Do I have to use synthetic oil in my Nissan car, truck or SUV?

Do you really have to use synthetic oil? It makes sense for most vehicles.

By Product Expert | Posted in Tips on Thursday, May 17th, 2018 at 9:11 pm

A stock photo of a oil being poured into an engine.

Do I have to use synthetic oil in my Nissan car, truck or SUV?

The idea that a vehicle’s engine needs oil to run properly shouldn’t be a foreign one to anybody. However, not all oils are the same. Just as there is a vehicle for just about any conceivable need, there is an available motor oil that is needed to help it perform as intended. One of the more common questions our service team gets from customers is, ‘Do I have to use synthetic oil in my Nissan car, truck or SUV?’ Well, the answer depends on a couple of different factors. Nissan vehicles built in the last couple years come with an owner’s manual saying that synthetic oil is recommended while older models say conventional oil is ok. Let’s take a look at the information available.

In a side-by-side comparison, it would be tough, if not impossible to tell the difference between synthetic and conventional oil by sight alone. The real difference occurs at the molecular level thanks to various additives and the way it is made. There are several reasons why Nissan recommends that owners use synthetic oil in the engine and not just because it’s always advisable to follow the manufacturer’s suggestions.

What is synthetic oil?

Synthetic oil starts life just like conventional oil, it’s pulled out of the ground and sent to a refinery. When synthetic oil is made, it gets further distilled and broken down into individual basic molecules. This is where even more impurities are removed and additional compounds are added to make it provide better performance as well as better protection for the engine.

What happens if I use the wrong kind of oil?

For most vehicle owners, using conventional oil or the synthetic version probably won’t make much of a difference. The most important thing to remember that you are replacing the oil with the proper weight or viscosity.

Why is synthetic oil better?

Without getting into the dense science of petrochemical engineering, there are a couple of important reasons why using synthetic oil might be better for your vehicle.

It’s cleaner — Since more impurities are taken out of synthetic oil before it’s put into your vehicle, that means fewer contaminants are going to show up where they don’t belong. Additionally, using synthetic oil will cut down on the build-up of engine sludge.

It’s more adaptable — The ambient temperature can affect how well an oil works inside of an engine. Synthetic oil is better-suited to protect engine across a wider range of conditions. This could be important in older vehicles that are used during the harsh Montana winter.

If you have any questions about the best way to maintain your vehicle, feel free to reach out to the Billion Auto Group Service Department. Don’t want to deal with an oil change? Make an appointment today and we’ll take care of it.