The Tale of two oils

If you are a car owner, you must be well aware of the common terms like synthetic lube oil and mineral oil. While mineral oil is the age-old oil used in engines during the past many decades, synthetic lube oil is the more popular oil, which is highly preferred now; thanks to its ability to enhance the engine’s performance and its lifespan.

The tables turn

So, should all car owners shift to synthetic lube oil? Well, the many promises made by synthetic lubricants are tempting car owners to make a shift over to synthetic lubricants. However, it is advisable to delve into the properties of both before the change. It may not always be appropriate.

The American Petroleum Institute often changes its classifications. The car manufacturers also change the viscosity requirements and grading of oil used in the cars based on these classifications. Experts therefore advise to use oil matching the manufacturer’s specifications mentioned in the manual, rather than just follow the herd.

Modern cars and modern engines are made for better fuel economy, longevity and appropriate emission requirements. Synthetic oil is appropriate for these.

However, if the car is old, then it is best to use oil matching the manufacturer’s manual. Simply shifting with the trend may do more harm than good.

Mineral Oil vs Synthetic lube oil

Synthetic lubricants may not be the right choice for cars which have been using mineral oils throughout its lifespan. This is why.

Mineral oils mostly leave some deposits behind on the cylinder walls of the car’s engine. The natural washing off property of synthetic oil may wash off the deposits off the cylinder walls. This not only clears the deposits, but often reduces the thickness of the cylinder walls and increases the amount of oil used. Moreover, it allows small quantities of oil to run through the piston rings and burn in the cylinder’s combustion chamber. The use of synthetic oil in older cars may also has an adverse affect on the seals and elastomers, in a way that they shrink and leak. It is therefore; best to use mineral oil in older cars.

We are not undermining the advantages of synthetic lubricants. As the molecules of synthetic lubricants are customized, they are better for extremely high and extremely low temperatures.

They neither thicken or get deposited in the cold weather, nor break down in the scorching temperatures. What’s more, they are a perfect choice for cars with frequent starts and stops. Moreover, synthetic lubricants enjoy a longer life, thus, postponing the time span between oil changes.

So, if you are buying a new vehicle, use a synthetic lube oil from the beginning. It will certainly enhance your engines performance and add to its life span as well.

The author, is an enthusiastic writer who loves writing on automotive, auto mechanism likes topic and attention the detail.Through this article he shared his valuable information on lube oil, engine oil,transmission fluid like topics.