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Over the last few decades, motor oil is something that has improved and been enhanced a great deal. What motor oil is right for your car, though?

Conventional, mineral-based oil was the standard for many, many years, and conventional oil has been improved a great deal with friction modifiers and other additives. It’s purer and more effective at engine protection than it once was, and it’s still fairly inexpensive. The downside to that, however, is a more frequent oil change interval of about every 5,000 miles.

High-mileage vehicles (more than about 80,000 miles on the odometer) tend to develop leaks as their seals and gaskets dry out and shrink. High-mileage motor oil contains seal conditioners that swell the gaskets and seals to prevent leaks. High-mileage oil also has modifiers that can help fill the looser clearances between internal engine parts, offering better protection and helping to prevent oil burning.

Synthetic motor oil, while considerably more expensive per quart, has been proven to offer better engine protection in all vehicles. Conventional oil tends to thin out when hot and thicken when cold, while synthetic oil stays consistent across an entire range of temperatures. As a result, manufacturers now recommend synthetic for all new cars. The higher cost is offset by the fact that conventional oil can go 10-15,000 miles between changes. For those who still aren’t willing to pay the extra cost for synthetic, synthetic blend oil is available at a slightly lower price (while still offering most of the benefits of synthetic).

What kind of motor oil do you use in your vehicle? How long has it been since your last oil change? Make an appointment with us at Master Auto Repair!