When you have a vital question about motor oil, of course! — you’ve come to the right place. Every day, thousands of drivers are assisted by skilled Jiffy Lube technicians in choosing the best motor oil, including choosing synthetic vs. regular oil and advising whether mixing motor oil is okay.

So, is it possible to combine regular oil and synthetic oil? Yes, combining synthetic and conventional motor oil is safe. Regular oil can prevent synthetic oil from operating to its full potential if you do mix the two types of oil.

Keep reading to find out what happens when you add synthetic oil to regular or “conventional” oil, the possible consequences of mixing engine oil types, and why getting professional help when switching from one motor oil type to another might be the smartest move.

Can You Mix Synthetic Oil With Regular Oil?

Yes, to answer briefly. Adding synthetic oil to regular oil can help you out in a pinch if you have no other option. This should only be a temporary solution to get you to the nearest oil change shop. Choose a professionally blended synthetic blend if you want to strike a balance between the affordability of conventional oil and the advantages of synthetic oil.

Motor oils are typically compatible when combined because they are typically made from the same components (base oil and additives). (All motor oil produced in the United States is actually required by the American Petroleum Industry. to be compatible with one another.) The process of refining oil accounts for the majority of the differences.

Conventional oil is less refined and can eventually cause more sludge and gunk buildup in engines, despite being less expensive than synthetic oil. On the other hand, synthetic oil costs a little bit more but has fewer impurities and can keep your engine cleaner and lubricated for a longer period of time. Since Pennzoil synthetic oil is not made from crude oil, it is actually even purer. It is the first gasoline-based motor oil.

Keeping this in mind, mixing higher-quality synthetic oil with conventional oil dilutes its beneficial effects. This not only devalues your investment in synthetic oil, but could also cause you to need an oil change sooner than you anticipated.

Also keep in mind that while all motor oils have the same basic components, they differ in terms of additives, chemical properties, and detergents. Combining different kinds can make your motor oil unstable, which lowers its effectiveness and affects how well your engine runs.

The best option is to stick to the oil type and oil change schedule suggested by the manufacturer of your car and seek out affordable services from your neighborhood car care specialists. To ensure you use the right viscosity grade and performance recommendation for your vehicle, always refer to your owner’s manual.

Should You Top off Your Car’s Oil?

To prevent engine trouble, it’s critical to maintain oil at clean and safe levels. In between oil changes, a lot of people accomplish this by topping off their car’s oil. Types of motor oil frequently mix in this way.

The best way to keep your engine running smoothly is to get an oil change, even though the occasional oil top-off is usually acceptable. If you need to top off your oil, try to stick with the brand that’s already in there to preserve any advantages. (Read More: Can You Add Oil to a Hot Engine)

Can Conventional and Synthetic Oil Be Safely Mixed?

The question of whether synthetic and conventional oils can be mixed safely is frequently raised as the use of synthetic lubricants increases. Yes, mixing synthetic and conventional oils is safe.

Base oils and additives are the basic components of all motor oil, synthetic or conventional. Since they are all intended for use in similar applications, they all meet the same minimum requirements. The primary distinction is that conventional oil is typically created to barely meet standards while minimizing the cost.

Contrarily, synthetics typically go beyond the minimal requirements and also typically include higher-quality additives. The two types of oils are ultimately completely interchangeable. While it is safe to combine synthetic and conventional oils, doing so reduces the performance of the synthetic oil. In fact, a lot of businesses sell them as synthetic blends that have been premixed and are of a mid-level performance.

Conclusion

No matter if it is synthetic or conventional, all engine oil is made up of base oils and additives. Conventional base oils have impurities that are removed during the manufacturing process to create synthetic base oils, which typically have higher-quality additives.

Overall, the components in conventional and synthetic oils are identical and compatible; the quality of the components in synthetics is just much higher. Synthetic and conventional oils can be mixed without risk, but doing so merely reduces the performance of the synthetic oil.

You might find it to be a great decision for you to switch to synthetic oil. Standard oils might also be effective. Pick an oil that best suits your needs and your car, and try to stick with it.

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