Is synthetic oil better for my engine than conventional oil?

If we are talking about a modern-day passenger vehicle, then YES synthetic oil is better for your engine than conventional oil. Nearly every aspect of a synthetic oil will benefit your modern engine that is used in daily driving and high-performance applications. Conventional oil (i.e., mineral oil) cannot compete with the overall engine performance and protection provided by synthetics for modern-day vehicles.

HOWEVER, if we are talking about an older model car, classic car, modified streetcar application, then the answer is MAYBE. There are several applications where a conventional oil will be the better choice.

If there are ever a question on which oil is best for your application, we will help you determine the best oil package for your specific application.

So how do synthetic oils outperform conventional oils?

By offering greater engine wear protection

Engine parts are in constant contact with each other and moving at high speeds and are constantly trying to break through the fluid film and boundary film of your oil. In the extreme environment of your engine the heat, speed and load increase, this job becomes more difficult for the oil. If the oil cannot handle this task and perform when needed, components can wear and break down. Your motor oil and its additive system is the only protective barrier between these components.

As conventional and synthetic blend oils break down sooner than a synthetic oil and their ability to reduce engine wear diminishes. Torco full synthetic oils retain their wear protection properties for a much longer time, helping to increase engine life by keeping important engine parts in excellent condition for 250,000 miles.*

*Total engine miles. Tested in vehicles primarily in city and highway driving conditions with respective product recommended oil change intervals.

By keeping your engine cleaner

As oil circulates through your engine, it can pick up deposits. Over time, conventional base oils, although more pure and cleaner than they have ever been, can form sludge, which can reduce your engine's efficiency and, ultimately, reduce the life of your engine. Torco full synthetic oils contain fewer impurities compared to conventional and synthetic blend oils and can better resist the formation of sludge and deposits in your engine. If your engine already has sludge, Torco motor oils can assist in clean up of engine sludge in just a few oil changes.

By protecting better at high temperatures

When running, engines are hot. Over time, the high temperatures in your engine can cause conventional and synthetic blend oils to break down or evaporate, exposing your engine to premature wear. Torco full synthetic oils are engineered to resist these high temperatures, which is especially important if you are driving in hot climates or requiring your engine to work harder such as while towing or hauling.

What is the difference between a full synthetic oil and a synthetic blend?

While there are no firm industry definitions, full synthetic motor oils uses one of the official base oil groupings, Group III, Group IV or Group V or a combination of these as a starting point. Synthetic blend motor oils will typically be either a blend of Group III, IV or V with a Group I or II conventional base oil to arrive at a Synthetic Blend finished product. But the synthetic base oil is only half the story. The correct blend of additives must go into the mix to create the oil.