Why are Synthetic Motor Oils So Good for Your Vehicle in the Winter?

“Is Synthetic Motor oil that good in the winter?” is the one question we always get from our customers, and our answer is yes. If you want the best protection for your vehicle, then Synthetics are the way to go.

Let me explain why. In the old days, when your parents were young, synthetics were not that popular, perhaps in some racing engines. Back in those days, thick motor oils were used, with grades such as 20W50 and 10W40’s. Today, engines are technologically advanced, and those thick motor oils of yesterday just wouldn’t work in today’s vehicles. Instead, they would create drag, make it harder for your vehicle to perform, and create wear.

Today’s engines have very tight tolerances and require thin motor oils that can stand the temperature(flow), protect the engine, and do their job of keeping it clean. In addition, there are other essential factors provided by thin motor oils, such as fuel economy, reducing emissions, etc. Many of today’s engines recommend synthetics right off the factory floor with grades such as 0W15 or 0W20. These are very thin, superior motor oils.

Let me try and explain why that is important, especially in winter. One job of motor oil is to reduce wear on critical engine parts. That is accomplished by keeping metal surfaces from contacting. When you shut off your vehicle, all the oil drains down to the oil pan. An ultra-thin film is all that is left to keep parts from contacting, such as the pistons and the piston walls. The strength of that film is critical. Why?

The best example I can give you is hydroplaning. You’re driving along on a wet day, and suddenly your vehicle starts to hydroplane or slide out of control along the road. What is happening is there is a film of water that is separating the tires from the road. Once that film of water breaks, your tires contact the road, and you abruptly stop.

The film strength of your motor oil is important because until the motor oil can flow through the engine, some of your critical parts are protected by that film. In winter, it can get down to -40, and if you ever poured a bottle of water and a bottle of molasses, you’ll see how fast water flows and how slow the molasses flows. Synthetics heat up and flow faster at extremely low temperatures and are the best at getting up to temperature and flowing through the engine before that film can break, ultimately protecting those critical engine parts.

Thinner oils flow better and reduce friction, meaning your engine doesn’t need to work as hard, and the benefit is improved fuel economy. The thinner the oils, the better they need to be.

Benefits of Synthetic Motor Oils

There are so many benefits of Synthetic motor oils since they are built with planned and predictable properties. Still, in our opinion, the one key factor is its ability to flow at extreme temperatures. Whether it is flowing at -40, or its ability to withstand the extreme heat in the summer and not break down, they are the best motor oils you can buy. Auto manufacturers are choosing these oils to protect their engines and provide ultimate performance.

The price of new vehicles continues to rise, and many of our customers are looking for ways to extend the life and performance of their vehicles. Synthetics are a good investment if you’re looking to do the same.

That is why we include Synthetic Motor oil in our Ultimate Winter Package.