Been a while since your last synthetic oil change?
Worried your engine is suffering as a result?
Synthetic oil offers enhanced engine protection and lasts longer than conventional oil — but it’s not invincible.
Despite the longer oil change interval, it breaks down, leading to strange engine noises, a strong oil smell, and other performance issues.
Want to know how often to change synthetic oil?
We’ll discuss the recommended oil change interval, what happens if you exceed it, and how much a synthetic oil change costs.
This Article Contains:
- How Often Should You Change Your Vehicle’s Synthetic Oil?
- What Are the Benefits of Synthetic Oil?
- What Happens If You Exceed the Recommended Oil Change Interval?
- 6 Concerning Signs You Need an Oil Change
- How Much Does a Synthetic Oil Change Cost?
- 4 FAQs on Engine Oil
How Often Should You Change Your Vehicle’s Synthetic Oil?
Under normal driving conditions, you should change your vehicle’s synthetic oil every 7500 to 15,000 miles or 6 months to 12 months. Ultimately, following the specific oil change interval mentioned in your owner’s manual is best.
That said, you may need to change your car’s oil more frequently than specified in your maintenance schedule if you drive with heavy loads, in heavy traffic, and in extreme temperatures. These conditions cause your engine to work harder, resulting in a decreased oil level and a shorter oil change interval.
NOTE: You can use an oil dipstick to check if there’s enough oil in your engine. The oil level should fall between the two marks on the oil dipstick. If it’s below the lower mark, you’ll need to top it up.
An insufficient synthetic oil level causes engine problems and costly repairs. However, synthetic oil does more than just prevent engine issues.
Let’s discover its other uses.
What Are the Benefits of Synthetic Oil?
Synthetic oil offers several advantages over conventional motor oil types, including:
- Improved performance in extreme temperatures: Synthetic oil maintains its viscosity better across a wider temperature range than regular oil. This ensures excellent engine lubrication and protection, resulting in easier engine starts during winter and better performance under higher temperatures.
- Longer oil change intervals: As a result of its higher durability, synthetic oil lasts longer than conventional oil, allowing for less frequent oil changes.
- Enhanced engine protection: Synthetic oil provides superior protection against wear and tear by minimizing stress on the engine parts. It’s more resistant to sludge buildup and oxidation, which helps extend the engine’s longevity.
- Better fuel economy: Reduced friction from synthetic oils can improve fuel efficiency over time, potentially lowering gas costs compared to regular oil.
Worried about what happens if you avoid changing your motor oil?
We’ll explain the consequences below.
What Happens If You Exceed the Recommended Oil Change Interval?
Over time, motor oil decomposes and absorbs debris, losing its protective capabilities. In addition, oil levels naturally drop during engine operation.
Without frequent changes, your engine won’t be protected from friction and higher temperatures, which could result in catastrophic failure. This is because engine oil plays several crucial roles in maintaining the fuel efficiency and longevity of a car’s engine.
Its primary functions include:
- Lubrication: Reduces friction between moving engine parts, preventing wear and tear on components like pistons, rings, and cylinder walls.
- Cooling: Helps dissipate heat generated by combustion and friction, transferring it away from critical engine components.
- Cleaning: Carries debris to the oil filter where they are trapped, preventing buildup that could clog engine passages.
- Protection: Neutralizes acids formed during combustion to prevent corrosion. It also contains additives that protect against rust and corrosion on metal surfaces.
- Better performance: Helps ensure efficient fuel consumption by reducing friction-related energy loss.
Now that you know what engine oil does and why regular oil changes are so important, we’ll cover what happens when it gets old.
6 Concerning Signs You Need an Oil Change
When your engine oil gets old or dirty, you’ll notice:
- Illuminated warning lights: Modern cars have a system to monitor oil life and alert you that it’s time for an oil change. If the old oil starts causing other engine problems, you may notice your check engine or oil light illuminate.
- Engine noise: Engine oil lubricates the moving engine parts. When it deteriorates, you may hear unusual sounds from your engine (knocking, rumbling) due to increased friction.
