While it's safe to mix synthetic and conventional oil since they're compatible, here's why it's best to avoid it.
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.
Let’s take a closer look.
Can I Mix Oil Types?
With synthetic lubricants continuing to grow in popularity, the question of whether synthetic and conventional oil can be safely mixed often arises.
I’m guilty of having mixed different types of motor oil with reckless abandon back in the day. A dash of synthetic-blend to top off my Buick Century one month and a shot of cheap conventional oil the next.
While oil performance probably suffered, my engine always remained in one piece.
That’s because you can safely mix synthetic and conventional oil. In fact, synthetic-blend motor oil is simply conventional and synthetic oil already mixed for you.
But, barring an emergency, it’s not a great idea to mix oil types.
Why It’s Not a Great Idea to Mix Synthetic and Conventional Oil
All motor oil, whether synthetic or conventional, is a combination of base oils and additives.
Synthetic base oils are manufactured using a process that removes the impurities inherent to conventional base oils. Synthetics typically contain higher-quality additives, too.
So, in the end, conventional and synthetic oils are comprised of the same, compatible components – it’s just that the components in synthetics are much higher quality.
While you can safely mix synthetic and conventional oils, you’re doing nothing more than diluting the performance of the synthetic oil.
What If You Have to Mix Oil Types?
You may not have a choice to mix the two in some cases.
If you’re traveling, for example, and suddenly find your engine low on oil, cheap conventional oil may be the only option at the gas station alongside the highway.
While it’s safe to top off an engine that normally uses AMSOIL synthetic motor oil with conventional oil, we recommend changing the oil at your earliest convenience. In fact, AMSOIL does not support extended drain intervals where oils have been mixed.
Can You Use Regular Oil After Synthetic?
Yes, it’s perfectly safe to switch to regular conventional oil after using synthetic oil. As mentioned, both oil types are made of compatible components; it’s just that the base oils and additives in the synthetic oil are higher quality.
But, since synthetic motor oil provides improved wear protection, engine cleanliness, fuel efficiency and other benefits, why would you want to use regular oil again?
More like this
The oil is considered to be the blood of all automobiles. The oil will give power to your vehicle, and it will also make all the other components work smoothly. The oil will take away that excess heat created by the moving of the internal parts of your vehicle.
So is it okay if you will use regular oil instead of synthetic oil? Synthetic oil and regular oil have similar applications. That means that you can use regular oil after using synthetic oil.
It also had additives. These additives will clean out the harmful chemicals in your engine. But after a long time, you need to change your oil.
Fluids on our vehicles are a mystery and a lot of people are asking if they can use regular oil instead of synthetic oil. Some car drivers want to know if it is really okay to use regular oil instead of synthetic oil.
And with that, the question arises whether they can use regular oil instead of synthetic and what would happen then. So in this article, we’ll talk about what would happen if you used regular oil instead of synthetic. So without further ado, let us get started in knowing more about regular oil and synthetic oil.
- Is It Bad To Put Regular Oil Instead Of Synthetic?
- What Happens When You Use Regular Oil Instead Of Synthetic?
- 1. Raw Manufacturing
- 2. No Cleanliness And Protection On The Engine
- 3. Regular Oil Is Not A Good Choice For Driving With Extreme Temperatures
- 4. An Increase In The Cost
- 5. Lesser Oil Longevity
- Is There Something You Should Do After Accidentally Using Regular Oil?
- Is It Ok To Put Regular Oil In After Synthetic?
- Summary
- Resources
Synthetic oil and regular oil have similar applications. That means that you can use regular oil after using synthetic oil. Many car drivers believe that if you start to use synthetic oil, you will go back to regular oil, but this is not true.
Both of these oils might be different, but the differences are not much. The regular oil and the synthetic oil are made up of lubricants, and they will keep the engine’s performance smooth and steady. What would happen if you used regular oil instead of synthetic oil?
