Synthetic Versus Conventional Engine Oil - Autos - Nairaland
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| Synthetic Versus Conventional Engine Oil by AvilaProjects(m): 1:19am On Feb 25, 2015 |
Synthetic Versus Conventional To understand the benefits of synthetic oil you first have to learn how it differs from dinosaur juice. Conventional lubricants are made from crude oil. It’s extracted from the ground and then extensively refined to remove impurities. After that it gets blended with other chemicals before landing on the shelf of your local auto-parts store. But according to Jared Martin, National Automotive Retail Accounts Manager for Royal Purple Ltd., no matter what you do, “conventional oils have a level of insolubles – paraffin, waxes, silicon, dirt – natural contaminants.” Under certain conditions these substances can form deposits inside an engine. By comparison, synthetic oils are typically manmade, though not necessarily, a point addressed later in this article. Martin said “[they] are usually derived from natural gas or alcohol,” meaning they’re pure from the get-go, containing no undesirable contaminants. They’re also more stable at a variety of temperatures. They don’t thin out as much when they get hot or excessively thicken in cold weather. Z. George Zhang, PhD and CLS manager of Valvoline’s R& Lab in Lexington, Kentucky said, “the better oil, like a synthetic oil, the VI (viscosity index) will be higher – [meaning] the viscosity changes less with temperature, which is a desirable trait.” Further complicating things, many refiners offer synthetic blends. These oils are generally less expensive than pure-bred synthetics, but they also offer less protection. As always, you get what you pay for. Synthetic Advantages Another major benefit of synthetic oil is molecular consistency. Being an impure substance, conventional lubricants are made up of molecules that are all different lengths. According to Zhang, there are small, medium and long hydrocarbon chains. Synthetic oil is comprised of only medium-length molecules. The problem with conventional oil is that those short, lightweight hydrocarbons tend to burn off when they get hot. This causes the oil to thicken the longer it’s in an engine. Aside from that, synthetic oils also handle high temperatures better than conventional lubricants. They’re better at transferring heat, meaning synthetic oils can actually help a vehicle’s engine run cooler. Being more resistant to breakdown or “shearing,” synthetics are much more robust than conventional lubricants, something that can really pay off. According to Martin the drain interval can safely be extended anywhere from 10,000 to 12,000 miles, or three to four times normal oil, while the added cost of synthetic is nowhere close to that. Some niche oil companies advocate even longer drain intervals, up to 25,000 miles, but this is quite extreme and not something Zhang recommends. BETTER FUEL ECONOMY FROM SYNETHETIC OIL? Yet another way synthetic oil can save drivers money is through improved fuel economy. Don’t go looking for a huge increase if you make the switch, but Martin said Royal Purple can actually boost efficiency by around 2 to 3 percent, a modest but welcome improvement. Of course there are other ways to save money at the pump. Pete Misangyi, Supervisor of Fuels and Lubricants at Ford said they’ve switched to lighter weight 5W-20 oils in order to trim fuel consumption. These oils are easier to pump, meaning less energy is wasted. Ford has also started to use variable-displacement oil pumps, which move less oil at lower engine speeds to help boost efficiency even further. With these improvements, Ford has started advocating 10,000-mile change intervals on its vehicles, helping lower maintenance costs for customers. Magic Ingredients Petroleum-based lubricants have many disadvantages compared to their synthetic counterparts, but there’s more to oil than oil. “We’re not just relying on the synthetic base stocks for the benefits of Royal Purple” Martin said. “[It’s] really just a carrier for the additives” he said, noting “I would take a well-formulated mineral oil