- Oil smell: Old oil won’t properly dissipate heat from the engine, resulting in the engine running hot and burning the oil.
- Smoke from the exhaust: A significant amount of dark smoke from the exhaust pipe indicates burning oil in the combustion chamber. This occurs due to worn seals and rings, which can result from the old engine oil’s inability to dissipate heat at a high operating temperature.
- Darkened oil color: Engine oil is typically translucent and brown. However, if it’s contaminated or old, it will become thicker and dark black.
- Reduced fuel economy: Old, thickened oil forces your engine to work harder as it won’t provide proper lubrication. This results in your engine using more fuel.
These warning signs are alarming, so getting frequent changes should be a priority. Let’s check out how much it’ll set you back.
How Much Does a Synthetic Oil Change Cost?
You can expect to pay between $80 and $260 for a synthetic oil change. This includes the price of new oil, a fresh oil filter, and labor charges.
Factors affecting the cost include your vehicle’s make and model, oil type, the service provider’s specific rates, and additional services (like fixing engine damage from a lack of frequent oil changes).
Still, have some questions about engine oil?
Read on to find the answers you need.
4 FAQs on Engine Oil
Here’s everything else you should know about engine oil changes:
1. What Are the Different Types of Engine Oil?
There are primarily four main types of engine oil:
- Fully synthetic motor oil: It’s completely factory-manufactured, making it the most highly refined, consistent oil type. This oil offers the best performance advantages as it stays stable under extreme engine temperatures, resulting in longer oil life. However, synthetic motor oil is also the most expensive.
- Synthetic blend oil: It’s made from crude oil and synthetic ingredients to maintain its viscosity under varying engine temperatures. It doesn’t provide the same performance advantages as fully synthetic oil, but is more affordable and has a longer oil change interval than conventional oil.
- Conventional oil: This is the standard engine oil made from crude oil. As it’s less refined, conventional motor oil doesn’t offer as much protection against varying engine temperatures. However, it’s the most affordable.
- High-mileage oil: This oil is manufactured with specific additives that decrease oil burnoff and prevent oil leakage in older, high-mileage (more than 75,000 miles on it) vehicles.
2. Can You Use a Different Oil Than the One Recommended?
No, using the wrong oil can cause engine damage. Oil with the wrong viscosity may not provide adequate lubrication or heat dissipation for your car’s engine. This is especially important for high-performance vehicles that are driven at a high operating temperature.
In addition, certain additives are designed to work with different engine types (diesel or gasoline engine). They may cause incorrect lubrication and potential damage to emission control systems.
Bottom line: Use the oil type specified in your owner’s manual or consult a professional mechanic for assistance.
3. Can You Mix Different Oils?
It’s best to avoid mixing oils as they contain different viscosity modifiers and corrosion inhibitors, which may be incompatible, reducing their effectiveness.
For instance, if you mix synthetic oil with another oil type it can reduce its lubrication ability and increase friction between internal engine components.
4. Can You Change the Engine Oil by Yourself?
It’s best to have a professional mechanic change your car’s oil. While changing it isn’t the most technical maintenance procedure, many vehicle owners make mistakes during the process.
Changing engine oil involves identifying specific parts of the engine compartment, choosing the correct oil, and changing the oil filter. This requires specialized knowledge and experience, so if you have any doubts, it’s better to contact a mechanic.
Synthetic Oil Changes Made Easy with AutoNation Mobile Service
Motor oil is essential for ensuring optimal vehicle performance, dissipating heat, and cleaning your engine.
Driving around with old engine oil is a one-way ticket to significant engine problems and costly repairs. So, make sure you follow the recommended oil maintenance schedule for your vehicle.
Looking for the easiest way to get regular oil changes?
AutoNation Mobile Service will change your engine oil right from your driveway. We offer effortless online booking and a 12-month | 12,000-mile warranty on all repairs.
Contact us for quick oil changes and other vehicle maintenance needs.