Synthetic vs Conventional Oil & Which should You be Using?

Synthetic Oil vs Conventional Oil?

If you are wondering if you should switch the type of oil that you are using in your vehicle then don’t feel alone. Thousands of Automotive customers turn that question over in their heads endlessly to no avail. This is why we are here to help.

Before you decide what to do, you need to understand that Synthetic Oils are superior to Conventional Oils. They last longer and are able to withstand harsh temperatures better than Conventional Oil. This is because they are made in a lab, where the molecules are quite literally engineered to perform better.

Unfortunately, because so much time goes into making Synthetic Oils, they can cost much, much more than Conventional Oil. If you search Social Media platforms, like Facebook, I guarantee that there are those complaining about how much they just spent on their last oil change because a Synthetic, or a Synthetic Blend, Oil was used.

To put things in perspective, depending on the car and where you live, an Oil Change using Conventional Oil rarely tops $60 bucks. Oil Changes involving a Synthetic Oil can go as high as $120. To top it off, studies show that even with being able to go longer between Oil Changes when using Synthetic, customers’ pocketbooks don’t see that big of a difference.

So, this brings us back to should you be using Synthetic Oil during your vehicle’s Oil Changes? More likely than not, the answer is no.

If you change your oil regularly, the recommended interval is every 3 months or 3,000 miles, then you don’t need to use Synthetic Oil. If you live in a climate where you could regularly fry an egg on the road, or where your pipes bursting from freezing temperatures is a regular occurrence, then you could benefit from Synthetic Oil Changes. If not, then Conventional Oil is perfectly fine.

The only time to disregard your punctuality or climate, would be if your owner’s manual specifically says otherwise. If your owner’s manual requires that you use Full Synthetic Oil, or a Synthetic Blend, then that is what you need to use. Otherwise, save your money, and stick with Conventional.

Regardless of whether you use Synthetic or Conventional Oil, coming in for regular Oil Changes at 3,000 mile or 3-month intervals is alwaysa good practice. Not only does it ensure you’re running fresh oil in your engine, but it allows your Mechanic to keep a close eye by doing regular courtesy inspections.

Pugh’s Automotive Service in Dover, DE performs Free Courtesy Inspections during all Oil Changes. To schedule an appointment, visit our website at www.pughsservice.com/auto or call (302)734-4231.

Why Should I Get an Oil Change?

Despite its importance to your vehicle’s overall wellbeing, people oftentimes either put off, forget, or completely forego the Regular Maintenance that their Car needs to ensure it’s continually running smoothly.

I understand that it can be easy to shrug off the Change Oil or Service Now Light in your vehicle, but the harsh reality is that you shouldn’t. It may cost money, it may be inconvenient, but the fact of the matter is that if you don’t bring your car in for Oil Changes once every 3,000 miles, you could end up with no car at all.

You see, your Vehicle needs Oil to function properly. Without Engine Oil, the parts that involve rapidly moving parts that are metal on metal, like the Pistons in the Cylinder Heads, will wear out exponentially faster. The reason for that is Heat, created by the Friction of those parts rubbing together without the proper Lubrication. 

This can cause your Engine to Overheat, which can lead to irreparable damage. 

Making sure to schedule regular Oil Changes for your vehicle will ensure that all of those moving parts have the necessary Lubrication to keep your engine running for a long time because the Oil will reduce the friction, preventing your Engine from Overheating.

Getting your Oil Changed can also remove the dirt and grime that begins to build up when the Oil from your last Oil Change begins to break down. If you go too long between Oil Changes, those dirt and wear particles become more prevalent, giving the Oil a sludge-like consistency. When that happens, the oil loses its viscosity, creating more friction within your engine.

Regular Oil Changes can also help improve gas mileage. Old, Dirty Engine Oil will make your Vehicle work harder to run, which will inevitably increase your Gas Consumption. By keeping up with your Oil Changes, you could very well be cutting down on your vehicle’s Gas Consumption!

Even with all of this, many still won’t stick to a regular schedule of Oil Changes. We understand, it can be a hassle trying to schedule your day around something as simple as an Oil Change. That is why at Pugh’s Service Automotive, we offer Free Pick-up and Drop-Off, along with Free Shuttle Services.

We don’t want you to miss a minute of your day, which is why we gladly offer to drive you to work and drop your car off once it’s finished! We also perform Free Inspections on every car that comes in for an Oil Change. This way, if your vehicle has any issues, you’ll know about it before it develops into something catastrophic.

Call (302)734-4231 to schedule your Oil Change with Pugh’s Service Automotive in Dover, Delaware. Or, feel free to visit our website at www.pughsservice.com

Should I Warm My Car Up in the Winter?

Ever look outside your window to see your car covered in frost and think to yourself I really don’t feel like going out there to get my car ready to go to work?

