Synthetic motor oil worth the splurge

Choosing the right motor oil can be overwhelming. Conventional oil has been the industry standard for years; however, more expensive synthetic versions claim to provide better performance. Is synthetic oil really worth the higher price tag? According to a recent study, the answer is yes.

AAA’s independent evaluations show that synthetic oil offers significantly better engine protection than conventional oil, for only $64 more per year when following a factory-recommended oil change schedule.

“Oil is the lifeblood of an engine, and AAA found that synthetic engine oils performed nearly 50 percent better than conventional oils in a variety of industry-standard tests,” said AAA’s Automotive Engineering & Repair Managing Director John Nielsen. “AAA found that synthetic oil is particularly beneficial to vehicles with turbo-charged engines and for vehicles that frequently drive in stop-and-go traffic, tow heavy loads or operate in extreme hot or cold conditions.”

While only a few vehicles specifically require synthetic oil, all can benefit from using it. Still, many drivers say they regularly select conventional oil because they think synthetic is too expensive, offers no benefit, is an unnecessary up-sell or because they weren’t given a choice.

The average cost of a conventional oil change at a AAA Approved Auto Repair facility is $38, while a synthetic oil change is $70. For the do-it-yourselfer, the average cost of 5 quarts of conventional oil is approximately $28, while synthetic oil is $45.

“It’s understandable that drivers may be skeptical of any service that is nearly twice the cost of the alternative,” Nielsen said. “While a manufacturer-approved conventional oil won’t harm a vehicle’s engine, the extra $30 per oil change could actually save money in the long run by providing optimal engine protection.”