# Synthetic vs. normal oil **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** oil\ **Created:** [September 28, 2008, 3:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/synthetic-vs-normal-oil/20095 "2008-09-28T15:43:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rhbrann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/41988e/32.png) [@rhbrann](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rhbrann)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2008, 3:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/synthetic-vs-normal-oil/20095/1 "2008-09-28T15:43:43Z")
The owner’s manula for my son’s Jeep Liberty diesel specifies Mobil-1 synthetic oil, which is close to $6 a quart. Is there a cheaper option ? ---
**Author:** ![rockford](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ac8455/32.png) [@rockford](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rockford)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2008, 3:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/synthetic-vs-normal-oil/20095/2 "2008-09-28T15:50:40Z")
If the car is still under warranty he had better use Mobil 1 to avoid the possibility of a denied warranty claim. ---
**Author:** ![Dave\_G](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dave_g/32/768_2.png) [@Dave\_G](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Dave_G)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2008, 4:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/synthetic-vs-normal-oil/20095/3 "2008-09-28T16:16:18Z")
I don’t see the problem considering how infrequent oil changes on this car are. Normal oil tends to be around $3 a quart and synthetic $6 where I live. Let’s say you need 5 quarts of oil when you change it-well that’s an extra $15 per oil change. What the heck is $15 once or twice a year in the scheme of things? I spent that on lunch yesterday. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2008, 4:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/synthetic-vs-normal-oil/20095/4 "2008-09-28T16:22:22Z")
NOT true. Unless Jeep is offering the oil changes for FREE then any synthetic oil that meets or exceeds Mobil-1 is fine. If it specifies synthetic then I’d use synthetic. But they’re all pretty much around the same price. ---
**Author:** ![mshugna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce73a5/32.png) [@mshugna](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mshugna)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2008, 4:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/synthetic-vs-normal-oil/20095/5 "2008-09-28T16:53:15Z")
In complete agreement. I continue to be surprised by the number of posts that question the small cost of changing the oil/filter periodically relative the the cost of the vehicle. Routine maintenance, following the recommendations in the owner’s manual, saves in the long run. ---
**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2008, 6:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/synthetic-vs-normal-oil/20095/6 "2008-09-28T18:36:25Z")
As noted, you would risk warranty problems if you don’t use synthetic. Are you sure it specifies Mobil? How old is this Jeep? It should specify synthetic and a SAE code. It will say something like SF-4 and it will also say something like 10W40. You likely need any synthetic that is the S number or higher (SH-5 is higher than SF-4) and has the same set of other numbers. BTW I would consider synthetic oil today’s NORMAL oil and non-synthetic old technology from by gone days. ---
**Author:** ![rockford](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ac8455/32.png) [@rockford](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rockford)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2008, 9:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/synthetic-vs-normal-oil/20095/7 "2008-09-28T21:17:12Z")
I stand by my response. Legally you may be correct but the dealer and Chrysler could fight tooth and nail to avoid paying a warranty claim without proper documentation of Mobil 1 use; in my opinion, even if the OP wins in court it will not have been worth it. Use the oil specified in the manual. As Dave G. says, what is $15 once or twice a year? Don’t cheap out. ---
**Author:** ![nbpt100](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9f8e36/32.png) [@nbpt100](https://community.cartalk.com/u/nbpt100)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2008, 1:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/synthetic-vs-normal-oil/20095/8 "2008-09-29T01:12:27Z")
In the past this Syntheic vs conventional oil topic usually brings out alot of opinions and high emotion. But this has been very reasonable. If your son is on a tight budget he can often find specials at Autozone or other chain autoparts stores where the cost of Mobil 1 is less than 5 bucks a quart. When the warrantee expires you can substitute with even cheaper Synthetics oils (assuming the same SAE grade) such as The Pennsoil or Castrol Syntech. I think the SuperTech at Wal-Mart is around 4 bucks or less per quart. Cheapest I have ever seen for Sythetic. ---
**Author:** ![Whitey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/whitey/32/24680_2.png) [@Whitey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Whitey)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2008, 5:38am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/synthetic-vs-normal-oil/20095/9 "2008-09-29T05:38:03Z")
Pep Boys has recently had Mobil-1 on sale. If it is no longer on sale, check out the price at Wal Mart. You may find it slightly cheaper. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2008, 11:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/synthetic-vs-normal-oil/20095/10 "2008-09-29T23:55:22Z")
> I stand by my response. Would you show me the ONE dealer or ONE person this happened to. The writing in the manual says Mobil-1 PREFERRED. Or equivalent. Chryco has NOT ever put in any of their manuals that you MUST use a specific oil …EVER. ---
**Author:** ![rockford](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ac8455/32.png) [@rockford](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rockford)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2008, 3:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/synthetic-vs-normal-oil/20095/11 "2008-09-30T15:13:08Z")
So you’re saying that car dealers/manufacturers NEVER fight warranty claims due to lack of or incorrect maintenance? ---
**Author:** ![andrew\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@andrew\_j](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andrew_j)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2008, 4:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/synthetic-vs-normal-oil/20095/12 "2008-09-30T16:13:36Z")
The key is the oil must specifically meet their engineered spec. Giving a widely available known name brand makes it easy for the consumer to pick the correct one. I have a feeling there are only a select few oils that have been tested to meet their (EURO) spec and likely not easily available as Mobil 1. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2008, 6:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/synthetic-vs-normal-oil/20095/13 "2008-09-30T18:46:34Z")
> So you’re saying that car dealers/manufacturers NEVER fight warranty claims due to lack of or incorrect maintenance? Where did I say that??? Try re-reading my posts again. Dealers/manufacturers fight claims all the time…But NOT for using a oil that WASN’T recommended…I guarantee it. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2008, 6:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/synthetic-vs-normal-oil/20095/14 "2008-09-30T18:47:45Z")
I’m quite sure the manual says Mobil-1 is the RECOMMENDED synthetic oil…NOT the REQUIRED synthetic oil. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2008, 6:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/synthetic-vs-normal-oil/20095/15 "2008-09-30T18:48:54Z")
Look at buying the oil in the 5-quart jugs. Usually $.50/quart cheaper then individual quarts.