Synthetic engine oil... myth or mythical performance?

Can I use synthetic engine oils in every vehicle?

No you can’t. Some engines, mostly older ones, are designed to solely be serviced with mineral oils. The sealing materials within these vehicles will be affected by synthetic engine oils, making them brittle and causing leaks.

Some other engine designs can use synthetic engine oils but they don’t benefit as much as other engines from the more expensive synthetic lubricant’s powerful properties. A good example of this are older engines with wide gaps between the piston heads and cylinder walls. Runny engine oils can’t close these gaps, meaning that a more viscous engine oil is a necessity if you want to protect engine efficiency. The unique friction reducing properties of synthetic engine oil is lost when the viscosity is increased. In these cases, it is advised to use a high-quality mineral or semi-synthetic engine oil, this way your engine is optimally protected for less money.

Not sure if you should use a mineral or a synthetic engine oil within your vehicle? Most vehicles these days require specific engine oils to suit their needs. Finding exactly the right one for your vehicle is more complex than just answering the synthetic or mineral question. Be sure to check our Product Finder Tool which enables you to find the ideal engine oil within seconds!

Can I extend my oil change intervals by using a synthetic engine oil?

One of the golden rules of lubrication is: do not overextend the oil drain interval. This is because of dirt, debris and other harmful particulates entering the system. Synthetic engine oils can keep a large amount of these particulates in suspension, but these particulates form deposits when the oil gets saturated.

The danger doesn’t just come from particulates entering the systems, also the molecules of the engine oil themselves deteriorate into inferior molecules! The good news here is that synthetic engine oils are more resistant to extreme driving conditions like heavy-loads and high temperatures than mineral molecules. This way the engine performance is less depending on driving conditions. 

The combination of these properties results in a more stable performance in-between oil changes. But don’t be a fool by pushing your luck to the limit! The risk of deposits forming within the system or engine parts wearing down will increase significantly when you overextend oil change intervals. The manufacturer of your vehicle has already included the extended resistance to deterioration of synthetic engine oils in their drain interval testing procedures, so please always follow the recommended drain intervals found within the manual.

Does synthetic engine oil really improve my fuel economy?

A clear answer is not possible in this case, but the most fuel-efficient engine oils are synthetic. Synthetic oil tends to have lower viscosity and it often contains more powerful friction reducing additives than their mineral counterparts. One of the unique benefits of synthetic engine oils is that it can be made in low viscosity versions without compensating on oil film stability, for a strong and fuel-efficient result!

Can I use synthetic engine oils in cold and hot conditions?

Synthetic oils are the cold weather champions! You can recognize their cold start capacity by checking the label on the product. Some of the synthetic motor oils go as low as 0W, meaning that their cold start capacity is extremely good. One of the trump cards of synthetic engine oils is the stability of their viscosity. They retain their cold-start capacities, even when nearing the end of the oil change interval. 

Your next adventure might take you to a hot environment. Combine this with high RPM and the resulting engine temperatures will give your engine oil a rough time! Synthetic engine oils manage to retain their fluidity at high temperatures, meaning that the most challenging conditions will only have a small impact on the lubricant’s performance. 

Champion has a wide range of synthetic engine oils capable of overcoming these challenges. Our Pro Racing 10W60 is the go-to product for thrill-seekers looking to push the pedal to the metal in hot conditions. Good cold starting properties and utmost excellent retention of its viscosity at extremely high temperatures makes the Pro Racing 10W60 the king of the race track.

Summary:

•  The engine design defines which type of oil can be used.

•  Never overextend drain intervals.

•  Synthetic engine oils can be used to improve fuel economy.

•  Synthetic oils retain their powerful properties over a wide range of temperatures.

•  Use the Champion Product Finder Tool to find the best lubricant for your vehicle.