Unless you own a really old car or truck, your vehicle more than likely uses synthetic oil to stay on the road. Synthetic oil has been around for many years and almost every new vehicle relies on it to run in top condition.
However, many vehicle owners don’t actually understand the benefits of synthetic oil and some of the vital differences between using it and using regular oil. This article will clarify what exactly is synthetic oil, explain important aspects of its colorful history, detail the advantages of using it, and reveal why auto shops should keep a full inventory of it to meet the demands of its consumers…and the realities of the modern automotive industry.
What is synthetic oil for vehicles?
Synthetic oil is a combination of different natural and manmade elements blended together to create an effective lubricant for motorized vehicles. Those vehicles include everything from conventional automobiles to specialized craft such as lawn mowers, construction equipment, and more.
Synthetic oil is dark brown in color, heavier than water, and more viscous, too. Vehicle owners that are wondering, ‘how is synthetic oil made?’ should know that the foundation for the different compounds that comprise this substance is almost always crude oil that’s been distilled. Synthetic oil contains several artificial compounds, many of which are related to petroleum.
Something that have known for a long time, oil is essential to the operation of motorized vehicles to keep moving engine parts running smoothly. Since it contains chemicals that have been refined to maximize the protection and performance of the engines that make these vehicles run, synthetic oil is largely considered a progression of natural oil. As a lubricant, synthetic oil prevents engine components from drying out, which could contribute to part failure resulting in malfunctioning and poorly operating—or inoperable—vehicles.
What is the history of synthetic oil?
The key to answering the question of why is synthetic oil better for your vehicle than regular oil partly lies in the history of this manmade lubricant. This type of oil was first manufactured in 1929, just before the Great Depression began. One of the milestones in the history of this substance was during World War II, when the Axis powers in Germany were forced to use synthetic oil because their foes had strategically restricted their access to natural oil sources.
Synthetic oil took on renewed significance during the American Energy Crisis near the end of the 20th century. At that time, people were looking for a way to maximize the amount of natural oil they had. Progressions in the manufacturing of synthetic oil were key to overcoming this dilemma, since they enabled vehicles to ultimately perform better while relying less on scarce natural energy resources.
Today, the effectiveness of this substance is underscored by the fact that not only is it regularly used in almost all cars and trucks—as opposed to just specialized ones—it’s also used in planes and certain watercraft, as well.
What are the benefits of synthetic oil?
Synthetic oil benefits include the fact that, when compared to regular oil, it’s more chemically stable and less prone to oxidize or acidify. It doesn’t break down as much, provides superior engine protection, and keeps engines cleaner and operating better. This type of oil generally lasts longer than non-synthetic oil does.
If users select the right type, they can go more miles and months between oil changes than if they use traditional oil. A fully synthetic oil provides this advantage even more so than blends of synthetic and conventional oil. Other benefits pertain to better gas mileage and improved stability in extreme weather conditions—whether involving higher or lower temperatures.
Looking Ahead
At this point, there should be no questions as to whether synthetic oil is good for your car or not due to these benefits and the wide use of synthetic oil in so many different types of cars, trucks, and motorized vehicles. More advanced are very aware of the need to keep synthetic oil on hand for their customers. This type of oil is in high demand, is extremely useful to the maintenance and upkeep of automobiles, and will keep both vehicles and their owners happy for quite some time.
