When you get your oil changed, you are always asked if you want synthetic or conventional. If you don’t answer “Synthetic,” you might wonder if you should. Its mere name implies something that is not real. And the real thing is always better, right? Is there a reason to pay more for a fake? Clearly, more information is needed, and Benna Ford is here to help.
Like other petroleum products such as gasoline butane, jet fuel, and heating oil, mineral oil is refined from crude oil. Distilled crude is also the basis of most synthetic oil (Pennzoil makes theirs from natural gas), but it is created in a lab where it is broken down on a molecular level and then rebuilt as a completely man-made lubricant that consists of artificially made chemical compounds. When seen through a microscope, mineral motor oil reveals molecules with different shapes, sizes, and structures. By contrast, synthetic oil shows molecules of nearly identical size and structure. There are several different kinds of synthetic oils, but motor oils mostly belong to a group known as polyalphaolefins (PAOs). All further mentions of “synthetic oil” in this article refer to PAOs.
Synthetic Oil Advantages
Although synthetic oil was first used in high-performance vehicles and jet engines, over the past few decades has found application in more mainstream engines. To determine if synthetic oils have any advantage over conventional oil, the American Automobile Association conducted what is considered the gold standard study on the matter and concluded that it does.
“Oil protects critical engine components from damage and AAA found that synthetic engine oils performed an average of 47 percent better than conventional oils in a variety of industry-standard tests,” said John Nielsen, AAA’s managing director of Automotive Engineering and Repair. “With its superior resistance to deterioration, AAA’s findings indicate that synthetic oil is particularly beneficial to newer vehicles with turbo-charged engines and for vehicles that frequently drive in stop-and-go traffic, tow heavy loads or operate in extreme hot or cold conditions.”
Here are some of the specific synthetic oil advantages:
- Greater Engine Protection
Fully synthetic oils are far more resistant to breaking down from both heat and time, thus will effectively protect your engine over a longer period of time. All things being equal, an engine is more likely to reach very high mileage, such as 200K – 250K miles, with synthetic oil. - Cleaner Engine
All mineral oil contains impurities. Deposits formed by these impurities will build up within the oil to the point they thicken and form a sludge which reduces the oil’s lubricating and cooling effectiveness. Synthetic oil is nearly impurity-free, eliminating sludge and deposit formation. Synthetic oil is also designed to accommodate a greater amount of engine cleaning additives. - More Stable Viscosity
Heat thins oil and cold thickens it. But synthetic oils maintain their viscosity across a wider range of temperatures. Thus, it protects your engine more constantly despite changes in ambient and engine temperature. Since we are in northern Wisconsin, it is worth knowing that certain synthetics can handle cold starts with no cranking or oil pressure problems at temperatures as low as -40°C (-40°F). - Longer Lasting
Largely due to its decreased susceptibility to temperature and deposit forming, synthetic oil maintains its original integrity longer than conventional oil. This matters little if you change your oil promptly every 3000 miles. But Ford now recommends changes between 7,500 and 10,000 miles, in which synthetics are likely to be better performing at the end of the period. While they don’t require it, Ford does recommend its house brand MOTORCRAFT SAE 5W 20 API GF 6A synthetic. Remember, the longer the oil change interval, the better quality oil filter you should install so it can remain effective for the duration. - Turbocharger Protection
Increasingly more common in Fords and other everyday vehicles, turbochargers are powered by hot exhaust, which makes them and related components extremely hot, and motor oil is in contact with these components. Being more heat resistant, synthetic oil can be more effective in protecting turbocharged engines.
Synthetic Oil Disadvantages
- Higher Cost
Synthetic oil sometimes costs twice as much as conventional oil. Unless you stretch your oil changes beyond manufacturer recommendations, the overall cost of oil changes will be higher.
An important myth to dispel is the idea that once you have synthetic oil in your engine, you never go back to mineral oil. This is indeed a complete myth, and it is perfectly safe to switch between or mix synthetic and conventional oil at any time. In fact, conventional oil and synthetic blends are available, which predictably bridge the gap in increased effectiveness and higher cost.
So, the answer is synthetic motor oil is better at its job than mineral motor oil. Still, mineral oil still works pretty well when changed often enough. If you trade in your car every few years, you may never realize synthetic oil’s benefits. Then again, being more effective for extreme cold starting may make it a done deal for anyone in our area. One last point, the AAA study also included a study that determined that a vast majority (83 percent) of auto mechanics select synthetic oil for their personal vehicles. If you still have questions regarding synthetic oil for your Ford, contact one of our Benna Ford service representatives for advice.
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