Glossary / General

conventional oil

15 Episode Mentions

Too Afraid to Ask

Conventional oil is regular oil made from natural sources. It's the most common type used in cars, but it doesn't perform as well as synthetic oil in extreme conditions.

Technical Definition

Conventional oil, also known as mineral oil, is derived from refining crude oil. It is the most basic type of motor oil and is generally less expensive than synthetic oil, but may not provide the same level of protection or performance.

Hear It Discussed

"Well, that's like conventional oil, [725.5s] all different sizes, larger pieces with synthetic, smaller molecules. They're all the same size."
Save Money On Car Repairs With Our Car Talk Show Under The Hood show 11:58

"[619.8s] How are you doing all right? [620.9s] What's going on? [622.5s] My father and I we've always had this sort of asynthetic oil versus conventional oil thing. Now, even when cars"
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - July 11, 2026 Hour 2 - The Little Things That Make Cars Last Ron Ananian The Car Doctor 10:22

"...the breakdown point is so much higher on synthetic versus conventional oil... you're going to be breaking down conventional oils pretty quick."
S3, E91 - All About Oil The Truck Show Podcast 28:42