Synthetic vs Refined Oil
The modern automotive lubricants industry has created so many different oil products it is hard some times to decide what is right for your vehicle. Motor oil comes in many grades, weights and types.
Most notably is the synthetic versus virgin debate for oil and what is better in your vehicle. The real problem is that no two vehicles will require the same oil considerations. It is really more a question of what the vehicle is used for, and the kind of maintenance routines employed.
A good example for the use of synthetic oil is in over the road diesel powered pickup trucks. These vehicles have engines that can achieve 500,000 miles or more with proper care and can truly benefit from the advance technologies synthetic oils have to offer.
You must, of course, take engine replacement cost into consideration, because that is the prime reason to run synthetic oil; longevity. Gas engines with high performance builds and many thousands of dollars invested can also benefit due to the higher protection afforded.
Stock gasoline engines in daily drivers on the other hand are a tough decision. The replacement costs on a stock 4 or 6 cylinder engine just doesn't warrant the use of synthetic oil. The numbers are easy to put together, take your car's engine model and find out replacement cost installed.
Then figure its life expectancy, usually 200,000 miles, now figure the oil change interval recommended for your engine, let's say 5,000 miles. That means to reach replacement on that engine you will change the oil 40 times.
Now figure out the cost of an average oil change. If you are like most Americans, you use the quick lube and it will cost you about $40. Iif you chose synthetic oil it could cost up to $60 per change.
Now lets look at a crate motor for say a Chevrolet v8. Replacement cost installed will be about $4,200, give or take a few bucks. The cost of normal oil changes will run about $1600 versus $2400 using synthetic oil.
The problem is you won't gain anything by switching to synthetic except the longevity of parts. Gas engines will only go so long before they break down. This is why diesels can actually benefit from the use of synthetic oil; they are designed to last a long time. Gasoline engines on the other hand are designed to last a certain life cycle then give out
In closing, the benefits of synthetic oil are great in relation to regular oil types, but their use in normally driven vehicles is not necessary. I feel that it is money you could better spend elsewhere
