Engine Oil: Regular vs Synthetic

August 23, 2022 · 3 min read

What type of oil is best for my car?

You’re driving along, just minding your own business. Out of the corner of your eye you spot a little sticker on your windshield provided by the service station a while back. You squint at it briefly, trying to keep your eyes on the road. What does it say? You reach your destination, park, and as you exit the car you read the sticker more closely. Dang! Oil change time!

Regular Auto Maintenance is the Key

No biggie, you think. Oil changes don’t take very long and often times you don’t even need an appointment. So a few days later, you drive to your local service station, pull in and tell the service advisor, “time for an oil change”. They respond, “Great. Regular or synthetic?

Dumbfounded, you ask what they would recommend. Wouldn’t it be best to know what oil is best for your particular vehicle and why?

“Having your oil changed regularly is one of the easiest things you can do to preserve the life of your vehicle,” says Luis Roman, Assistant Service Manager at Smart Motors. “Oil is your vehicle’s lifeblood.”

Roman says oil is what keeps the components of the engine working efficiently. It also reduces the accumulation of varnish and carbon from collecting in the engine. In order to protect and keep your engine running smoothly, oil collects heat, varnish and carbons. By doing this, and over time, the oil becomes dirty and the additives get depleted. When this happens, the oil is no longer helpful in maintaining the health of the engine.

“That’s why you need to change the oil regularly,” says Roman. “And don’t forget to change the oil filter too. Without regular maintenance your engine will seize up and die. And you really don’t want that to happen!”

What Is The Difference Between Regular And Synthetic Car Engine Oil?

But back to the hard question: regular or synthetic oil? There actually is an easy answer for most car owners. Synthetic oil should be used in newer cars, as most engines are manufactured to operate best with it.

“Synthetic oil is better than conventional oil when it comes to longevity,” says Roman. “It’s also able to handle extreme high temperatures without breaking down.”

So, if synthetic oil is the way to go, why offer conventional oil? Why not use synthetic oil in every vehicle?

“Not a good idea. Engines in older vehicles were designed for regular/conventional oil usage,” says Roman. “It’s best to follow the manufacturers recommendation and stick to it. The last thing you want to do is void the manufacturer’s warranty by using an oil not recommended for your specific vehicle.”

Vehicle Owners Manual

Roman says the easiest thing for consumers to do is consult their vehicle’s owner’s manual. It should specifically state what type of oil is best for your engine. You can also consult with the mechanics at your dealer or service station. They will be able to recommend the proper oil, plus they might share the good news that you can drive further than the traditional 3,000 miles before you’re due for another oil change.

About Smart Motors Toyota

Smart Motors was founded in 1908 by O.D. Smart and is one of the nation’s oldest automotive dealerships, is the mid-west’s largest hybrid dealer and one of Wisconsin’s largest volume Toyota dealers. Located at 5901 Odana Road, Smart Motors is Wisconsin’s only two-time President’s Cabinet Award recipient from Toyota Motor Sales for superior customer service & sales volume. For more information visit their history page.

Posted in:

Windshield wipers active on the front of a car.

Apr 23, 2025 in Car Care Tips

What Type of Windshield Wipers Do I Need For My Toyota 4runner?

Drivers can be hard pressed finding a car brand as reliable as Toyota, with the Toyota 4RUNNER being a prime example. However, all vehicles accumulate wear and tear over time, and finding replacement Toyota windshield wipers becomes a necessity. That’s where our Toyota service center in Madison comes in. What Windshield Wipers Does My Toyota 4RUNNER Need? Toyota brand vehicles use SightLine wiper blades, designed specifically to match the windshield shape and wiper arm downforce of your sedan, truck, or SUV. The generally recommended length for a 4RUNNER’s wipers should be 24 inches on the driver’s side, 20 inches on the passenger’s side, and 12 inches for the rear window. The required length can vary depending on the trim level or model year of your 4RUNNER, so don’t forget to check your owner’s manual to be on the safe side. When Do I Replace My Toyota 4RUNNER Windshield Wipers? You should generally replace your Toyota vehicle’s wiper blades every six months to a year, or otherwise have them examined as part of your vehicle’s routine maintenance every 5,000 miles driven. If you seen anybackground of these signs of wear and tear, we strongly advise you to get replacement windshield wipers immediately Scooting and skipping: Dried out or corroded rubber can cause scooting or skipping on the windshield Streaking: Worn blades become warped from exposure to elements like tree sap, road tar, and other chemicals, which can cause the rubber to harden or crack Splitting: Split rubber occurs from prolonged exposure to sun’s damaging UV rays Screeching: As blades age, the rubber stiffens and loses flexibility, which can cause squeaking or screeching Order New Toyota 4RUNNER Wiper Blades in Madison, WI If you’re looking for replacement windshield wipers for your Toyota 4RUNNER, order what you need from our Toyota service center in Madison, WI. If you have any questions about wiper blade replacement or any of our other services, contact us online at Smart Motors Toyota.

