Why Does My Vehicle Need an Oil Change?

If an internal combustion engine powers your vehicle, it will require oil. This is because engines have several fast-moving metal parts prone to friction damage; the oil keeps them lubricated, so they are not harmed. However, oil does not last forever. Over time it will start to break down and may even become contaminated. The longer oil is in your engine, the less it will be able to perform adequate lubrication. To avoid a shortened engine lifespan and even massive engine damage, you will need to have your oil changed regularly.

What Is Semi-Synthetic Oil?

Semi-synthetic oil is also called synthetic blend oil. To understand it, we should first discuss synthetic and conventional oil. Conventional oil is a standard automotive mineral oil used for engines. It does the job of lubricating well enough but wears down relatively quickly; conventional oil needs to be changed about every 3,000 miles. Synthetic oil lasts up to 10,000 miles in modern VW models and lubricates the engine better. It can even keep it cleaner, thanks to detergent additives. However, it does cost more than conventional oil. Semi-synthetic oil combines these two types of oil, giving you some of the benefits of synthetic oil at a somewhat lower cost.

Can My Vehicle Accept Semi-Synthetic Oil?

Before you get a semi-synthetic oil change, make sure your vehicle's engine is suited to this kind of oil. For example, most VW models produced since 2004 require full synthetic oil. However, older VW vehicles and models from other automakers may be able to use semi-synthetic oil.