Synthetic vs. Conventional Oil: Which Is Better for Your Car?

When it comes to oil changes, you’ve got a lot of options. Will you take your car to the auto repair shop or the dealership? Or will you try to DIY your oil change? What brand of oil will you get? And—perhaps the most confusing part of an oil change—what type of motor oil should you get?

We’ll walk you through the pros and cons of synthetic vs. conventional oil to help you be well-informed for your next oil change. Still not sure? Talk to an automotive expert at Virginia Tire & Auto; we’ll be glad to help you make the right decision for your vehicle.

Types of Motor Oil

Conventional Oil

Conventional motor oil (also called standard, mineral-based or petroleum-based oil) is your classic motor oil. It’s refined from naturally occurring crude oil that’s pulled from the ground and combined with additives that help protect the engine.

The biggest pro to conventional oil is cost—it’s typically the least expensive type of engine oil available. However, you aren’t going to get the same level of engine protection and performance with conventional oil as with synthetic oil.

Full Synthetic Oil

Synthetic motor oils undergo highly advanced distilling, refining, and purifying processes—and therefore have higher purity and quality than conventional mineral oils.

These processes not only remove more impurities from the original crude but also enable the engineering of the lubricant’s individual molecules to be uniform and consistent, tailored to meet the specific high-performance demands of modern engines.

These customized molecules provide higher levels of protection and performance, even in extreme conditions, resulting in less engine wear and longer engine life. Synthetic oils typically cost about twice as much as conventional oil, but we think the benefits far outweigh the additional cost.

Benefits of Synthetic Motor Oil

• • Slower breakdown: Synthetic oil lasts longer, letting you go longer between oil changes (up to 15,000 miles*).
  • Heat resistance: Synthetic oil withstands higher engine temperatures than conventional oil.
  • Cold-weather protection: When temperatures fall, synthetic oil remains thin and easy to pump through the engine.
  • Engine protection: Synthetic oil is a cleaner oil with fewer impurities. It helps prevent the creation of engine sludge.

Synthetic Blend Oil

With a synthetic blend (also called semi-synthetic oil), you get the best of both worlds.

A synthetic blend is made of both conventional and synthetic oil. A popular choice for many drivers, it gives you the protection of a full synthetic oil for the cost of conventional oil.

Some vehicles—especially newer and European models—require synthetic blend or full synthetic oil. If you do not follow the car manufacturer’s recommendation, you could void your warranty or worse—accelerate engine wear and engine damage.

High-Mileage Oil

High-mileage oil is specially formulated for older cars with more than 75,000 miles. It has all the benefits of fully synthetic oil, plus it contains special additives that help reduce oil burn-off and prevent oil leaks that often occur in older engines.

While it’s not required, a high-mileage oil may help extend the life of your engine and improve your vehicle’s performance.

Read: Why Do We Need Oil Changes?

FAQs

How do you know what type of oil to use in your vehicle?

The answer is pretty simple: look in the owner’s manual. The manual will recommend the best type of oil for your vehicle as well as the right viscosity, or oil weight.

Oil is classified by viscosity—the oil’s resistance to flow. A high-viscosity oil is thick and flows slowly, while a low-viscosity oil is thin and flows quickly. Oil viscosity changes as the temperature changes, so your owner’s manual may recommend different viscosities for summer and winter.

Your vehicle will most likely need a full synthetic or synthetic blend oil. According to Consumer Reports, about 70 percent of new cars in 2019 get a full synthetic or blended oil.

Is synthetic oil better for your car?

First, let’s clarify that there isn’t a “bad” motor oil for your car. Any oil that meets the manufacturer’s specifications will get the job done, but the better the quality of the oil, the better the protection.

In 2017, AAA tested the performance of synthetic vs. conventional oil. They found that synthetic oil outperformed conventional oil by about 47%.

Good: Conventional Oil
Better: Synthetic Blend Oil
Best: Full Synthetic Oil

Using synthetic oil is especially beneficial for your engine if you frequently drive in stop-and-go traffic, tow heavy loads, drive in extreme hot or cold conditions, or drive an older vehicle.

How often do you have to change synthetic oil?

Perhaps the greatest advantage of synthetic oil for most drivers is the longer interval between oil changes. With conventional oil, you typically need frequent oil changes (every 3,000–5,000 miles).

But with full synthetic oil, you can drive 5,000-15,000 miles between oil changes without causing engine damage.* 

Can you switch from synthetic to regular oil?

Yes! Switching from synthetic oil to conventional (and back again) won’t cause any harm to your engine.

Synthetic, synthetic blend and conventional oils are all compatible. In fact, that’s what a synthetic blend is—a mix of synthetic and conventional oil.

However, if you ever need to top off your oil, we recommend using the same type of oil to get the best protection from the oil you’ve chosen.

Types of Oil Changes at Virginia Tire & Auto

Is it time for your next oil change? At Virginia Tire & Auto, we’re proud to carry Mobil 1 and Chevron motor oil products. From our synthetic blend to advanced full synthetic oil, we have the best oil to help you go the distance time and time again.

And, you can rest assured knowing we safely dispose of all waste oil. In fact, almost all our shops reuse waste oil with the Clean Burn heating system. We collect over 600,000 quarts of oil throughout the year—enough to fill an Olympic-size swimming pool—that powers our stores’ heating systems in the winter!

Drop by any of our locations for your next oil change or plan ahead by scheduling a visit online. For extra savings, join the MyCar Club! MyCar Club members get $10 off any oil change every time.

 *We recommend always following the manufacturer’s recommended oil change interval.