I just bought a used car with 31K miles on it, is there any benefit to switching it over to synthetic oil?

The vehicle I bought is a Ford Escape 2.3L 4 cylinder FWD, and I was wondering is there any real benefit to switching it over to synthetic oil from regular oil. I make my oil changes every 2-2,500 miles and replace the oil filter every time.I just bought a used car with 31K miles on it, is there any benefit to switching it over to synthetic oil?
Unless you live in a place that hits extreme cold in the winter, there is little reason to switch to synthetic. Its primary benefit is that it has more precise flow characteristics than conventional oil.





Also, while it is technically correct that synthetic oil does not break down as fast as conventional oil, they both would lubricate your engine for perhaps 50k miles...BUT...they both contain precisely the same additives (aka SL/SM rating) and the chemical package that makes up these additives are made to sacrifice themselves to prevent rust/corrosion, etc in your engine -- and they get used up at precisely the same rate regardless if the oil is conventional or synthetic.





Now...you change your oil a lot. This is very ';old school.'; The old addage of changing your oil every 3k came from when oils had little to no additives, so the oil simply coated and lubricated, and carried contaminates. Now that we are 30-some odd years into lubrication engineering, you can safely change your oil according to what the Ford engineers say in the owners' manual, which I am sure is much longer interval. They have an intimate understanding of the processes inside the engine, and a vested interest in keeping the engine working well even after warranty.I just bought a used car with 31K miles on it, is there any benefit to switching it over to synthetic oil?
First, oil should be replaced every 5000 miles or more. Stop spending money.





Since you asked, here are the benefits of synthetic:


With synthetic you can do oil changes every 10000 miles or more, which offsets the price of the synthetic oil, this is because synthetic does not break down as fast as conventional oil. It might also help fuel economy, and in addition you can expect reduced engine wear and less gunk build up between oil changes. Depending on what type of person you are, you can also find comfort in the fact that synthetic oil reduces dependency on foreign oil and helps the environment.





Personally I use the regular stuff in my 1968 mustang with a 302 and change it every 7000 miles. Just drive the car and don't worry about little things like these.
There are a number of real benefits to changing your oil to synthetic.





1. independent testing has proven that most premium brands of synthetic oil have the same lubricating value at 6000 miles as a conventional oil has when it is still in the bottle.


2. synthetic oil is more resistant to high heat and high pressure, which is the reason it was initially developed for turbine engines in aircraft. many small engines run hot enough to break down conventional oil, but synthetic will continue to work.


3. synthetic oil is more resistant to cold. your average pour rating on a conventional oil is around 0 to -15 farenheit. it's between -45 and -65 for most synthetic oils. that means that cars that needed to wait for the oil to melt with a conventional oil before they were being lubricated are lubricated from start up in cold weather.


4. synthetic oil extends engine life. castrol, which makes one of the finest conventional oils on the market will double their engine guarantee if you use there synthetic vs their conventional oil... and they're the only company that offers a conventional oil guarantee.


5. synthetic oil reduces friction which improves hp and fuel economy. most hot rod/custom car magazines have done comparisons and in each case, a good synthetic produces more horsepower in the same car than a premium conventional oil. sometimes as much as 5%. the same is true of fuel economy.





the only down side is price, but given that you can run synthetic longer and still get better protection, it's not really an issue.
Most important Questions.





Your driving habits?





Region you live in?





Daily short trips (less than 10 miles)- long trips - (more than 10)?





Short trips in cold weather can result in the necessity of replacing oil and filter at 1000 mi. Long trips can result in the recommended 3000.


Warm climate - long trips - possibly 5000.





Synthetic is not worth it in cold climate - short trip driving, Yes you can drive more miles before contamination but, not enough to justify the extra cost.





There is an alternative - synthetic blend .
At 2,000-2,500 mile intervals, there is NO benefit to using synthetic at all. Even conventional API SM rated oil can go 5,000 miles these days. The main benefits of synthetics are better flow in well below zero temperatures, higher temperature tolerances (which you shouldn't experience if you have a properly functioning cooling system) and with extended drain intervals past 7,500 miles.
Not really...the only real advantage to synthetic for most people is a longer interval for an oil change... you are already changing oil more often than necessary


Most vehicles require 5000-7500 oil and filter change,this is factory recommendation during warranty period, when they would have to fix problems.( If there ever was a time when the factory would be strict, warranty would be it)


I change the oil and filter in my hotrod at 5000 miles, or four months, and it would qualify for severe service, ( sit for long periods, and then run hard...) I have no problems....
It is best to start out using synthetic when the engine is new. Running synthetic oil at 31k is not doing any good because wear and tear on your engine has already started. Synthetic oil helps prevent wear and tear on your engine, but when it is already broke in, there is no need. Not to mention the cost of the oil is very expensive. Just buy name brand oil, replace oil filter and change it at correct intervals and you'll be fine. My truck has 159,000 miles and I use normal Valvoline SAE 10W 30 ($3.99 per quart) and it runs great.





If I were to buy a brand new car, I would definately run synthetic oil, but if used, I would stick with the normal.





Hope this helps!
oil change every 2-2,500 car should last into the 400,000 range with or with out synthetic i replace mine at 5000 miles and my car has over 300,000 miles...


benefit to switching it over is that synthetic oil doesnt break down like regular oil does which happens a round 2 to 3000 miles and many run it longer before replacing then it helps but if your doing it right and replacing it then you dont need it
With such a small engine, and oil changes at that frequency, I wouldn't worry about it. Synthetic is realllll expensive, so unless you have some amazing classic or high-performance engine- don't bother.
with syn you can extend to 7000 mi safely--also the oil does not break down and it lubricates better//it clings to surfaces and doesnt coat surfaces like reg oil--and it can operate safely under extreme heat
Longer lasting engine. With synthetic I would do every 6-7k miles or half year what ever comes first. You wear out the engine the most when you first start the car after an oil change so don't get to anal about changing it so often.
i have a 1985 toyota pickup with 365000 miles and i use only synthetic and change it every 3000 5000 miles.
I have a 1990 olds 98 and switched to synthetic,best thing I have done better gas mileage and you can wait 5,000 miles to change the oil
No, unless it is a requirement.
no it will not do any good to your car, regular oil and filter is enough love, good luck