![Engine oil leaking while parked and/or driving](https://assets.firestonecompleteautocare.com/content/dam/bsro-sites/fcac/blog/images/2023/06-june/iStock-1341090355.jpg)
Sprung a Leak? 4 Potential Reasons for Your Car Leaking Oil When Parked
Does your car keep leaving unsightly dark stains in your driveway? Find out what could be causing your car to leak oil when parked and what to do if it does.
Read More
Conventional motor oil is the most common type of oil. It is ideal for light-duty, late-model cars with low to average mileage and a simple engine design. Like synthetic oil, conventional motor oil begins its life in the ground as crude oil. It is then refined and blended with different chemical additives to meet the needs of everyday vehicle engines.
When it comes to longevity and being able to handle extremely high temperatures without breaking down, synthetic oil outperforms conventional oil due to its chemical composition. However, the advanced technology offered by a synthetic oil doesn't come cheap. Conventional oil changes are almost always more affordable than synthetic oil changes. Depending on where you go, a synthetic oil change could cost twice as much as a conventional oil change! Even though synthetic oils are usually superior to conventional oils or blends in terms of high and low temperature performance and durability, if the additives aren't correct for your vehicle, it's not the right kind of oil to use and could harm your engine.
We do not recommend mixing various types of oils. Motor oils (whether synthetic, conventional, or a synthetic blend) are essentially a combination of base oils and additives. Synthetic base oils are manufactured in such a way that almost all of the impurities are removed. They tend to contain the highest quality additives too. Conventional base oils inherently contain some impurities and while they contain great additives, the additives aren't as high quality as those that are mixed into synthetics. In the end, synthetic and conventional motor oil are made of relatively compatible elements, it's just that synthetics are of a much higher quality. If you mix the two, you aren't doing your engine any favors. You're only diluting the performance and purity of the synthetic oil.
Visit Firestone Complete Auto Care for a fast, easy, and affordable conventional motor oil change near you. We're proud to carry the following conventional motor oils:
Does your car keep leaving unsightly dark stains in your driveway? Find out what could be causing your car to leak oil when parked and what to do if it does.
Proper motor oil disposal is essential for environmental and legal reasons. Ensure that you're doing it the right way by following the steps in this guide.
As the seasons change, your engine's motor oil changes, too. Learn what happens to motor oil in winter and what types of oil to choose to prevent engine damage.