Compare Synthetic Oil to Conventional Oil

There's nothing wrong with conventional engine oil; after all, it has served its purpose for over a century. That being said, synthetic engine oil is better than conventional in so many ways. Let's take a look at how the two compare in a number of categories:

• Longevity - When it comes to oil life, synthetic oil is the clear winner. The old recommendation to change your oil every 3,000 miles was based on conventional oil, and it's still a good rule to follow with conventional oil. Synthetic oil, on the other hand, can better withstand the intense heat that is generated in your engine without breaking down. As a result, you can generally go about 10,000 miles between synthetic oil changes!
• Lubrication - While conventional oil is refined to provide good lubrication, synthetic oil has been specially synthesized to have a molecular structure that is more conducive to lubrication. As a result, your engine will stay better lubricated with synthetic oil than with conventional.
• Cleaning - Synthetic oil contains a number of detergent additives that will keep your engine cleaner, and may even remove any sludge or carbon.
• Price - This is one area where conventional oil may seem to have the edge -- but only at first. It's true that synthetic oil costs more than conventional; however, synthetic oil's longer lifespan is usually more than enough to offset the extra cost.