Can You Mix Synthetic Oil with Regular Oil?

Our cars need oil to operate and that’s why we need a regular oil change to keep our engine at peak performance. The question is “Can you mix synthetic oil with regular oil?” as it’s a norm for some drivers to mix them up. In this article, I’ll give you all information to have the best choice.

The short answer to this question is YES, you can mix synthetic oil with regular one but it doesn’t mean that you should do it often. Only when you’re in urgent cases.

What Are the Different Types of Oils?

On average, you can find three types of oil in your car.

• Regular/Conventional Oil
• Synthetic Oil
• Multi-Grade Oil

1. Regular/Conventional Oil

This type of oil is the most commonly used one. In fact, it’s the best selling oil for cars and this gives this oil a very wide variety. The reason why everyone recommends using this type of oil is that it has low cost and is widely available to everyone. Moreover, it’s a great option if you’re trying to save some money on an oil change.

They are a byproduct of crude oil. It’s made by refining crude oil. The process of refining is done by which smaller molecules that are mixed in the oil are removed. This makes the oil a better product to use in your car.

2. Synthetic Oil

They’re formulated for specific applications. They’re fully synthetic meaning that they’re made of base oils, additives, solvents, etc. Usually, these oils are high-tech products compared to conventional ones.

Synthetic oils can stand high temperatures and pressures, whereas, conventional oils cannot. This is the reason why synthetic oils are recommended for cars that undergo heavy-duty activities like racing and high-end performance. They can provide superior protection, better lubrication and smoother engine operation.

3. Multi-Grade Oils

This type of oil is also a byproduct of crude oil like conventional ones. However, they’re produced by refining the crude oil further to produce more specific molecules with fewer impurities, which can deliver better performance than conventional oils. They’re also formulated for specific applications with their unique properties.

Can You Mix Synthetic Oil With Regular Oil in a Car?

• Since all the oils are made to be compatible with each other, you can mix them without harming your engine. However, mixing oils will degrade the performance of the oil itself and the engine.
• If you mix synthetic with conventional it will degrade synthetic’s properties. Although, if you mix it with multi-grade oil, there’s no harm.
• Remember some car models use their specific oils, so check your manual for details.

How to Mix Synthetic and Regular Oil in a Car

One oil can be used for a certain time and another will be useful after few days. It’s up to you whether you want to use synthetic or regular oil as it’s up to what works best for your engine. In fact, if you see that the engine is not working as well as before, then it means that it needs a change in the type of oil. For example, if your car is running smoothly but the engine sounds rough under the hood then it needs an oil change.

When you replace conventional oils with synthetic ones, you should drain the old ones completely. Then use a new oil in a car and check if it’s working better. Remember that if it needs a change in the type of oil, then you should get the right one for your car model.

However, if you replace synthetic oils with regular ones, draining is not necessary as these oils are more compatible. You can simply swap synthetic oil with a conventional one. It’s easy to do it yourself without any need for professional help.

Just remember to check your car’s manual or the sticker on the oil bottle to see how much time it will be good for.

FAQs About Oil Mixing

1. If It’s Good To Mix Oils, Why You Shouldn’t?

This is a question that many drivers ask. The reason behind this is because mixing oils will degrade the performance of your car. This means that you should use the same oil for a continuous period to prevent this from happening. However, if you have an emergency and you need to mix oils, then it’s okay to use them together.

2. How Long Should Oil Last?

The lifespan of your oil depends on your car’s type, how you drive it and how you maintain it. Usually, you should change the oil every 3000-7000 miles or 6 month/1 year respectively depending on what is recommended in your manual or by the manufacturer.

3. How Can You Identify Oils?

The easiest way to identify an oil is by reading the sticker on the bottle. For example, if your car is using synthetic oil and you’re not getting any benefits on performance, then you should change its oil for a new one.