Synthetic vs. Conventional Oil – What’s the Difference?

We’ve all been presented with the synthetic vs. conventional oil choice when getting an oil change. Which one should you choose? The average cost of an oil change with synthetic oil is a little more than that of one with regular oil. But, is it worth it? Our service center in Tampa wants you to make informed choices, so we’ve put together a comparison below to help you with your synthetic oil vs. regular oil debate. Additionally, what are synthetic blends? We also do a full synthetic oil vs. synthetic blend comparison as well.

Synthetic vs. Regular Oil – How They’re Produced

We all know where conventional oil comes from. It’s pumped out of the ground and sent to refineries. It’s then processed to be used in various engines. Where does synthetic oil come from? Scientists in a lab carefully engineer multiple chemicals on the molecular level to create a lubricant that will bring out the optimal performance of a car’s engine.

That lubricant is what we call full synthetic oil. With that being said, both oil types typically start out as crude oil. However, synthetic oil simply has added properties to be longer-lasting. That turns out to be an advantage for synthetic oil, especially since many of our Town 'N' Country customers want the best for their engines.

Synthetic Oil vs. Regular Oil – How They Function

The more smoothly oil flows through an engine, the better it works. This quality is called “viscosity”, and no synthetic vs. conventional oil comparison would be complete without addressing it. Synthetic oil typically has more viscosity because it is cleaner than conventional oil, producing less gunk and build-up over time.

Synthetic oil doesn’t break down as quickly as conventional oil, allowing for it to remain viscous and provide lubrication to your engine for many miles. All of this translates to better engine performance, including better gas mileage on your Brandon commute in many cases.

Full Synthetic Oil vs. Synthetic Blend

There are two differences to point out in a full synthetic oil vs. synthetic blend comparison and that’s cost and diminished performance. The average cost of an oil change with synthetic oil is higher than one with a synthetic blend. This is because, as its name implies, a synthetic blend is mixed with conventional oil. Of course, this also means it doesn’t perform as well as full synthetic. However, it is still more effective than your standard conventional oil.

Trust Your Car to Lexus of Tampa Bay

The experts in our service center would be happy to walk you through the differences between your choices of oil. And, if you found this synthetic oil vs. regular oil comparison to be helpful, check out our post on how to check car oil. We’re just down the road from Riverview, and we’re here to help. So, swing by or give us a call!