In efforts to support attaining higher mandated fuel economy requirements, automakers worldwide are moving towards fully synthetic oils to meet the stressful demands of modern engines for cars, pickups, SUVs and vans.
Synthetic engine oils which are made from a mixture of performance additives and synthetic base oils are optimised to consistently perform better than mineral-based oils.
They don’t break down as easily as mineral oils and they function better under extreme hot and cold temperature conditions. They also possess faster flow when it comes to all vital engine parts in colder weather. In hot temperatures, they exhibit great oxidation stability and don’t evaporate quickly which means better longer-lasting protection for your engine.
Turbocharged engines, for example, help with fuel economy while maintaining power, but are tougher on engine oil than non-turbo engines. That is why full synthetic motor oils have become more important as automakers explore new engine technologies such as turbocharging and engine downsizing.
With the shaft spinning at high revolutions per minute, full synthetics are better able to withstand the high heat produced and control deposit formation ensuring smooth operation and sufficient lubrication.
For oxidation stability, synthetic oil has proven to be highly stable than mineral oil. Additionally, the use of unique detergents and additives in the oil provides better protection against the stress of high RPMs on a hot day.
Synthetic oils are also making engine downsizing possible while not compromising on the output. They helped pave the way for automakers to explore new engine technologies. OEMs are specifying synthetic oil for day-to-day driving due to their tolerances and resistance to foaming and thinning at high engine temperatures.
While synthetic lubricants have better fuel efficiency than mineral-based, understanding where synthetic lubricants will deliver benefits and where it’s more cost-effective is always much favoured to prevent despair in your vehicle.
