What happens if you put regular oil instead of synthetic

Q: What happens if you put non synthetic oil in a synthetic engine?

As regular oil moves through the vehicles engine, it degrades slowly thus leaving harmful deposits and even leading to the formation of sludge. It can affect the performance of your cars engine and the life of the vehicle.

Myth #1: The “W” in 10W-30 stands for “weight.”

Table of Contents Show

Your Primer on Synthetic vs. Conventional Oil Types
Conventional vs. Synthetic Oil Change Intervals
Is It Time for an Oil Change? Schedule Your Visit to Our Springfield OH Auto Shop
Fact Or Fiction?
Can I put regular oil instead of synthetic?
What happens if you put regular oil in a synthetic?
What happens if you put non synthetic oil in a synthetic engine?

The numbers in a multi-grade rating represent the oil’s viscosity, or thickness. The higher the number, the thicker the oil. The best oils are a happy medium; neither thick like sludge nor thin like water.

Because oil viscosity changes with temperature, the multi-grade rating gives you both the hot and cold viscosities. 10W represents the oil’s viscosity rating for winter use, according to a rating system developed by the Society of Auto Engineers. And that’s why the “W” in 10W-30 stands for “winter.” Find the right oil viscosity for your vehicle with the Cenex lubricants recommendation tool.

Myth #2: You should change your oil every 3,000 miles.

Oil chemistry and engine technology have evolved tremendously since the days of the 3,000-mile oil change. The majority of vehicle manufacturers now recommend vehicle owners change their oil every 7,500 to 10,000 miles, based on a normal maintenance schedule. Why the change?

Synthetic oils, such as Maxtron® PCMO, are helping to stretch the time between oil changes. The improved oils provide superior anti-wear protection while maximizing fuel economy.

Also, oil life monitoring systems, which notify the driver when an oil change is needed, are becoming the standard in many new models. Instead of using the standby miles driven method, the technology monitors engine revolutions, operating temperatures and other factors to optimize the change interval selection.

Refer to your owner’s manual for your vehicle manufacturer’s oil change recommendation.

Myth #3: Synthetic engine oils can wear down seals in an engine and cause leaks.

This is an often-cited myth. In fact, if your seals and gaskets are in good condition, synthetic oil will not leak in your engine. Synthetic oil has not been shown to deteriorate engine seals or gaskets. But it might find an existing leak. The smaller molecules of synthetic oil are able to pass through very small cracks and crevices that the larger molecules of petroleum-based oil cannot. Eventually, those small cracks and crevices can lead to bigger problems — with or without synthetic oil.

Myth #4: My engine will benefit if I use supplemental additives.

Adding commercially available additives to your oil is unnecessary, as reputable motor oils will be already formulated with additives to ensure optimal engine performance.

Additional additives may dilute the effectiveness of the oil or even upset the oil chemistry. Refer to your owner’s manual for information about oil additives for your vehicle.

Myth #5: Once you use synthetic oil, you can’t switch back to conventional oil.

Switching between synthetic and conventional oils will not cause any damage to an engine. In fact, synthetic blends are a mixture of synthetic and conventional oil.

Click here for more information on Cenex engine oils. Find the Cenex oil that’s right for your vehicle with our lubricants recommendation tool.

Spread The Word

When it comes to doing oil changes, switching between synthetic and conventional oil is perfectly okay. Despite the oil myths, both oil types are compatible with each other – no engine flush needed. So, simply making the switch will not cause any damage to your engine nor impact your travels. But, once you go with a high-quality full synthetic oil, you won’t want to switch back to conventional. Here’s why.

Your Primer on Synthetic vs. Conventional Oil Types

Since it’s made from refined crude oil, conventional oil doesn’t have a stable chemical structure with uniform molecule shapes and sizes. Instead, the molecules are all different, which allows the oil to oxidize, acidify, and break down rather quickly.

Full synthetics, on the other hand, are precisely engineered to get around that problem. The result is a stable base oil structure that can last longer than ever, allowing you to get the most value out of every oil change. Its uniform molecular structure also helps the additives work their magic to better protect your engine mile after mile.

Overall, the benefits of using a high-quality full synthetic at every oil change include:

Prevents sludge from building up in the internal passageways in your engine
Protects all the moving parts in your motor from excessive wear over the years
Helps cool the internals in your engine and protect them from high temperatures
Keeps oil flowing smoothly through your engine while driving in cold weather

With all these benefits on your side, it just makes sense to switch to synthetic oil and never go back to conventional.

Conventional vs. Synthetic Oil Change Intervals

When you go with synthetic motor oil instead of conventional, you can come into your favorite Springfield OH auto repair shop for oil changes much less often. Although that means missing out on what the auto repair team is up to, it also saves you money in the long run.

With conventional oil, you’d have to jet in every 3,000 to 5,000 miles for an oil change to keep your motor in top condition. If you wait too long, the additives and base oil structure rapidly breakdown, often turning into a nasty sludge.

When you switch to a high-quality full synthetic oil, however, you can likely go 6,000 to 16,000 miles between oil changes. The exact timing depends on your vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations, driving styles, and environmental conditions. Your mechanic can look at those factors and let you know exactly when to come into the shop for service.

Is It Time for an Oil Change? Schedule Your Visit to Our Springfield OH Auto Shop

If your car needs an oil change, or you just want to change oil types, give our team at Zima Automotive a call at 937-342-3911 to schedule your visit. You can trust that we will always use high-quality full synthetic motor oil in your car. We’ll also take the time to understand your car’s maintenance needs and set you up with a service schedule to follow for the precise care of your vehicle.

Fact Or Fiction?

When it comes to auto repair and maintenance, there are so many ideas and myths, making it overwhelming for those who just don’t know what to believe! Hence the reason that I made this video called “Fact Or Fiction”. In this video I debunk myths and confirming truths to automotive stuff, helping you feel settled once and for all.

Can I put regular oil instead of synthetic?

Synthetic oils typically provide better protection than conventional oils, but switching back and forth between full synthetic and conventional oil will not damage the engine. Of course, this depends on the current engine condition and the quality of the conventional oil being used.

What happens if you put regular oil in a synthetic?

Yes. There is no danger mixing synthetic and conventional motor oil. However, conventional oil will detract from the superior performance of synthetic oil and reduce its benefits. In this post, we'll also look at if it's safe to use regular oil after synthetic oil.

What happens if you put non synthetic oil in a synthetic engine?

As regular oil moves through the vehicle's engine, it degrades slowly thus leaving harmful deposits and even leading to the formation of sludge. It can affect the performance of your car's engine and the life of the vehicle.