Volvo / Hino Truck Sales , Parts & Service

Need Oil Changes for Your Truck? Should You Use Synthetic or Conventional Oil?

When you are operating a large fleet of trucks, or even using just one truck for commercial purposes, you are going to be putting in a lot of miles. The more miles you put in, the more that you are going to be spending on oil changes, an integral part of keeping any truck or motorized vehicle running at its best. Some trucks demand synthetic oil, but with some trucks, you have the choice between conventional oil and synthetic. So which do you choose? While conventional oil is more cost effective, especially with a large fleet, there are pros to using synthetic. Here is our list of the pros and cons of picking conventional or synthetic oil for your fleet.

To Begin

For those who need a bit of a refresher: conventional oil comes from crude oil, which is a naturally-occurring fossil fuel; synthetic oil is created molecule by molecule from chemical compounds to mimic crude oil and meet the rigors that many modern vehicles demand.

So which do you choose?

Temperature

If hot temperatures are an issue, then you will want to reach for synthetic oil. Synthetic oils have been manufactured specially to resist heat, which means that they break down slower and last longer.

In cold temperatures, synthetic oil wins again. Conventional oil reacts with the cold and becomes thick until it warms up, so it will not provide the proper amount of lubrication to your engine. Synthetic oils do not suffer this and so will flow smoothly into your engine the moment you start your car.

Cleanliness & Wear Protection

Oil lubricates the engine to keep your car running smoothly. As it does this, though, deposits form in the oil from its imperfections and sludge can be deposited on your engine.

When it comes to cleanliness, synthetic oil has fewer impurities than conventional oil. This means that fewer deposits form in the oil and are imparted onto the engine, which helps keep the engine running longer over time.

Long Lasting

Conventional oil needs to be changed between 3,000 miles and 5,000 miles. Synthetic oil should be changed at 7,500 miles but can sometimes last up to 10,000 or 15,000 miles.

Manufacturer Requirements

Before opting for conventional oil over synthetic oil, you need to look at what kind of oil your car needs. Some vehicles require synthetic oil and will not correct with conventional oil. Check your owner’s manual or ask your mechanic.

Cost Difference

The reality is that conventional oil is less expensive than synthetic oil. While synthetic oil is by far the better performing oil, if cost is a significant issue then conventional oil may be what you need. Make sure that you do a cost analysis, however, and figure out if you really are going to be saving money with conventional oil. After all, you will have to get oil changes more frequently, and your engine will wear out sooner.

At Beaver Trucks, we want you to have the best truck fleet possible. To have that you need to have the best oil. Consider the information above when you are selecting


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