Can You Use Regular Oil After Synthetic? – Ultimate Expert Guideline

Synthetic oil and regular oil have the same application in the engine. But both are different in value, effect, and properties. So, the most frequently asked question about synthetic and regular oil is, can you use regular oil after synthetic?

The most common myth, in this case, is that you should never do that. This myth or rumor was actually spread by synthetic oil vendors and makers. It was widespread because synthetic oil is better in every way possible. That’s why people believed it to be true.

Let’s enlighten you with the actual answer.

Can You Use Conventional Oil After Synthetic?

The answer is yes you can. Both have the same application. So, why can’t you use that? For example, you either make corn soup or Thai soup, both of them would be soups. Just it’s a matter of taste.

Just like the taste of soups, there’s a similar distinction between synthetic and regular oils. The distinction is that synthetic oil would give you better performance and a long gap between the oil changes.

Let’s compare them.

How Different Is Synthetic Oil From Regular Oil?

If you judge by the performance factors mentioned above, they seem very different. Let’s just be honest, 15,000 miles to 5,000 miles? The distinction is very clear by the naked eye. But never believe what you see until you know all the facts properly. Get ready to be amazed.

To be honest, synthetic oil and regular conventional engine oils are not that different at all. Having the same application, the base material is the same in both types of oils. They are both made with lubricant type materials that keep the engine performance smooth and steady. But then why does synthetic oil have a better performance?

The answer lies in the synthetic substance that’s added extra to synthetic oil. The synthetic substance makes the oil a better lubricant for your car engine. That’s the basic difference in both these engine oils. The base material is actually the same.

Synthetic Oil Vs Regular Oil (Video Review)

Which One Is Better? Synthetic Or Regular?

Synthetic oil has fewer impurities within. That makes synthetic oil favorable at first. Secondly, synthetic oil lessens the friction drastically inside the engine block. Less friction provides better movement inside and thus the engine works better and keeps better.

Synthetic oil and conventional oil was directly tested on the subject of mileage. It was proven that synthetic oil provides up to 2% more mileage. 2% may seem really low but on regular usage, a car can save up to one gallon of fuel per year! That’s actually not bad.

Finally, the main reason why people use synthetic oil is that it is up to 4 times more effective as engine oil. With synthetic engine oil, you can go up to 15,000 miles. On the other hand, with even the best quality regular oil, you can only go 5,000 miles at best. This is the actual reason why people prefer synthetic oil.

Can You Mix Synthetic And Regular Oils And Use Them In Your Car Engine?

It’s an obvious answer. You can mix them. Some people actually do that to lessen the cost of buying synthetic oil. Because synthetic oil is actually pretty expensive in lieu of regular oil. This is a method of saving money. But is it an ideal way?

No, not at all! The regular oil actually lessens the productivity of synthetic oil. You mix conventional oil with synthetic oil to increase the amount of oil. The number of oil increases but the proportion of synthetic substance decreases. That’s why the oil loses its productivity.

So, applying this method you may have more oil for a longer time to use. But it’s not an ideal thing to do. If you do the maths correctly, it increases the cost, decreases the gap and also decreases the mileage of the car. All these things are unwanted. That’s why you should not mix these two types of oils.

So, When Should You Use Regular Oil After Synthetic?

When you’re switching you’re not damaging your car. But you’re actually playing with the productivity of the engine. If you can get 100 from your engine, shy would you feed it 60? You can never expect the same productivity when you switch from synthetic oil to normal oil. You are sure to see at least 3 times a decrease in performance.

Moreover, you may have to change your oil 3 times instead of once. It takes a lot of time to perform an oil change. Can’t afford to go, sit and wait for an oil change every now and then.

This type of activity boosted up the myth to become a real thing to some people. But remember, this does not harm your car, only lessens the productivity for a while. You can achieve the exact same productivity as before just by changing to synthetic again.

This is not an ideal thing to do honestly. You should not switch your engine oil too often. A steady performance is what we expect from our vehicle. But with the change of engine oils, it’s hard for the car to perform properly. So, only switch if you’re in need of immediate oil change and synthetic oil is not available nearby. Otherwise, just stick to be synthetic stuff. It’s better for your car’s health.

Final Words

The fact is that you can switch between synthetic and regular oil. That does not harm the quality of your car or your engine. The only thing that matters is performance. You can make sure it gets better just by switching back to synthetic.

So, can you use regular oil after synthetic? The answer is yes you can. But the recommendation is you shouldn’t. I have shown several reasons why you shouldn’t switch between your engine oils and also explained why you should not mix your synthetic and conventional oil.

Just stick to the synthetic stuff. Don’t try any home quackery to try and save money.

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