Why does conventional oil still exist?

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Eosyn

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When everyone (mechanics, friends and people in general like on this site) I talk to, they always tell me to use synthetic motor oil over conventional because synthetics offer better benefits. By this point in time, I would have thought synthetic oil would have killed off the conventional, like the way cassettes killed off the 8-track, and the CD killed off the cassettes, etc.

So in my search to understand why conventional oil is still in use, I ran across this article. Granted it's 3 yrs old but even back in 2012, I don't think the authors' arguments hold true. I seem to agree with the only comment someone left on that article.

My question is: why is conventional oil still available? thoughts?
 
it because there is a market for it. It has nothing to do with the price of manufacture, it's to extract the most profit.

Is similar to the same reason why there are lower priced CPU computer chips .

It does not cost a chip maker extra to create a faster or slower chip once they've designed it.

If both syn and conv cost $1 to make, and Syn costs $1.25. and they can sell syn at $4 a quart, and conv. $2 a quart, they'll sell both; otherwise a competitor will fill the void
 
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A Bentley also offers benefits, eating organic does too, shopping at target offers benefits over walmart. You get the picture I hope. And by the way synthetic is from the ground too,oh the horror!
 
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If synthetic oil is synthetic than so is Dino oil. Really dumb designation considering how good today's "conventionals" are.
 
Originally Posted By: wemay
Because it works, and works darn well.


Yep,
and I'm not sure that very many mainstream conventionals use Gr1 basestocks at all any more.
 
Looks like pure GroupII oils (conventionals) are beginning to go the way of the dinosaur. Its just taking a while. Fading.
Case in point: dexos standards, for all GM vehicles, are getting even more tough next year, and the current dexos requires at least a semi-syn by performance requirements alone.
Its only a matter of time when Honda, Ford, Toyota, etc. follow and require something better than conventional. Trend.
 
Originally Posted By: ExMachina
Looks like pure GroupII oils (conventionals) are beginning to go the way of the dinosaur. Its just taking a while. Fading.
Case in point: dexos standards, for all GM vehicles, are getting even more tough next year, and the current dexos requires at least a semi-syn by performance requirements alone.
Its only a matter of time when Honda, Ford, Toyota, etc. follow and require something better than conventional. Trend.


If only synthetics were improving, i'd see your point.
 
Everyone the OP talks to uses syn?!?

I would understand if the point was group I (which is still very industrially relevant in "R&O" type lines for turbines and other things), but conventional in general may be a stretch.

Especially when the average car on the road is now what? 9-10 years old? Bulk conventional is still highly relevant, it just so happens that it's also getting better all the time, so can be used with confidence.

I suspect there will be a time when all mainstream oils are syn blends, and so conventional will take on a new meaning, competing against full syn which will likely always be a bit different.
 
I vote because the masses are still drawn in by quick lube coupons. Most people couldnt be bothered to care about longevity. Especially those that trade in cars often. Conventional oil gets better and better with time, just like synthetics do.
 
Many millions vehicles of 10 years or older have dino oil spec at somewhat shorter OCI, most owners of those older vehicles don't want to spend extra for synthetic and they don't want to extend OCI either, so synthetic to them is an extra cost they don't like to spend on.
 
Conventional oil works perfectly fine for the overwhelming majority of engines on today's roads.

That's not the issue for today's DIY car owners. The enduring issue seems to be that precious few companies are willing to offer and broadly market synthetic oils and filters that are guaranteed to last a full year or at least 15,000 miles.

When we cross that threshold, which should have been done ages ago, then I will be one happy car owner.
 
I agree slacktide on this because some of the conventional oils test results suggest that may very well be the case. I got some Pennzoil Synthetic blend the other day. It claims to have at least 50% Synthetic oil in it. Well, I mixed 3 qts of it plus a tad over a half a qt of Pennzoil Ultra, and a little ober half a qt of PYB plus a couple of ounces of Pennzoil Platinum High Mileage. I could hardly see the oil on the stick. Looked just like the Pennzoil Platinum High Mileage when I first put it in. I bet the Synthetic blend has a higher percentage of synthetic base also due to the cold cranking numbers of the Synthetic blend too. Very close to Pennzoil Platinum.

Not everyone wants or desires to run synthetic oil in their cars. Not everyone wants to go 10k, 15k, or even 20k miles between oil changes as well. Everyone has their price point in which they say, "I am not spending X amount for oil or whatever product". Mine is $6 a qt. I've bought Pennzoil Ultra for just barely under $30 with tax included. I have my set price point. For others it may well be $10 a quart. Which is fine with them.

When one can buy PYB for $16.47 for a 5 qt container or buy Havoline for $13.24 a 5 qt container or QSGB for $14.47 5 qt container it us hard for many to want to spend more than that. Plus the ability to run them at least 5k miles in some instances and in other conditions 7500 miles or even 10k miles makes it even more inviting to run these products. The conventional oils of today are so much stronger than 20 yrs ago it's quite impressive. For many people this is a fine choice for them with no real downside. IF conventional oils were the same quality has of 20 yrs ago then this would be a different circumstance.
 
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Originally Posted By: Eosyn
When everyone (mechanics, friends and people in general like on this site) I talk to, they always tell me to use synthetic motor oil over conventional because synthetics offer better benefits. By this point in time, I would have thought synthetic oil would have killed off the conventional, like the way cassettes killed off the 8-track, and the CD killed off the cassettes, etc.

So in my search to understand why conventional oil is still in use, I ran across this article. Granted it's 3 yrs old but even back in 2012, I don't think the authors' arguments hold true. I seem to agree with the only comment someone left on that article.

My question is: why is conventional oil still available? thoughts?



Because some of us realize that synthetic is way over hyped. Because some people only want to change their oil at 5k or less. Because there's a market for it. Because some motors require it like a rotary. Because it can be argued that comventionals actually produce less wear than synthetics.
 
The line between Syn and Conventional is often very close.

I tested VWB and PYB against a few different syns at -4 in my freezer and VWB flowed just as easy as most of the syntheics at -4F

The PYB was the thickest at that temp. All grades were 5w30.

I realize this is terribly unscientific, however it does give me an idea of the flow ability of oils in my winter climate.

The performance gap between synthetics and premium conventional is extremely small with SN oils
 
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Originally Posted By: slacktide_bitog
Most if not all API SN "conventional" actually has some group III in it, so almost all PCMO is at least a syn blend.



+1 i wouldn't be surprised if some are up to 50% group III.
 
Ford has been recommending/pushing synthetic blend for quite some time now, I don't know about the others you listed. The owner's manual in all my Fords, 5 total, calls for Motorcraft synthetic blend. It also includes full synthetic or other synthetic blends that meet Ford requirements.
 
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