2008 Honda Civic LX - Oil Change (Conventional/Synthetic)?

I just got my oil change done today at Valvoline because of winter, otherwise I would just do it myself. They asked me if I wanted conventional or synthetic. I went with conventional because that's what I always have used. Is it safe to use synthetic oil in my car?

Sure it's safe to use synthetic oil in your car. Most of the synthetic oil out there's a blend with regular oil init too. Keep up with your maintenance and don't forget about your automatic transmission.

Not unless you are prepared to thoroughly drain your engine of old oil and permanently use synthetic. Once synthetic, always synthetic and it's more expensive.

Sure it's safe.

All Synthetic oil means is that the actual oil molecules have been specifically "made" to the exact specs the oil maker wants. So it's all the best lubricating molecules for the job. It lubricates a bit better, and lasts a bit longer in the engine without breaking down.

Regular oil is refined from the sludge that comes out of an oil well. It's range of different random hydrocarbons of about the correct weight to make lubricating oil, depending on what originally came out of the ground and how they blend the different grades. The actual chemical formula of the oil molecules will be a random mix.

As for mixing the 2? There should be no issue. You can even buy a semi-synthetic oil, which is a blend of regular and synthetic, and so priced in between.

Should you use it? That's a choice you have to make. Synthetic generally runs cleaner and lubricates better. So it should make you engine last longer. But will it last enough extra to make up the extra cost of the oil? Maybe? Maybe not?

Personally I just run normal oil of the correct grade and change it regularly. I haven't worn out an engine yet.

Synthetic is better and you can use it or not use anytime you like without flushing the engine. If you do your own oil changes it only makes sense to use it because it only costs a few dollars more if you get it on sale. Most new cars sold today insist on it, it's that much better at preventing sludge build up and coking around the piston ring lands. Anyone that tells you it will cause leaks or other problems has their head so far up their azz that they have been deprived of oxygen and can't think anymore.

Next time choose synthetic as it will make your engine last longer. It's well worth the extra expense. There's no problem with mixing either.

My Honda dealer does not even stock conventional oil anymore. Its all synthetic. With Honda's relatively small displacement high output engines, synthetic is almost a must to make sure the variable valve timing works and the engine is kept sludge free.

You MUST use SYNTHETIC and stay away from VALVOLINE all together anyways! HONDA has it's VERY OWN OIL and SPEC numbers to use! NO FACTORY ANYWHERE uses VALVOLINE because it is made from WAX and leaves sediment and tar and wax coatings on pats! JUNKYARDS are FULL Of honda engines that BLEW UP from using VALVOLINE! Use MOBIL ONE 0W-30, AMSOIL for JAPANESE engines, TOTAL ENERGY oil for JAPANESE and ASIAN engines, or ENEOS oil from JAPAN! GET A REFUND if the namd HONDA is NOT on the GENERIC VALVOLINE JUNK OIL they used in there! PENnZOIL PLATINUM and EURO give a 15 year 500k mile OIL WARRANTY against engine troubles and oil leaks at ANY time! NEVER USE VALVOLINE ANYWAYS! I have de-sludged more than a HUNDRED engines using VALVOLINE! It is MADE from WAX and returns to TAR with excessive heat! MODERN DOHC engines MUST use FULL SYNTHETIC or the warranty wil be voided out! The VALVOLINE wil stick the cam shifting gears up and it can cos THOUSANDS to repair it afterwards! I even sued CASTROL for an AUDI issue, and they paid for ONE hALF of a new AUDI engine for a customer of mine! BY NOW! RE$AD YOUR MANUAL about OIL SPECIFICATION NUMBERS and forget about VISCOSITY ratings, the LOWEST type of ratings! Or even BUY your own oil from the HONDA dealership as they use their own oil refineries in JAPAN for these engines! REG oil will VOID warranty and clog up LIFTERS< cams followers, timing chain tensioners and MORE over time! I have rebuilt HUNDREDS of engines and tuned even MORE of them!