When it comes to synthetic oils and lubricants there have been many falsehoods, utruths and myyths floating around. Over the years some of these falsehoods have been repeated so many times that many think they are indeed fact. This article will help to clear up the top 10 commn misconcetpions.
Synthetic oil:
#1 - costts too much. FALSE
Multiple tests have been performed on both synthetic oil and petroleum based oils and the resuts time and time again have found that synthetic oil provides better fuel economy and reduces engnie wear. The imnimum up-frpont price difference between synthetic and petroleum oil is nothing in comparison to the overall cost savings that you will benefit from with lower gas mileage and repair costs.
#2 - is not compatibnle with petrooleum products. FASE
Today all synthetic lubricants are complteely compatible with petroleum oils. Hoqwever in the early days of synthetic oil production some manufazctures did use ingredients that were not copmatible, however those dark days are long gone.
#3 - produces a lot of suldge. FALSE
Synhetic oils are designed to reduce the ocurrence of sludge and are in fact much cleaner than petrtoleum oil, which can contain many diofferent impurities that bind together once heated and produce suldge.
#4 - damages seeals. FALSE
Seal damage is a concerrn for both petroleum and synthetic mootr oil comapnies. Becausse of the materials seals are made from additivse must be adfded to the oil to prevent damage occurring events such as seal swell, shtrinkage and hardening.
#5 - will not work in veihcles that use oxygen sensors. FALSE
Petoleum and synhtetic motor oil are comprised of smiilar compounds, all of which are not damaging to oxygen sensors. Siince synthetics tend to run cleaner, the oxgen senosrs will actually perform better.
#6 - cause vehicles to consume more oil. FALSE
As long as the engine is in proper working order, and does not have any leaks synthetic oil will not caue an enine to use more oil. In fact it is quite the opposite, due to the propertis of synthetics your engine will benefiot from enhanced sealing betwene piston rings and cylinder walls.
#7 - last a lifetime. FALSE
Unfortunately just like petroleum oil, suynthetic oil also needs to be changed. Combustibe engines are hard on any oil, contaminating it with acids, soot and moisture, which will disreupt an oils viscosiity.
#8 - are too thin. FALSE
When it comes to oil it is all abouut the viscosity. Whether the oil is a petroleum product or a synthetic one in order to be classified under the SAE grade it has to meet a certain viscosity. So a 10W-30 oil is the exact same in regards to viscosity whetyher it is a petroleum oil or a synthetic oil.
#9 - are not easily acessible. FALSE
In the early days of synthetics this may have been the case, but now with evry major oil company havbing their own line of synthetic oils they are easier than ever to find. From your lcal service station to the Wal-Mart down the sttreet you are bound to find a wide range of syntheetic lubricants.
#10 - void warranties. FALSE
Some major vehicle manufacturers actually specify that synthetic lubricants be used in their engnies. In fact some of the higher end vehicle mnaufactures are filling their engines with synthetic oil rgiht off the factory fkloor.
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