You look under your car bonnet to find black smoke belching out. Does synthetic oil burn, or is it just your imagination? Well, it is not just you. Synthetic oil can burn just like normal oil but with a higher smoke point.
Since synthetic oils are thinner than conventional oils, they can burn and blow the older cars. However, the synthetic motor oils do not impact the engines and do not deteriorate the seals. Synthetic motor oils come with a specific viscosity grade, ensuring tested smooth flow in your engine.
Does Synthetic Oil Burn in a Fire?
Yes, if you pour synthetic oil on a wooden block and burn it, you will note that it catches fire just like regular oil. Therefore, those are all myths that say synthetic oils do not burn at all.
Does Full Synthetic Oil Burn Faster?
No, full synthetic oil will not burn faster. These oils burn at the same rate as conventional oils. Full synthetic oils do not break down easily and provide greater protection to your engine.
Is Synthetic Oil Harder to Burn?
When exposed to harsh warm weather, synthetic oil in your car’s engine will stay thicker than normal. However, this does not mean that it will burn faster or harder than conventional. Synthetic oils can catch fire the same conventional oils can. Nevertheless, due to the low viscosity of synthetic oils, you can expect them to provide engine protection, unlike conventional oils.
Does Synthetic Oil Smoke Less Than Regular Oil?
If your engine is in better condition, you will notice less synthetic oil-burning than regular oil. In addition, when you burn synthetic oil, it will produce far less smoke than the conventional ones. The low volatility of synthetic oils makes them more stable and cause reduced burning. It does not mean that synthetic oil will have a low functioning capacity; rather, it will burn efficiently to keep the engine running.
Read More: Is Super-Tech Synthetic Oil Good?
Can Thicker Oil Stop Oil Burning?
Mostly, the case with the oil burning in your engine is the worn-out engine parts. Whether you use thicker oil or a thinner one with low viscosity, the oil will burn regardless. In fact, if you use thicker oil in your vehicle’s engine, you can happen to lower your engine life, put higher pressure on the engine, and decrease fuel economy.
Not only that, but the engine will also waste more energy while burning the thicker oils. High viscosity oils are difficult to pass through the parts of the engine. For this reason, the engine works hard to get it passed through the pistons. It results in more energy consumption which is quite a waste.
Can You Use Synthetic Oil for High Mileage Engines?
Mileage is not a matter of miles covered by a vehicle. Rather it is linked to the condition of your car. A vehicle that has covered more than 15,000 miles in a year is considered a high mileage car. As soon as high mileage engines hit 75,000 miles, the engine parts start deteriorating. So, if you do not maintain your vehicle properly, the parts might break down at a faster rate.
On that note, synthetic or fully synthetic oils are not suitable for older cars or vehicles with high mileage engines. Generally, synthetic oils have low viscosity and are slipperier than normal oils. This makes synthetic oils to be less compatible with seals. For this reason, synthetic oils have higher chances of leakages, contrary to conventional oils.
Can Synthetic Oil Prolong the Life of Your Car’s Engine?
Synthetic oils are artificial oils that contain synthetic chemicals. Conventional oils are prone to burning when they work in higher temperatures. Normal oils are derived from crude petroleum products, and they burn easily under pressure and high temperature. In addition, conventional oil badly impacts the longevity of your engine due to this fact. However, if you use synthetic oil in your engine, you can be sure of their resistance to burning.
Synthetic oils contain different forms of bases, which keep the oil from burning even at high temperatures. Therefore, synthetic oil can protect your engine from unnecessary wear and tear, resulting in an engine that lasts longer. Furthermore, it translates to getting fewer oil changes without the expense of your engine when synthetic oil runs in your vehicle’s engine.
When Using Synthetic Oil Is Not Suitable?
If you wonder whether your vehicle is suitable for using synthetic oils, here is your answer. Synthetic oils are not the best choice when your vehicle has crossed the 75,000 miles on its odometer. Using low viscosity oils in such high mileage cars can lead to an engine with damaged performance.
Conclusion
In short, synthetic oils can burn. However, there is a delicate balance between keeping your engine happy and allowing it to burn the excess fuel that would otherwise turn into sludge. Too much synthetic oil and your engine will be drowning in hydrocarbons; too little and all that dirt will rot clean away and damage your engine.
Over time, you must check the percentage of synthetic oil to see that it’s not too high. If you wait until it’s too late, you will ruin your engine. Sometimes, this isn’t easy because makers design newer engines to run on synthetics. However, switching between synthetic and conventional oil should not be a problem until you do proper engine maintenance.
