How Often Should You Change Synthetic Oil? Pros, Cons & FAQs
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Visnja Radosavljevic
- Last updated:
If you have a vehicle that uses synthetic oil, you may be wondering how frequently you need to change it. Unlike typical car oil, synthetic oil has more benefits to your engine performance due to being refined. You should change synthetic oil in your vehicle every 7,500 to 15,000 miles, depending on the oil brand and the car you have.
It’s best to always check the manual of your specific car to ensure you’re changing it at the proper time. Today, we will mention more about synthetic oil, its pros and cons, and the correct intervals at which you should change it.
What is Synthetic Oil?
Synthetic oil is an artificial lubricant, and it contains artificial chemical components. Because of these compounds, synthetic oil has a lot of positives, so it can easily substitute regular car oil. It’s more chemically stable, evaporates less quickly, and is harder to break down.
One of the most significant benefits of synthetic oil is its lifecycle since this oil needs less frequent changes than typical car oil.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Synthetic Oil
Of course, every product has flaws, so synthetic oil is not perfect. Some of the biggest downsides of synthetic oil are:
- Longer interval for oil changing: Regular oil requires changing every 3,000 to 10,000 miles, whereas synthetic oil can last up to 15,000 miles.
- More durable at high temperatures: When you expose synthetic oil to heat, it doesn’t become as thick as typical car oil, making it last longer.
- Better performance: Due to the refined chemicals, synthetic oil has better performance than regular oil.
- Cleaner engine: While conventional oils collect sludge and reduce your engine’s lifespan and efficiency, synthetic oils will prolong the lifespan, and make the engine more efficient and less prone to sludge.
- Price: Synthetic oil costs more than regular oil, although that’s expected due to its benefits.
- Not suitable for every engine: Synthetic oil is not ideal for every engine, so you might not be able to use it for your vehicle.
Does Synthetic Oil Really Make a Difference?
Since synthetic oil is of higher quality and more refined, it does make a difference. Because of its positive sides, your vehicle will run much smoother, and your engine will function better and last longer. Cars that use synthetic oils have a better startup performance, and they perform much better than regular oil in hot temperatures.
It won’t degrade or become runny, and instead will keep its consistency for longer. Although its price is higher than petroleum-based oil, it’s well worth it if suitable for your vehicle.
Should I Use Synthetic Oil in My Vehicle?
Who wouldn’t want to have an engine that performs well and doesn’t need frequent oil changes? If your vehicle can support synthetic oil, it wouldn’t hurt to try it out. Even though it’s more pricey, it will be worth your while when you account for all the positives.
People that want to enhance their vehicle performance and increase the durability and lifespan of their engine should at least try synthetic oil.
How Often Should You Change Synthetic Oil in Your Vehicle?
Typically, you need to change synthetic oil every 7,500 to 15,000 miles, but that will depend on the model of your vehicle and the brand of the synthetic oil you use. Most cars will mention the change interval in their manual, so it would be best to follow those guidelines. Still, there are some exceptions when you need to change synthetic oil more frequently.
For example, if you don’t drive the vehicle for a long time or you travel less than 10 miles per day, your oil will need more changes since the engine won’t be able to heat up enough. Also, if you drive heavy loads daily or drive your vehicle on off-road terrain, you will need more oil changes.
It’s best to always take care of your vehicle, so you can always reach out to a mechanic if you’re unsure if you need an oil replacement or not. Of course, you can also replace the oil yourself since the process is not highly complicated.
How to Change Synthetic Oil?
You’ll only need a couple of specialized tools to change your vehicle oil, so if you’re at least a bit handy, you’ll be able to do it in no time.
- Funnel
- Wrench socket
- Oil filter wrench
- Oil drain pan
- Oil filter
- Synthetic oil (brand of your choice)
You will need a space where you can work, so a garage or a driveway would be useful in this situation. The replacement process is simple if you follow these steps:
- Remove the oil cap from your engine, and place the oil drain pan underneath so that you can drain the current oil in your car
- Remove the drain plug and extract the oil to the oil drain pan
- Once there’s no more oil, reattach the oil drain plug and tighten it well.
- Remove the current oil filter and replace it with a new one
- Use the funnel to pour new oil into the opening under the oil cap
- Replace the cap and then start your engine
- Check the oil level by using a dipstick and add more oil if necessary
Conclusion
Although synthetic oil is not suitable for every vehicle, if your car can use it, you should try it out. The oil change interval is less frequent, which will benefit people who don’t want to deal with too many oil changes every now and then. Also, your engine will be grateful since synthetic oil will allow it to perform better and last longer!
Featured Image Credit: FUN FUN PHOTO, Shutterstock
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