over a poorly formulated synthetic oil.” Downsides: Dispelling Rumors Of course the benefits of synthetic come at a price. They’re usually several times more expensive than old-fashioned lubricants. But with longer drain intervals and improved fuel economy “the benefits of synthetic justify the expense,” Martin said. Many of the other down-sides about synthetic oil simply aren’t true, including the notion that you can’t switch to it if a vehicle has been on conventional oil for a long time, as well as the idea that it should be avoided in older, high-mileage cars. Zhang said decades ago synthetic-oil makers didn’t pay attention to seal compatibility, which caused seals and gaskets to harden or get brittle, leading to leaks and other issues. This is where these myths about synthetic oil likely originated. But he points out that was 20 years ago or more and “that’s not an issue anymore.” Misangyi seconds this. He said “a proper [oil] blend shouldn’t have any issues.” Group III versus Group IV: When Synthetic Isn’t As mentioned earlier, not all synthetics are created equal. As you’d expect, many are formulated in laboratories, but unbelievably some are actually made from crude oil! How can they be labeled as “synthetic” if they’re made from petroleum? Engine oils are classified into five different groups. For this explanation we’re focusing on Group III and Group IV lubricants. Group III oil is a very highly refined conventional product. Group IV lubes are made from synthetic sources, oftentimes natural gas. They’re also known as PAO base stocks, which is short for polyalphaolefin. Don’t worry; you won’t be tested on this. From a performance standpoint Group III and Group IV oils are essentially identical, so don’t lose any sleep over this distinction. Zhang said under scientific analysis he has a hard time telling them apart. Other Oil Myths On the subject of engine oil there are several other common myths worth noting. One of them has to do with break-in lubricants. A lot of people seem to think automakers fill engines with special oil from the factory that’s designed to help them break in quickly. According to Misangyi this is “generally a myth.” Additionally, some drivers think they need to change a new vehicle’s oil more frequently than recommended in order to flush out potentially damaging metallic particles that are formed during the break-in process. According to Misangyi there is no need to do this. He said there’s been “a five-fold reduction in engine wear metals in the last 30 years,” no doubt thanks to more precise manufacturing techniques and better lubricants. Additives are another hot oil topic. Companies sell all kinds of supplements but Zhang says caveat emptor – buyer beware. He doesn’t recommend them, noting “you’re not getting the benefits [they claim].” It’s best to steer clear of these products and instead use quality oil and change it at a reasonable interval. Which is Right for You? It’s probably hard to buy a bad lubricant these days. Even the most basic conventional oils available on the market are far better than ones offered just a few decades ago. According to Zhang, it’s ok to use a quality petroleum-based oil in the average car, but with high-performance vehicles he recommends synthetic. Ultimately he said “follow the OEM’s recommendations.” For Martin, “the benefits of synthetic justify the expense,” with longer drain intervals, reduced deposit formation and slightly better fuel economy. Misangyi also favors synthetics. Some of the benefits he cited include “longer engine oil life [and] reduced deposits,” thought he also recommends following what’s in the owner’s guide. http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2013/01/should-you-use-synthetic-oil-in-your-vehicle.html |
| Re: Synthetic Versus Conventional Engine Oil by oseri(m): 3:18am On Feb 25, 2015 |
timely oil replacement is the key |
| Re: Synthetic Versus Conventional Engine Oil by AvilaProjects(m): 5:36am On Feb 25, 2015 |
Synthetic, ATF, VCT Oil Available. Anti-Freeze Coolant Available Synthetic; 5W20, 5W30, 5W40, 20W50 etc Brands; Mobil 1 (Advanced Full Synthetic Motor Oil) Nissan 5W30 (Fully Synthetic) Motorcraft (SAE 5W30) [Synthetic Blend Motor oil) Toyota Honda Genuine, etc Limited Stock!
