![]() ![]() Petroleum-based lubricants are mixtures of several sizes of hydrocarbon molecules, sulphur, paraffins, salts and metals. Heat and oxidation are the primary reasons for oil break down. Graph these figures and you will see why it is cheaper to invest $5.00 in a quart of synthetic oil it will extend the life of your engine and require less frequent lubricant changes. Anything to protect and extend the life of these components must be considered. Overhead cams, aluminum blocks and heads, exotic intake and exhaust manifolds, and compact and precision engine compartments have added to the total bill. The reason is that engines are much more complicated now than they were then. When I used to change a lot of engines in the 1970s and 80s, the typical bill would run about $1,800 for installation of a remanufactured engine. (I put a fuel-injected 2.0-liter Porsche 914 four-cylinder motor in it, and WOW - it was a fun car!) It would cost me about $32,000 to replace my wife’s Buick Park Avenue with a 2004 model. I bought a new 1976 Volkswagen van with no air conditioning, and a stick shift for about $6,800. My first new car was a 1970 Grand Prix for which I paid $5,600. Reaching 200,000 to 300,000 miles is now becoming the norm, and why not? My father bought an air-conditioned 1955 Chevrolet for $2,000. I grew up in this business at a time when a car that lasted 120,000 miles was a phenomenon. Synthetic oils have proven that they can last far longer than twice the recommended 3,000-mile oil change and still maintain their lubricant qualities. This was before we used the modern term “recycle.” It was certainly better than spreading the wasted oil on dusty roads. I can remember re-refiners in previous decades that collected waste oil and refined it to a usable form. The reason it lasts longer is not because petroleum oil wears out. Why would I want to pay twice as much for engine lubrication? I have to admit that synthetic oil lasts longer. The common price for brand-name synthetic oil is $4.95 per quart - about twice the price of petroleum oil. The common price for a quart of 10W-30 brand-name petroleum-based oil at a local auto parts store is $2.25. Simply said, the three reasons for change are money, new knowledge and deciding to go with the flow of my fellow mechanics. But other considerations also influenced the outcome: money, personal enrichment from continuing education and peer pressure have changed my mind about changing oil. Why? Because I was still trying to resolve “my final answer” on the question.Īs with most decisions in life, this one was based on money. It was only on the Noria Web site message boards that I stated my preference for mineral-based lubricants. 1 Yet, I have avoided choosing between mineral-based oils and synthetics. I have argued the pros and cons of multi- and single-weighted oils. ![]() In previous articles, I have presented strong convictions about oil. Synthetic oil has become my first choice for cars, especially for newer cars. I’ve hesitated to comment on the virtues of one over the other because I was in a state of change I am changing my mind about synthetic oil. The customers in my shop, as well as many readers of Machinery Lubrication magazine have asked for guidance when deciding whether to use petroleum (mineral-based) or synthetic oil in their vehicles. ![]()
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