What’s Driving Your Engine?

The motor oil aisle at the local car maintenance shop can be intimidating. With so many product choices, an indecisive individual could be stuck there for hours. Among your many options, you have the opportunity to chose between synthetic and conventional oils. If it’s all Greek to you, here’s an explanation of the difference between the two types.

Sticking with Conventional

Conventional oils are produced from crude oil (the stuff extracted from the ground). This oil is composed of hydrocarbons, which are molecules formed into crazy chains. These chains are often very long and made up of molecules varying greatly in size and shape.

The types of molecules which are best for lubrication are separated out during the refining process, like using a kitchen strainer. However, small amounts of contaminants which cannot be completely removed from petroleum also end up in the mix. Special chemical additives to enhance properties, such as the substance’s ability to flow smoothly, are added to the base oil to make it engine-ready.

The basic idea: Conventional oil is made by extracting the desired lubricating molecules from crude oil and adding additives to increase lubricating properties and durability.

Creating a Synthetic Blend

A good visual for understanding how many synthetic oils are produced is a Lego set. To make many synthetic oils, tiny chemical building blocks are put together to form exactly the type of molecules desired. They can all be the same size, and no impurities sneak in as they do in conventional oil.

The additives mixed in with the base oil of synthetic are often more sophisticated. This results in a more durable oil which is able to function well at severe temperature extremes and for a longer amount of time (fewer oil changes).

The basic idea: Synthetic oil is often produced by chemically creating lubricating molecules.

Disposal Ramifications

Whether you choose to lube with conventional or synthetic oil, disposal options are essentially the same. Some important things to remember:

• Always avoid dumping oil in the trash, on the ground or down the sewer
• Place the used oil in a securely closed and well-labeled container
• Take the used oil to a service station or a collection location that recycles used motor oil
• Although burning oil in a power plant can be beneficial, never burn used motor oil in a space heater
• Do not mix motor oil with other substances such as gasoline, antifreeze, solvents or paint

Which Oil is Better for the Environment?

This is the big question. Most professionals agree that synthetics are generally more eco-friendly than conventional oils. It is a more pure product, breaks down less quickly and lasts longer, decreasing the overall amount of oil generated, and that’s good news for the environment.