Blog

If you want to make sure that your car reaches that 100,000 milestone and
beyond, changing your engine oil on a regular basis is the least­expensive and
most important maintenance task you can do. But with all of the engine oil types
out there today, how do you pick the best one for your needs? Well never fear,
Vesa’s Automotive is here! In part one of our blog series on oil types, we’ve used
our expertise to give you a break­down of conventional and synthetic motor oil
that will help steer you in the right direction (pardon the automotive pun), and talk
on the other varieties in the coming months. If you have any questions that we
didn’t address, ask away! We value our customers above all else!

First we’re going to take a look at the most common and easily­recognized oil
type: conventional oil. This oil type had been around awhile, and is still the best
choice for most casual drivers with non­luxury cars. It’s inexpensive, has good
lubrication, and varies little between different brands (though premium and
standard conventional oils are available). As an engine’s mileage increases
however, impurities and molecular irregularities can build up quickly during the oil
breakdown process and eventually lead to leaks, poor performance and
increased engine wear. It’s also worth noting that while conventional oil is the
lowest cost option available for an individual oil change, its lower quality means
that the oil degrades faster and requires more frequent oil changes to
compensate, so long­term value­seekers should pay attention to our next
category: synthetic.

Ah, synthetic! If engine oil was a food, synthetic oil would be the gourmet’s
choice for engines. Synthetic is exactly what it sounds like: artificiallymanufactured components put together with a petroleum base, all of which are
engineered to lubricate your engine parts under the most demanding conditions.
There are other technical benefits as well, but the most important idea to take
away from synthetic oil is that compared to other varieties, synthetic oil will take
more abuse and keep your engine running better, cooler and longer. With its high
durability and special additives to remove engine sludge and mineral deposits,
drivers can expect increase fuel economy and reduced oil consumption, so
motorists can drive longer and farther between oil changes. Now with all of these
oil­tech perks, you can expect to pay at least twice as much for synthetic
compared to conventional oil, which may cause a few consumers to “economize”
by sticking with the cheap stuff. While there is always a consumer’s right to
choose, a word of caution is in order: because of their fine­tuning, performance
vehicles and luxury cars usually require full synthetic to protect sensitive engine
parts, and is also generally recommended for anyone putting a lot of stress on an
engine through heavy towing or dusty road conditions. Regular oil just can’t cut it,
and using it in high­end vehicles can lead to costly complications and repairs
down the road.

Well those are the two most common types of engine oil explained, and we hope
you learned a little something about car maintenance! Don’t forget: ask us about
things we missed and we’ll be happy to answer them! As a final note, if you savvy
auto owners are thinking, “Hmm…didn’t they forget to mention high­mileage oil
and synthetic­blend oil?” then fear not! Keep your eyes peeled for Part 2 of our
“That’s Pretty Slick!” blog series: “Blending Goodness and High Mileage
Heroes” coming soon! In the meantime, happy driving from Vesa’s Automotive!