthetic oils are made to withstand this heat. There are even synthetic oil blends developed for specific purposes such as lubricating a high-performance or high-mileage vehicle. Despite its higher cost, synthetic oil offers the benefits of improved lubrication, better stability, reduced oil breakdown and fewer deposits.

However, just because synthetic oils offer these advantages does not mean that you need to switch up the type of oil at your next oil change. In most cases conventional oil does the job just fine; synthetic oil is only required for specific vehicles. If you are thinking of switching up your oil be sure to check with your manufacturer before-hand for vehicle-specific recommendations.