Oil Change: Choosing the Right Oil

When it's time for an oil change, there are two basic kinds of materials to choose from, namely traditional and synthetic. Standard motor oil is the one commonly used for vehicles which are readily available all over the world. Synthetic on the other hand is commonly used as an aftermarket alternative. The concept behind all this is to make the engine function. Either substances can do this but the viscosity of the material affects the engine differently. The ordinary one is thicker than synthetic, and even when it has been burned or heated up, it is always thicker than the synthetic one. The latter is usually made without petroleum. This means that when heated it is quite thin and can ably reach engine areas which may be difficult for thicker oil to reach.

Older and Newer Cars

Many service garages will advice car owners that older vehicles function well on ordinary motor oil and that the benefits of synthetic oils are wasted on these older models. During an oil change, newer vehicles will benefit more from synthetic than older ones. The reason for this is that vehicles manufactured recently have finer parts which mean that they burn the substance better than old ones. Since burning is more efficient, the use of synthetic is more beneficial because it is utilized well. The ordinary one which uses petroleum almost always leaves residue and does not burn as efficiently.

This is not to say that the ordinary one cannot be used on later car models, these are still used up to this very day and the vehicles function well. The key to this is to regularly maintain the engines in accordance to the manufacturer's instructions. An oil change may be necessary twice a year for new vehicles supplied with the ordinary material. On the other hand, a vehicle supplied with synthetic lubricant can reach up to a year before without it. Of course, the usage of the automobile should be kept in mind at all times. The more frequently the vehicle is used, the more the chances of a shorter period that it will need to have the procedure done.

Overused or frequently used vehicles are not advised to have the synthetic version in the system. The main reason for this is that the rate of burning is the same for all vehicles; therefore it is a waste of money to use the synthetic version on it. The oil change procedure will need to be done at a more frequent time than vehicles used at a slower rate. Of course, this choice is actually up to the owners of the automobiles in question. If they prefer to use synthetic on their vehicles no matter how expensive, then they can.

The rate that a vehicle burns the substance can dictate which oil to use during an oil change. Some specialists may recommend synthetic for older cars that are not as efficient in burning but the cost would be astronomical for the owner. Regular changes every four or five months may be recommend or much cheaper than this alternative.