Let’s Learn About Your Kia’s Oil

If you’ve ever gotten an oil change, you’ve probably heard the terms “conventional” and “synthetic” being thrown around when it comes to your oil. Some drivers know that synthetic oil is better, but may not know why, while others may not know the difference at all.

At Kia of Clermont, we proudly serve the area with outstanding maintenance and repair services and provide insightful education, so you’re always in the know when it comes to your Kia.

Let’s dive in and explore the difference between these two oil types and find out why drivers around Clermont, FL trust our Kia service center for all of their maintenance and repair needs.

The 411 on Motor Oil

Before we talk about the difference between oils, let’s talk about why they’re needed. Motor oil is a lubricant, a protectant, and cleaner for the moving parts inside your engine. As it’s pumped through your motor, it covers the many moving parts inside, and reduces friction, regulates heat, and removes deposits like carbon.

As time goes by, your oil gets dirtier, it can oxidize, and provide less protection than it did when it was fresh. This is why it must be changed every few thousand miles.

Running your engine with old, dirty oil or even no oil, can result in extreme engine wear and mechanical breakdown.

The Low Down on Conventional Oil

Conventional motor oil is a byproduct of crude oil, and features properties that allow it to maintain its lubricating properties at high temperatures. This type of oil provides adequate engine protection and typically needs to be changed every 3,000–5,000 miles.

Though conventional oil provides adequate protection for your engine’s parts, this type of oil does not provide enough protection for every engine; that’s where synthetic oil comes in.

The Superior Protection of Synthetic Oil

Full synthetic motor oil is made of chemically modified components, and is considered the gold standard of engine protection. Synthetic oil keeps your engine cleaner, features a higher heat resistance, and offers a longer life than conventional oil. This type of engine oil typically needs to be changed every 7500–10,000 miles.

For some vehicles, synthetic oil is vital to preserve engine performance and reliability. For example, conventional oil breaks down at around 250ºF. However, oil spun inside a turbocharger can reach 400º F before it is cooled and sent back to the oil, which makes the use of synthetic oils vital for certain vehicles.

There’s Also An In Between

In this synthetic vs conventional oil matchup, we have to mention the “in-between” option: synthetic blend oil. This type of oil is fantastic for high mileage engines and usually features a conventional base, along with synthetic additives. These additives usually include detergents or sealants to address issues like gasket leaks, and carbon build up.

Trust Kia of Cleveland or Your Kia Oil Change

When you’re ready for your Kia’s oil change, we welcome you to come down to Kia of Clermont. Each of our technicians is ASE Certified, factory trained, and uses genuine Kia replacement parts.

We proudly serve Groveland and Oakland, FL and welcome you to take advantage of additional savings with our fantastic service specials.

Schedule service today and trust your Kia in the hands of the best.