In recent years, there has been a debate about whether the additional protection provided by synthetic oil is worth the higher price tag. Read on to learn how synthetic oil is different from conventional oil and what benefits this offers you.

Conventional lubricants are made from mineral base oils, which come directly from a natural source, mostly crude petroleum. Making these oils require less refining than synthetic oils which makes the end product less expensive. The downside to this more natural product is that the molecules in the oil are not uniform in size. This can create more friction and waste build up in the oil.

Synthetic oils also begin as crude petroleum but are highly refined to create a uniform molecular structure. This greatly increases lubrication performance providing extended protection in the most extreme conditions, increased fuel economy, and an extended service life.

What are the advantages of Synthetic oil?

Synthetic oils bring 5 main advantages over conventional oils:

• Higher temperature resistance. Synthetic oils can safely handle higher operating temperatures without breaking down. Synthetic oils are thus recommended for the heavy-duty, turbocharged or hard-use applications seen in agricultural equipment.
• Better low temperature performance, making easier cold starts. Synthetics flow freely at extremely low temperatures (-30 °/- 40° C)
• Better engine protection. As oil moves through the engine, some of the additives can be sheared (cut in half) by high-speed engine parts, which thins the oil. Full synthetic motor oils resist shear under heavy loads better than conventional oils. This helps synthetic motor oil maintain its viscosity grade, which offers better engine protection and withstands more extreme engine conditions.
• Lower oil consumption. Synthetic motor oils experience less "boil off" than conventional motor oils. A good synthetic will lose only about 4 % of its weight when run at 400 degrees for six hours, compared to a 30% loss for conventional petroleum based oil. The lower evaporation rate means less oil consumption between changes.
• Cleaner engines. Synthetics don't break down or sludge up as fast as ordinary mineral based oils do. This means that all your equipment won't accumulate sludge in the engine as fast and lubrication efficiency will be maintained.

Come in and talk to our highly knowledgeable parts staff about all your lubricant options!
Thank you for your time and business,
Young's Equipment Parts and Service teams