Does long-term use of mineral oil harm the car?
2 Answers
As long as the engine is running, it will cause wear and tear. Fully synthetic oils outperform mineral oils in terms of flow lubrication, oxidation resistance, and cleaning properties. Otherwise, certain turbocharged cars cannot use mineral oil, which indicates that fully synthetic oils provide better protection. Of course, it is possible that a naturally aspirated engine using mineral oil might last until scrapping without any issues. Here is some information about mineral engine oil: 1. Mineral engine oil: It is a lubricating oil refined from petroleum. The base oil of mineral oil is the residual bottom oil left after the distillation of useful light substances (such as aviation fuel, gasoline, etc.) during the refining process of crude oil, which is then further refined. 2. Characteristics: Mineral oil is currently the most common type of lubricating oil on the market. Although mineral oil is inexpensive, its service life and lubrication performance are inferior to semi-synthetic and fully synthetic oils.
As a long-time car user, I remember back in the 1980s when everyone only used mineral oil. Now with upgraded engine technology, prolonged use of mineral oil can really harm your car because it's refined from crude oil, breaks down quickly, and tends to form sludge. My old car suffered severe engine wear, increased fuel consumption, and louder noise because of this. Modern synthetic oils contain more protective additives and offer better cleaning performance. If you insist on using mineral oil, you must change it every 5,000 kilometers without delay. I used mineral oil for over a decade—saved money temporarily but paid dearly in repairs. Especially during high-RPM or high-temperature driving, mineral oil provides inadequate protection and accelerates engine aging. I recommend synthetic oil for new cars; mineral oil might still work for older cars but requires diligent maintenance. Check your oil—if it darkens or shows contaminants, change it immediately. Extending engine life is what truly matters.
