Which is better: synthetic oil or regular oil?

Before drivers in the Boston area choose one over the other, they should ask their dealer for advice.  The service center at Acton Toyota of Littleton, a dealership serving Massachusetts Toyota customers, sheds light on the differences between synthetic and regular engine oil.

For anyone who has discussed engine oil, they likely have realized that almost everyone has their own opinion on the subject. Mechanics, performance enthusiasts, friends at work and even family members will often hold varied points of view on what should go in the car when it’s time for an oil change.

Dealer Serving MA Toyota Customers Offers Oil Basics

To start, it helps to know a bit about the basics of each type of oil.  Regular engine oil is refined from the same crude oil that is used to produce gasoline. Because it is a product of millions of years of pressure acting on ancient biological remains, including those of dinosaurs, it is also known in some circles as ‘dino oil.’

Synthetic oil has a far different origin and takes a much more complicated journey before ending up in a bottle on the shelf of the local parts department. Synthetic oil is so named because it is created in a laboratory in order to provide a very strict grade of lubrication.

Get the answers to other frequent questions at the top dealer serving MA Toyota customers: http://www.actontoyota.com/service-faq-s.htm

What does this mean for an engine? Can it really tell the difference between the two different types of oil? Yes and no. ‘Dino oil’ has been in use for decades, and its ability to protect a motor from the stress of everyday use is well established by reams of test data and the experience of millions of drivers. Fundamentally, there is nothing ‘bad’ about standard oil, and it continues to be the engine lubricant of choice for many automakers.

Why, then, was synthetic oil developed? The answer lies in the desire to meet the needs of more specialized engine designs and operating environments. Since synthetic oils are artificially created, manufacturers are able to be quite specific about the characteristics of each grade of lubricant they produce. Thanks in part to uniform molecule size and carefully-controlled manufacturing conditions, synthetic oil is better able to resist heat, which makes it far less likely to break down when pulling extreme duty. Certain synthetic oils also flow and protect better at very low temperatures.

In addition to these characteristics, synthetic oil is packed with a number of additives that differ from those found in regular oil. These additives can help to keep some types of engines cleaner inside, as they fight against the build-up of deposits and varnish that can occur in certain driving situations. Finally, since synthetic oil is more resistant to heat breakdown, it usually has a longer life inside an engine than regular oil, which can mean fewer oil changes over time.

Choosing between Different Oil Types

If synthetic oil offers so much in terms of performance, then why don’t all vehicle owners switch to this type of lubricant? The answer to this question is cost. All of the lab development and materials costs add up, leading to per-quart pricing for synthetic oil that is much higher than regular oil. Beyond this, however, is the question of need. The majority of engines run perfectly with standard oil, and to use synthetic would, in most cases, offer no real advantage.

Ultimately, for those who are curious which oil is best for their car, there is only one opinion worth seeking: that of your dealer’s service department. These technicians are experts, and they will be able to discuss the expectations drivers have about oil performance in frank and easy to understand terms.

When customers have specific questions about their automobile, it’s always a great idea to go right to the source; when it comes to engine oil, the answer is no different.

To contact a service representative at Acton Toyota, one of the leading dealers serving Massachusetts Toyota customers, visit the Acton Toyota website: http://www.actontoyota.com/service-department.htm

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