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Many drivers are unsure whether they should use synthetic oil in their new cars. Synthetic oil has a number of pluses over regular oil: it can maintain integrity in heat; lubricates better; has fairly good purity; and rarely ever becomes sludge, even after abuse. Most drivers will see the obvious benefits synthetic oil has to offer and decide to use it in their car. However, even with the synthetic oil's numerous benefits, the real difference is made in how you care for your car.

To start with, do you change your oil regularly? Oil needs to be changed before it breaks down and puts your engine at risk. But if you're good at changing your oil on time every 3-5k miles, you'll never experience one of the benefits of synthetic oil. Synthetic is resistant to breaking down, even after extended use. For instance, if you forget an oil change, or even if you just put one off for a few weeks, synthetic is the best oil to have in your engine. But if you're changing your oil regularly and at the proper mileage, you'll never be in a situation where your engine is at risk from worn-out oil.

One of synthetic oil's biggest perks is that it doesn't deteriorate until after a long time. Regular oil starts to break down after 6 months, and all oils should be replaced after 5K miles. If you're someone who drives less than 5K every 6 months, then mileage-wise, you're replacing your oil more often than you need to. Using synthetic oil will let you change your oil less frequently, so you can get greater mileage out of each oil change. This might save you some money, and definitely will save you on time.

One of the biggest reasons why people use synthetic oil is because of its resistance to heat. Regular oil breaks down in high temperatures, and continue to break down as the heat rises. Drivers who use their vehicles in ways that create a constantly hot engine environment should use synthetic oil. So should people who live in hot climates, such as in the desert, or at high altitudes, like in the mountains. Neither high ambient temperatures nor low air pressure are ideal conditions for keeping your engine cool, so synthetic oil would give you the best performance in these areas. Finally, if you own a high-performance vehicle or just drive like you do, consider synthetic, which is the best choice for these vehicles.

There are lots of people who will recommend synthetic oil to you, even if you don't need it. For instance, synthetic is recommended for drivers who have to drive in stop-and-go traffic. However, almost everyone drives in this type of traffic at some time, and not everyone needs synthetic oil. It's really only necessary if you're stuck in stop-and-go for long periods of time, and on a regular basis. Synthetic might also be recommended to people who only drive on short trips, as a means for protecting the engine. But only driving for short trips will damage your engine regardless of what oil you choose, so the recommendation is redundant. Your engine is designed to perform for 20 minutes or more. There might be a slight benefit to running synthetic for short trips, but the difference is negligible.

If you've decided synthetic oil is right for you, use caution when buying synthetic oil. Many places try to sell synthetic "blends" as a cost-saving measure, but the contents of this mixture aren't always the same. You could be getting regular oil with a little bit of synthetic thrown in for a higher price. The best thing to do is to buy either pure synthetic oil or not bother with it at all. The exception to this is if the blend you're buying is coming from and made by your vehicle manufacturer.

Last but not least, what do auto manufacturers have to say about synthetics? Most state that "any oil that meets API standard specifications can be used in your vehicle." That means normal oil is just fine. For most people, new cars will operate for a very long time without the benefit of synthetic oil so long as they are properly maintained and used normally.

About: Author Jason Lancaster, an auto industry veteran, created AccurateAutoAdvice.com. You'll find accurate car buying tips and car advice.

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