A few facts about synthetic oils

Synthetic oil is used by many who do not quite understand what it is or what it does. Do not be one of these people. Find out the facts about the oil you will potentially use in your vehicle.

All motor oils are made up of base oils and additives. There is mineral-based oil and synthetic oil. Synthetic oil is made from organic compounds or synthetic hydrocarbons. There are various types of synthetic oil. The main ones are full synthetic, semi-synthetic and high performance synthetics.

Generally, fully synthetic motor oils contain non-conventional, high performance fluids. Then there are semi-synthetic oils which can also be called "blends". These blends usually use or contain a low percentage of non-conventional, high performance fluids combined with conventional base oil.

High performance synthetics are some of the most technological advanced engine oils. These oils differ from others in their use of more advance additives. This is why those who own performance sports cars are likely to use this type of synthetic oil.

[Let CarInsurance.com help you find affordable auto insurance now.]

Synthetic oil has friction modifiers as an additive which allows for more horsepower but with better fuel economy. Synthetics break down at a slower rate by resisting oxidation and their low tendency to form deposits. This allows for better lubrication of the engine as well as better protection.

The different mixture of synthetic fluids and its selected additives combines in order to modify the viscosity grade. This allows synthetic oil to operate efficiently in high and low temperatures. When temperatures begin to drop and conventional oil might not flow as easily through engine's lubrication system, synthetic continues to flow smoothly.

Now that you have basic knowledge of synthetic engine oil we will now take a look at some of the misconceptions that are out there about using synthetics.

One misconception is that synthetic oils are not cost efficient. People have said not to use it unless you had the money and owned a high performance vehicle. But as synthetic motor oil becomes more available and made by more companies the price has come down considerably. The advantages to synthetics can now make up for the slight price difference between synthetic oil and conventional oil.

Some people have spread the rumor that using synthetic oil will void your car's warranty. This is not true in most cases. There are a few cars in which the owner's manual states that synthetics cannot be used. If you are concerned that you cannot use synthetic oil with your car read through the owner's manual and speak to a mechanic that specializes in your car type.

Another common misconception is that if you are using conventional oil you cannot change to synthetic oil. As long as the synthetic meets the requirements for viscosity and performance as described in your owner's manual it should not be a problem to change the type of oil you use.

Synthetic oil is susceptible to the same problems conventional petroleum based oils have. There are contaminations that enter into the motor oil due to normal wear and tear. The only way to remove these contaminants is to change the engine oil and filter according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Don't believe the hype that says you can go much longer than recommended with synthetic oil. Change you oil at the regular intervals.

Synthetic oil is the culmination of many years of research by some of the country's top motor oil companies. Though it got it beginnings in the 1970s it is just recently that it became more available to the general public. Understanding what synthetic oil is and how it can better help your vehicle is important if you want to change from conventional oil to synthetic. The facts given above should give you the knowledge you need to make your decision.