Synthetic vs. Conventional Oil – What’s The Difference?

There’s a battle being waged in the automotive world. No, it’s not the battle of one automaker versus another. It’s the war being fought between synthetic engine oil and conventional oil. Chances are good that you have heard proponents from both sides touting their preferred product. Which is right for your car, though? Here’s a bit of information to help you understand the differences between these products.

Conventional Oil
Conventional oil is exactly what it sounds like – this is a petroleum-based product, and is what most people think of when they hear the words “engine oil”. Most of automotive oil on the market today is conventional.

You’ll find a few pros with conventional oil. First, it’s more affordable than synthetic oil. Second, it’s more readily available if you need to add a quart on the fly (not all gas stations or other retailers carry synthetic oil). Finally, conventional oil is recommended by the manufacturer for more vehicles (older vehicles mostly) than synthetic oil.

Synthetic Oil
Synthetic oil is a relative newcomer to the automotive world, though it’s been widely available for many years now. Still, some confusion persists about this type of oil. Here are a few good points to remember. First, synthetic oil lasts longer than conventional oil (usually twice as long, but sometimes longer). Second, synthetic oil created in a lab, rather than being a derivative of petroleum (that makes it greener than conventional oil). Finally, synthetic oil can also clean deposits in your engine, offering better performance in some cases. Of course, synthetic oil is more expensive than its conventional counterpart.

A Common Misconception
Perhaps the most common is that “if you use synthetic, you cannot switch back to conventional oil.” That’s not true at all. You can go from synthetic to conventional and back again as much as you want. You can even mix the two together if you like (there are synthetic/conventional blends available right on the shelf at your dealership).
In the end, the choice between conventional and synthetic oil really comes down to you, your personal preferences and how much you want to spend on an oil change.