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| Re: Synthetic Versus Conventional Engine Oil by Zorianig: 1:30pm On Mar 04, 2015 |
Below is a list of FORTE OIL LUBRICANTS (OIL AND GREASE) that have been specially manufactured to suit both industrial and automobile users. FORTE OIL range of lubricants is API (American Petroleum Institute) SAE certified and also meets the specs for other approval bodies. Our products are tailor made to suit specific uses (Petroleum Engine oils and Diesel engine Oils) and you can never go wrong with FORTE OIL. Interested? Reply me. Make FORTE OIL PLC your Energy Solutions Provider of Choice! FORTE OIL PLC LUBRICANTS MULTIGRADE ENGINE OIL SYNTH 10000 SUPER V 20W/50 VISCO 2000 20W/50 VANELLUS C3 15W/40 VANELLUS F C3 15W/40 VISCO 5000 5W/40 MONO GRADE ENGINE OIL AP HEAVY DUTY 30 AP HEAVY DUTY 40 AP HEAVY DUTY 50 AP DIESEL MOTOR OIL VANELLUS M 30 VANELLUS M 40 VANELLUS M 50 TWO STROKE OIL(MOTORCYCLE OIL) VANELLUS C3 10W VANELLUS C3 30 VANELLUS C3 40 VANELLUS C3 50 AP GENERATOR OIL AUTOMOTIVE TRANSMISSION OILS AND SPECIALITIES GEAR OIL 90EP GEAR OIL 140EP GEAR OIL 90EP GEAR OIL 140EP HYPO G. OIL 90 EP HYPO G. OIL 140 EP AUTRAN DX II(ATF II) AUTRAN DX II(ATF II) AUTRAN DX II(ATF II) RADIATOR OIL BRAKE FLUID (DOT 3) BRAKE FLUID (DOT 4) MARINE & INDUSTRIAL ENGINE OIL ENERGOL DL-MP 30 ENERGOL DL-MP 40 ENERGOL DL-MP 30 & 40 ENERGOL OE-M 30 ENERGOL CLO 50M ENERGOL IC-HF 303 ENERGOL IC-HF 304 ENERGOL DS3 153 ENERGOL DS3 154 CIRCULATORY SYSTEM OILS ENERGOL CS 32 ENERGOL CS 100 ENERGOL CS 220 ENERGOL CS 320 ENERGOL CS 460 ENERGOL CS 32 INDUSTRIAL GEAR OILS ENERGOL GR-XP 100 ENERGOL GR-XP 150 ENERGOL GR-XP 100 & 150 ENERGOL GR-XP 220 ENERGOL GR-XP 320 ENERGOL GR-XP 320 ENERGOL GR-XP 460 ENERGOL GR - XP 680 HYDRAULIC OILS ENERGOL HLP 22 ENERGOL HLP 32 ENERGOL HLP 46 ENERGOL HLP 68 ENERGOL HLP 68 ENERGOL HLP 100 ENERGOL HLP 150 ENERGOL HLP 220 HEAT TRANSFER OILS TRANSCAL N TURBINE OILS ENERGOL THB 46 PERFECTO 68 ENERGOL THB 68 AP TBO 32 REFRIDGERATOR OIL ENERGOL LPT 68 ICEMATIC 99 AIR COMPRESSOR OILS AIR PD 68 ENERGOL RC 68 ENERGOL RC 100 SOLUBLE CUTTING OILS DIATSOL M DEMOULDING OILS ENERGOL CM 3 TRANSFORMER OIL VIRGIN INSULATING OIL ENERGOL JSA INDUSTRIAL GREASES ENERGREASE L2 ENERGREASE L S 2 AP MP GREASE ENERGREASE L 21 M ENERGREASE L S 3 SPHEEROL LMM EXTREME PRESSURE GREASES ENERGREASE LS EP 1 ENERGREASE LS EP 2 ENERGREASE LS EP 3 SPHEEROL EP 2 ENERGREASE LC 2 FLUID GEAR GREASE ENERGRASE FG OO EP LONGTIME PD OO 1 Like
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| Re: Synthetic Versus Conventional Engine Oil by USPlaceofAutos: 2:59pm On Sep 08, 2016 |
Visit www.usplaceofautos.com or contact 09035870964 for more info...quality quaranteed
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| Re: Synthetic Versus Conventional Engine Oil by AvilaProjects(m): 6:16am On Sep 09, 2016 |
AvilaProjects: |
| Re: Synthetic Versus Conventional Engine Oil by USPlaceofAutos: 11:17am On Sep 15, 2016 |
Visit www.usplaceofautos.com/products/engine-oil or contact 09035870964 for more info...quality quaranteed
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| Re: Synthetic Versus Conventional Engine Oil by USPlaceofAutos: 4:15pm On Sep 19, 2016 |
DuraMAX Full Synthetic Engine Oil is available in 5W20, 5W30 and 0W20 visit www.usplaceofautos.com for more information |
| Re: Synthetic Versus Conventional Engine Oil by Ojaysport: 5:22am On Mar 12, 2017 |
Zorianig: what do you mean by multigrade and monograde? what type is good for my mini truck because I use heavy duty type presently? |
| Re: Synthetic Versus Conventional Engine Oil by ebuks4ever(m): 11:28pm On Apr 02, 2017 |
Castrol EDGE is Castrol’s strongest range of engine oils. Recommended by BMW, Mercedez-Benz, Land-Rover, Ford, etc We are currently selling Castrol Edge 1-Litre for N3300 instead of market price of N3500. Also enjoy an added 10% off. Hurry while offer lasts. https://www.mrparts.ng/products/castrol-edge-professional-5w-20-1-litre |
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