What makes a synthetic oil better than a mineral oil?
In a 100% synthetic oil, all the molecules are of a similar size and shape which reduces the harmful effects of high engine temperature. In a mineral oil, the molecules are unstable and of varying shapes and sizes, they evaporate more readily and oxidize at high temperatures. Also, synthetic base stocks are produced chemically and do not contain any contaminants. Mineral oils are extracted from crude oil as part of the refining process. Many products such as engine oils, gear oils, hydraulic oils etc. use these mineral oils along with specially designed performance enhancing additives as part of their formulation. However, due to limitations in the refining extraction process some impurities remain in the mineral oils that negatively impact on their performance.
