OIL CHANGE TIPS
Full synthetic vs. conventional oil: which does your car need?
Your owner's manual decides this, not the oil change counter. If it calls for full synthetic, or lists a spec that only synthetic oils meet, use synthetic. If it allows conventional, conventional or a blend is a perfectly good choice.
How to tell what your car needs
- Check the manual or the oil cap. Look for the viscosity (like 0W-20 or 5W-30) and any approval spec, such as dexos for many GM vehicles or a European maker's approval number.
- Very thin oils usually mean synthetic. Many newer engines call for 0W-16 or 0W-20, and those are almost always synthetic.
- Turbocharged engines are commonly specified for synthetic because they run hotter.
- Not sure? Tell us the year, make and model when you book and we'll confirm the right oil before we arrive.
What's actually different
Conventional oil is refined from crude oil. Full synthetic is engineered to be more uniform, so it holds up better under heat, flows faster on cold starts and breaks down more slowly. A synthetic blend sits in between.
| Conventional / blend | Full synthetic | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical use | Older and higher-mileage engines that allow it | Most cars built in the last decade |
| Heat protection | Good | Better |
| Change interval | Usually shorter | Usually longer, per your manual |
| Lube Lizards price | $89 | $125 |
Is synthetic worth it if it's optional?
If your car allows either, synthetic is a reasonable upgrade when you drive a lot in heat, tow, or do lots of short trips. South Carolina summers check that box for many drivers. If you drive gently and change your oil on time, conventional or a blend does the job.
Two myths worth dropping
- "Once you switch to synthetic you can't go back." Not true. Oils of the same viscosity and spec can be switched between at any oil change.
- "Synthetic causes leaks in older engines." Synthetic doesn't create leaks. An older engine with worn seals may already be seeping, and a high-mileage formula can help.
For how often to change it, see how often you should change your oil in South Carolina.
We bring the right oil. Conventional or blend is $89 and full synthetic is $125, including a new filter and the full checkup, in your driveway in Lexington, Irmo, West Columbia, Cayce, Chapin and Red Bank.
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