Are the days of the cheap oil change gone? Likely you’ve taken your car or crossover to a shop or garage for an oil change, only to learn that you will being paying twice the advertised price for your maintenance visit because your car requires synthetic oil.
What is Synthetic Oil?
Oil Change Prices
One national quick-lube chain currently advertises a basic oil change for $39.95. This without a coupon. The same outfit raises the bill to $79.95 for vehicles requiring synthetic oil—literally twice the price.
Synthetic Oil Use
Per one study, fully 70 percent of new cars built in 2019 were filled with “synth” at the factory. That number rises to almost 100 percent in 2025.
So, what is synthetic motor oil, and why are carmakers so keen for you to maintain your vehicle with the stuff? And, why does it cost so much? Here’s what you need to know:
What is Synthetic Oil?
Synthetic oil is a man-made lubricant designed for engines, created through a chemical processes rather than just being refined from crude oil like conventional motor oil.
Conventional oil comes from refining crude oil pumped from the ground. This process has worked just fine for decades, but does produce a lubricant comprised of molecules of varying sizes and shapes, and containing some natural impurities.
Synthetic oil, on the other hand, is an engineered product. It starts with highly refined petroleum components (or sometimes other raw materials like natural gas), which are chemically broken down and then rebuilt into uniform, size-specific molecules. This creates a more consistent, purer product with fewer impurities-it also adds to the final cost.
Types of Synthetic Oil
At the retail level, synthetic oil is broken down into two categories:
Full synthetic (or 100% synthetic):
- Uses primarily synthetic base stocks
Synthetic blend:
- A mix of synthetic and conventional base oils designed for a balance of performance and cost
Note: “Full synthetic” is largely a marketing term, with no strict legal definition—different brands can vary in how “synthetic” their base stock truly is.
Benefits
Synthetic oil generally outperforms conventional oil in several ways, especially in modern engines
- Better performance in extreme temperatures
- Flows more easily in very cold weather (better cold starts, less thickening) and resists breaking down in high heat
- Improved engine protection
- More uniform molecule size provides a stronger protective film between moving parts, reducing wear, friction, and sludge/deposit buildup
- Longer-lasting
- More resistant to oxidation, thermal breakdown, and shear. Synthetic oil often allows for extended oil-change intervals (e.g., 7,500–15,000 miles between changes, versus 3,000–5,000 miles for conventional oil, depending on the brand, vehicle, and conditions).
- Cleaner engines
- Helps prevent, and evens clean up, sludge and varnish over time
- Potential efficiency gains
- Synthetic oil can contribute to improved fuel economy and a small bump in horsepower due to reduced internal engine drag
Drawbacks
- A synthetic-oil oil change generally costs double the price of a conventional-oil service
- Most new cars now specify or recommend full synthetic oil from the factory. Always check your vehicle’s owner’s manual for the recommended type and change interval—many manufacturers have switched to synthetics to meet stricter emissions, efficiency, and durability standards. In short: Synthetic oil is like a premium, custom-engineered version of motor oil that provides superior protection and performance in demanding conditions, though at a higher price. We recommend its use in newer and/or well-maintained vehicles.
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