Synthetic vs Conventional Oil

By staying up to date on routine maintenance, drivers in the St. Louis, Chesterfield, Kirkwood, and Missouri areas know it's easy to keep your vehicle running smoothly for years to come. It's arguable that no routine maintenance is more important than the oil change. However, most drivers don't know that there are two types of engine oil they could be using: synthetic vs conventional oil.

Continue reading this post to find out whether synthetic vs conventional oil is right for your engine. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at Glendale Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram.

What Is Conventional Oil?

Conventional oil is the most common engine oil type, and it's probably what your vehicle is already using. This is a more natural motor oil created directly from crude oil, and keeps your engine running smoothly. Conventional oil is relatively easy to find, low in price, and is recommended for most vehicle and engine types.

It helps lubricate the moving parts of your engine, keep your engine free of debris, and reduce heat.

What Is Synthetic Engine Oil?

Synthetic oil has been refined, purified, and distilled to create a high-performing engine oil. It's also made from crude oil, but follows a very different process from conventional oil during the manufacturing process. Although synthetic oil is slowly becoming more available, it can still be hard to find at some smaller repair shops, and its price tag is still higher than conventional oil.

Which Is Right for You?

Most reputable service centers will carry both conventional and synthetic oil. There are a few important differences between them, but if you're like most drivers in the United States, which one you choose probably won't have much of an effect on your engine or its overall performance.

For starters, synthetic oil has been specially created to perform better in a wide variety of driving conditions. From high temperatures to subzero ones, synthetic oil is able to function well in the harshest conditions. It also works hard to keep your engine clean and offers greater protection against wear.

But, that enhanced performance comes at a cost, raising the price of synthetic oil. However, depending on your driving habits, you may be able to go longer between oil changes when using synthetic oil over conventional oil.

Conventional oil, on the other hand, is widely available and relatively inexpensive. It also works just fine in most driving conditions to provide protection for your engine and lubrication for its moving parts. So, for the average motorist, conventional oil works just fine and sports a lower price to boot.

Schedule Your Oil Change!

If you're located in the St. Louis, Chesterfield, Kirkwood, or Missouri area, and you think your vehicle needs an oil change, contact us at Glendale Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram to schedule your appointment today. We offer a full-service center staffed by certified technicians ready to help keep your car running like new. We also carry a wide assortment of conventional and synthetic oil so you can get the oil your engine needs most.