If you look at the manufacturer specifications on most new vehicles, they will recommend that you use either full synthetic oil or synthetic blend oil to lubricate your engine. Both oils will do a better job of preserving the lifespan of your engine than conventional oil. It is rare that you will find any auto manufacturer recommending the use of conventional oil. Synthetic is simply better quality because it is formulated to last longer and do a better lubrication job.
Now the big question is, should you choose full synthetic or synthetic blend? Basically, the more synthetic the oil is, the better job it will do of cooling and lubricating the components of the engine. For this reason, high-performance engines will likely have full synthetic oil in them because these types of engines generate more heat than the average engine. But that doesn’t mean you can’t use full synthetic oil in passenger vehicles, because you can.
Let’s examine each type of oil more closely.
Full Synthetic Oil
Full synthetic oil is a 100% man-made oil. This is different than conventional oil which completely comes from crude oil. As you may know, crude oil is a type of fossil fuel or mineral oil that contains organic materials and hydrocarbons. Therefore, the advantage of having full synthetic oil is that it contains no organic materials or hydrocarbons. It is better for the environment and serves as a better lubricant and cooling agent for your engine’s components.
Of course, since it is the best oil you can use for your engine, it is also the most expensive oil. A lot of people on tight budgets might elect not to purchase full synthetic just because of the cost factor. The price difference is not a whole lot of money, though. If you wanted to purchase 5 quarts of full synthetic oil, it would cost you around $25. But if you were to purchase 5 quarts of synthetic blend oil, it would be about $13. Some people might complain about the $12 difference, but is that really worth complaining over? Isn’t it worth spending $12 more during each oil change to keep your engine strong and vibrant? If you think about how much it costs to repair engines, spending $25 every 3 or 6 months is nothing.
Synthetic Blend Oil
Synthetic blend oil is basically a blend of synthetic oil and conventional oil. Due to the higher cost of full synthetic oil, some motorists like to choose synthetic blend oil to save money. Even though synthetic blend oil is cheaper than full synthetic, it provides some of the same benefits to the engine. Synthetic blend will help preserve the lifespan of the engine longer than conventional oil could. However, full synthetic is still superior in this regard. The only thing better about synthetic blend oil versus full synthetic is the affordability. Full synthetic provides better lubrication and cooling.
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Environmental Temperatures
There is one thing worth mentioning about engine oils versus environmental temperatures. If you live in a tropical location with consistently hot temperatures, your engine will heat up a lot more. This will require a strong oil that can keep the engine cool under these conditions. Full synthetic is better for hot environments because of its ability to cool components faster. On the other hand, if you live in a colder region of the world, you can get away with using synthetic blend oil in your engine without worrying about overheating issues.
Temperature is something that most car manufacturers don’t consider when they recommend an oil for you to use. If you were to relocate from somewhere cold to somewhere hot, or vice versa, then you should consider changing the type of oil that you normally use.
