The truth about synthetic motor oil might change your mind!

In case you though all motor oils were the same you might want to find out the truth about synthetic motor oil and why and when you absolutely have to use this in your engine.

Before we even discuss the pro’s and con’s of synthetic oil it’s important to understand that all synthetic oils are not the same.

The truth about synthetic motor oil is that not all these oils are man-made.

The common understanding of synthetic engine oil is that it’s man-made
through a chemical synthesis process. This would apply to the class of oils which use what is known as a PAO (Poly-alpha-olefin) base stock for the lube. Herein lies an urban legend!


The truth about synthetic motor oil is that this base stock can also be derived from crude; much like any other conventional engine oil. The difference, though, would be that for it to be branded as a synthetic oil, this oil undergoes severe refining, "hydrogenation" or other complex chemical processes that yield a more stable molecular uniformity and higher degree of purity than that achieved through the conventional refining process.

So how do you know if the oil is severely refined of a “true” synthetic? When looking at the API classification on the bottle, the true synthetic oil will have a group IV classification. Group I and II would be your regular engine lubricants and Group III would be ultra refined or “hydrocracked” petroleum oil – this would be classified as synthetic.

This may come as a bit of a shock, but let’s see what the truth about synthetic motor oil performance is.

When would you absolutely need to use a synthetic motor oil. 

Because synthetic oils are man-made it’s possible to formulate these to meet very demanding conditions. Therefore synthetic oils don’t oxidise as rapidly as mineral oils when heated. They are also more stable under a wide range of operating conditions – these 2 factors mean that a slightly thinner oil (Lower viscosity index) can be used and the oil is likely to last longer.
 The implications of these two factors is that engine performance and fuel consumption can be improved, while extending oil change intervals.

The truth about synthetic motor oil is that it outperforms regular oil.

If your vehicle operates under harsh conditions or if you would like to see an improvement in fuel consumption and extend oil change intervals then synthetic oil is a must.

It does require a slightly higher initial financial outlay, but this can often be recovered through extended service intervals saving on labour and materials as well as a reduced fuel bill.

Maybe the truth about synthetic motor oil is a little unexpected and you’d like to switch to synthetic engine oil? At Habot Synthetic Lubricants we have professionals that can advise you which of our quality products best meet your requirements. Give us a call for peace of mind.