Correcting common motor oil myths – Where did they come from?
Motor oil myths abound. Here are five of the most persistent along with our myth-busting facts.
Changing oil in the spring and fall is more tradition than a maintenance imperative.
by Brad Nelson
Motor oil has drawn more than its fair share of myths. Its central role in vehicle longevity and performance has been understood since the beginning of the auto age. But, as generations have passed, motor oil myths have been born and survived, even as vehicle and motor oil technology have evolved. Some persist to this day. Here are the top five motor oil myths followed by our mythbusting facts of each case.
Myth 1: Motor Oil Must Be Changed Once It’s Turned Black
I get this one all the time, but you can have dark as molasses, and it can still test like it hasn’t reached 20% of its life.
Fact: Not necessarily. Motor oil naturally darkens due to heat cycles as your engine runs. Additionally, the detergent and dispersant additives hold contaminants in suspension and prevent them from adhering to engine parts, which can turn the oil black. Just consider it’s not always “dirt” and most likely oxidation.
In fact, motor oil that has turned black can be a sign that the additives are doing their job. Follow the oil-change guidelines for your vehicle to know when to change oil. If you want to be more precise, used oil analysis will also tell you precisely when the oil needs to be changed.
This post explains why motor oil turns black and whether that signals the time for a change. Dark colored oil isn’t generally a sign of anything to worry about.
Myth 2: You Must Change Oil Every 3,000 miles (4,800 km)
Hey, why not just change it every 100 miles!
Fact: Quick-lube chains adopted and amplified this message in the 1970s to keep customers coming back.
Today, motor oil and engine technology are far more advanced.
Look, (as someone we know always says) – Many time customers have dropped off copies of their analysis and any time it’s about 1/2 way from our suggested interval (Duramax at 9000 miles for example using Signature Series) – the oil looked as if it was hardly used. But I suggest performing an oil analysis for your own piece of mind. Your car is expensive equipment and it’s worth it. Industrial engines and equipment managers wouldn’t dream of not using oil analysis.
Automakers recommend longer oil-change intervals, with many up to 10,000 miles (16,000 km) and longer, thanks to oil-life monitoring systems. And premium synthetic motor oils, like AMSOIL Signature Series Synthetic Motor Oil, last up to 25,000 miles (40,000 km) or one year. Still occasionally there is a vehicle which suffers from a sludging issue so only a premium – low volatility synthetic should be used. That alone usually solves that issue but that is a manufacture problem. Our customers tell us they started using AMSOIL in order to lesson the effects significantly.
Check out this post for more about the 3,000-mile oil-change myth.
Do I Need to Change Oil Every 3,000 Miles?
Myth 3: You Can’t Mix Synthetic and Conventional Oil
No – not a big deal.
Fact: Synthetic and conventional motor oil are made of the same basic components: base oils and additives.
Although the base oils and additives in synthetic oil are superior to their conventional counterparts, they are compatible and can safely be mixed. In fact, that’s what synthetic-blend motor oil is – synthetic and conventional oil already mixed for you.
While safe, we recommend avoiding it if possible; mixing the two detracts from the performance of the synthetic oil. So keep in mind while you wont harm anything, you do lose out on all the benefits.
This post provides a deep dive on whether it’s safe to mix synthetic and conventional oil.
Myth 4: Once You Switch to Synthetic Oil, You Can’t Go Back
Oh jeez, I don’t know where that came from but that’s the furthest from the truth..
Fact: It’s perfectly safe to switch from conventional oil to synthetic oil and back again. The two are compatible and doing so won’t harm your engine.
A better question might be: after using synthetic motor oil and experiencing its improved performance capabilities, why would you switch back?
Myth 5: Synthetic Oil Causes Engines to Leak Oil
Fact: In older, poorly maintained engines, deposits and varnish can “paper over” worn, cracked seals. The improved detergents in synthetic oil sometimes remove these deposits and expose the worn seals underneath.
In some instances, that can lead to leaks. Here’s the distinction: the oil didn’t cause the problem, rather the worn-out seals did. In fact, a good synthetic oil, like AMSOIL synthetic motor oil, conditions seals to help them remain pliable to prevent leaks. Therefore, the best solution is to use a quality synthetic motor oil before seals reach that condition.
Don’t expect other ‘synthetic’ oil brands to have the additives needed to prevent leaks as that is one of the more expensive items likely left out of the formulation.
We actually have a new oil that STOPS leaks!!