If you change from synthetic oil to regular oil, it will not affect the vehicle’s well-being. The only difference that you will know is that there will be a change in the performance of your engine. The synthetic will be much better compared to the regular oil if you compare them in terms of quality.
So with that, you will notice a change in the steady performance of your engine. The fact that the performance of your engine will decrease will make people think that a change to regular oil from synthetic oil will be impossible. Experts would prefer that you use and stick with a synthetic oil instead of downgrading.
Thy synthetic oil will make your vehicle’s engine healthy, and it will also increase its usefulness. And so if you decide that you will change from synthetic oil to regular oil, there will be many things that you have to consider. It would also be recommended that you gradually change since introducing a new oil type to your engine.
What Happens When You Use Regular Oil Instead Of Synthetic?
In this section, we will be discussing what would happen if you will use regular oil and not synthetic oil.
1. Raw Manufacturing
Compared to a synthetic coil, the regular oil will be more distilled and more refined from the crude oil. Crude oil will be a naturally occurring liquid fossil fuel. So the companies are artificially preparing synthetic oil for the chemical compounds.
The goal is to copy the properties of the natural oil. They will produce it in alignment with modern vehicles.
2. No Cleanliness And Protection On The Engine
The regular will move into the engine of the vehicle, and it will deteriorate very slowly. As a result, it will lead to the formation of sludge.
It will also affect the performance of your vehicle’s engine and the lifespan of your vehicle. Synthetic oil has few impurities.
It is also more sludge resistant. It will keep the engine of your vehicle clean. With that, your engine will be cleaner, and you will also have a more smooth operation.
3. Regular Oil Is Not A Good Choice For Driving With Extreme Temperatures
Your vehicle’s engine creates heat if you have a long ride. It will make the oil break down. Synthetic oil will work better under extreme conditions because it is made with accurate engineering.
With that, it will resist heat quickly, and it will provide a long lifespan to your vehicle’s engine. The regular oil will take longer to heat up to the ideal viscosity in cold temperatures. In addition, it will not offer enough lubrication that is needed if you will start your vehicle.
4. An Increase In The Cost
The mechanic can charge you about thirty dollars to forty-five dollars for a conventional oil change. The fully synthetic oil will cost you seventy dollars to one hundred dollars, depending on the vehicle. The full synthetic will cost you more, but the life of your engine will also increase.
Regular oil will cost you somewhere between one hundred twenty dollars to one hundred eighty dollars. Regular oil is much more expensive.
5. Lesser Oil Longevity
The synthetic oil will require you to change after just a short driving of about ten thousand miles to fifteen thousand miles. The regular oil will need to be changed after three thousand miles to five thousand miles.
Is There Something You Should Do After Accidentally Using Regular Oil?
Even if you have accidentally used the wrong oil in your vehicle, you can still drive your vehicle with no problems, and you can wait until the next service. But experts do not recommend this because it can do damage to your engine.
So instead, if you realize that you have accidentally used regular oil, get your vehicle checked by a mechanic to replace the oils so you can avoid further damages to your engine.
Is It Ok To Put Regular Oil In After Synthetic?
Yes, you can put regular oil into your synthetic oil. It will not harm the quality of the vehicle or your engine. The vital thing is the performance.
Your performance can improve with a switch back to synthetic oil. However, it’s recommended that you should not, but you can if you want to and if you have no other choice.
Summary
In summary, many people ask if they can put regular oil in their engines instead of synthetic oil. People also want to know what could happen if they will use regular oil instead of synthetic oil.
So there’ll be some issue with this. But you can use regular oil. However, it will be more costly.
Also Read:
- What Happens If You Drink Motor Oil?
- Black Soot Coming From Exhaust
- How To Make Your Car Shoot Flames?
- How Much Horsepower Does Exhaust Add?
- How Long To Wait Before Adding Coolant To A Hot Engine?
Resources
Image credits – Canva