A man with gloves replacing a vehicle's windshield wipers.

Feb 27, 2025 in Car Care Tips

What Type of Windshield Wipers Do I Need for a Toyota Prius?

Drivers may have a hard time finding a car brand as reliable as Toyota, with the Prius being proof of that. However, all vehicles acquire wear and tear as they accumulate miles. Eventually, finding replacement Toyota windshield wipers becomes necessary, and that’s where our Toyota service center in Madison comes in. What Windshield Wipers Does My Toyota Prius Need? Toyota brand vehicles use SightLine wiper blades, specifically engineered to match the windshield shape and wiper arm downforce of your car, truck, or SUV. The generally recommended length for a Prius’ wiper blades are 28 inches on the driver’s side and 16 inches on the passenger’s side. The required length of your wiper blades can vary depending on the trim level or model year or your Prius, so make sure to check your owner’s manual to be on the safe side. When Do I Replace My Toyota Prius Windshield Wipers? You should generally have your Toyota vehicle’s wiper blades replaced every six months to a year, or otherwise have them examined as part of your vehicle’s routine maintenance every 5,000 miles driven. If you see any of these signs of wear and tear, we strongly advise you to get replacement windshield wipers immediately: Scooting and skipping: Dried out or corroded rubber can cause scooting or skipping on the windshield Streaking: Worn blades become warped from exposure to elements like tree sap, road tar, and other chemicals, which can cause the rubber to harden or crack Splitting: Split rubber occurs from prolonged exposure to sun’s damaging UV rays Screeching: As blades age, the rubber stiffens and loses flexibility, which can cause squeaking or screeching Order New Toyota Prius Wiper Blades in Madison, WI If you’re looking to replace your Toyota Prius’ windshield wipers, don’t hesitate to order the necessary parts from our service center in Madison, WI. If you have any questions regarding windshield wiper replacement or other services we offer, contact us online at Smart Motors Toyota.

Person replacing windshield wiper blades.

Nov 20, 2024 in Car Care Tips

What Type of Windshield Wipers Do I Need for a Toyota Highlander?

Drivers would be hard-pressed to find another SUV with the reliability of a Toyota, with the Highlander serving as proof. However, as miles accumulate, even the most reliable vehicles require some repairs. Eventually, finding replacement Toyota windshield wipers becomes a necessity, and that’s where our Toyota service center in Madison comes in. What Windshield Wipers Does My Toyota Highlander Need? Toyota brand vehicles use SightLine wiper blades, specifically engineered for the windshield shape and wiper arm downforce of your car, truck or SUV. The generally recommended length for a Highlander’s wiper blades are a 26-inch blade on the driver’s side, an 18-inch blade on the passenger’s side, and a 12-inch blade for the rear window if one is required. The length of your wiper blades may vary depending on trim level or model year, so make sure to check your owner’s manual to be on the safe side. When Do I Replace My Windshield Wipers? You should have your Toyota Highlander windshield wipers examined every 5,000 miles as part of routine maintenance. If you see any of these signs of wear and tear, we strongly recommend getting replacement windshield wipers immediately: Scooting and skipping: Dried out or corroded rubber can cause scooting or skipping on the windshield Streaking: Worn blades become warped from exposure to elements like tree sap, road tar, and other chemicals, which can cause the rubber to harden or crack Splitting: Split rubber occurs from prolonged exposure to sun’s damaging UV rays Screeching: As blades age, the rubber stiffens and loses flexibility, which can cause squeaking or screeching Order New Toyota Highlander Wiper Blades in Madison, WI If you’re looking to replace your Toyota Highlander’s windshield wipers, don’t hesitate to order the necessary parts from our service center in Madison, WI. If you have any questions regarding windshield wiper replacement or other Toyota services we offer, don’t hesitate to contact us online at Smart Toyota.