I’ve got news for you. As much as you don’t like going out there to warm it up, scrape off your windows, or clean off last night’s snow, your car hates it when you start it up and speed off on your morning commute without letting it warm up.

I realize this flies in the face of what you may have been told, but think about it. Just like you, your car needs time to warm up before you just throw it in gear and put it through the rigors of highway traffic.

During the winter, when your car sits overnight, the Engine Oil becomes cold and sinks to the bottom of your vehicle’s Engine. Then, as it sits even longer, it loses its viscosity, which is what helps it move quickly and easily to all the proper parts of your engine. If not given time to warm up, the oil will have a much harder time making its way through your engine, which means all the moving parts that need lubrication aren’t getting it the way they need to.  The viscosity isn’t restored until the Engine Oil warms up to the proper point. 

Many advice blogs will tell you that your engine only needs 30 seconds to warm up; however, as noted above, that doesn’t take into account the currently cold, sludge-like Engine Oil that still needs time to heat back up. Ask any scientist— it takes far more time and energy to heat something up than it does to cool it down.

Another thing that is said in those blogs, which is still true but often ignored, is if you do wait 30-60 seconds for the Engine to warm, it’s ok to drive as long as you drive easily. The reason for that little disclaimer is because even they know that the Engine Oil hasn’t fully warmed up, even if the engine has. Also, if you are like me, you’ve waited until the last second and don’t have time to take it easy with the car. So instead you jump in, start the car, and it’s off to the races.

Doing this to your car repeatedly will shorten the life of your engine and could wind up resulting in costly repairs. As a Repair Shop, Pugh’s Service Automotive is always ready to help should the worst happen. However, we would much rather give you advice on how to avoid potentially costly situations.

Another reason to let your car warm up first before driving it is to let your heater and defrosters kick into gear. By doing this, you might just find that you don’t have to scrape off your windows, freezing your tushy off in the process. If you are like me, that is the last thing you want to do after drinking your nice hot cup of coffee.

So, tomorrow morning when it’s cold and your windows are frosted over, remember to go out there 10 minutes early to start your car. It may not verbally give you thanks, but it will always be warm and ready for you when you hop in to begin your commute to work.

How to Get your Car ready for Winter

Winter has a nasty habit of wreaking havoc on our daily lives, especially if you are one of many who has to leave your vehicle out in the cold or make a commute to work. From causing dead batteries to body damage, due to the unfortunate slip on some black ice, winter is more foe than friend to the average Joe.

So how do you stay on top of things when winter comes blowing in? You take your car to a trusted Automotive Shop, like Pugh’s Service Automotive, to make sure it is in tip-top shape to handle the coming winter weather.

At Pugh’s Service Automotive, we offer free Sensory, or SHOT Inspections. SHOT stands for Seeing, Hearing, Odor and Touch. This quick, but very thorough, inspection allows us to access your car and its ability to keep you safe, even during a snow storm.

Pugh’s Service Automotive’s SHOT Inspection will start with a Test Drive to make sure that we don’t hear any concerning noises from your vehicle. Low Brake Pads will make a Squealing Sound that will give them away. A Test Drive will also allow us to feel any vibrations, which could indicate Unbalanced Tires. If there are two things you definitely don’t want to have while driving around in the snow or rain, its Low Brakes and/or Bad Tires.

On a Test Drive, our mechanics will also use their sense of Smell. Is there a Sweet Smell in your car while it’s running? Could be that you have an Antifreeze Leak, which is something that could really hurt your vehicle if not caught before it gets too cold. Maybe there is a Burning Smell coming from your Heater Vents. This could be anything from Dust and Debris in the Vents to a problem with your Heater Core.

Once back from the Test Drive, our Mechanics will go over your vehicle completely, checking the Battery and Battery Terminals, checking the Tread Depth of your Tires and the level of the Brake Lining, inspecting the Wiper Blade Condition. They will also Feel the Belts and Hoses for any Cracking, Fraying, Soft Spots or Bulges. The Condition and Level of all of your fluids, such as Antifreeze, Oil, Brake Fluid, Washer Fluid, and Transmission Fluid will be checked as well.

Finally, we will test to see if all of your lights are working properly, to ensure that you can see clearly whether it be a clear day, raining, sleeting, snowing or just foggy.

At Pugh’s Service Automotive, we value your safety and understand that during this time of year, saving money is more important than ever. That is why our SHOT Inspections are free with every Oil Change or Automotive Service, along with any accompanying estimate for repair.

If you are looking to get your car ready for winter (and save a little money), please visit us at 728 Leipsic Road in Dover, Delaware. You can always call to schedule your appointment too, at (302)734-4231.

Pugh’s Service Automotive

728 Leipsic Rd, Dover, DE 19901

www.pughsservice.com/auto

(302)734-4231