Everyone will tell you motor oil is an engine’s best friend and here’s why. Your motor oil’s main job is to stop wear and friction in your engine. This is caused when the various metal engine parts grind together and heat up.

As motor oil flows around your engine it lubricates the metal surfaces, reducing friction and dispersing heat. Motor oil also helps to keep your engine clean and free from build-ups by holding all the by products of combustion (like silica and acids) in suspension. And for the hat trick, motor oil reduces rust and corrosion by limiting your engine’s exposure to oxygen.

In a nutshell, motor oils are made up of two ingredients: base stocks (conventional or synthetic) and additives.

Conventional base stocks are made from naturally occurring crude oil pumped from the earth and processed in an oil refinery.

Not surprisingly, synthetic base stocks are developed in a lab. They are produced from relatively pure chemicals and are engineered with specific characteristics in mind e.g. better performance in extreme temperatures.

Additives are what you might call the active ingredients your motor oil. Combined with base stocks they provide all sorts of functions, from cleaning and cooling your engine to preventing rust and protecting against extreme pressure.

A bit like the nutrients in soil, these additives need to be replenished regularly – which is one of the reasons why oil changes are so important for your engine.

All lubes fall into one of three categories: liquid (oil), semi-liquid (grease) and solid (graphite). And all lubes (conventional and synthetic) contain chemical additives which enhance their ability to cool and protect your engine.

The key difference between conventional and synthetic oil is that synthetics are created from purer chemicals and combined with a greater number of more technically sophisticated additives. This means that synthetics can be ‘engineered’ to perform more effectively than conventional oils in certain conditions.

A major performance advantage of synthetics is their ability to provide optimum lube at extreme temperatures. They remain stable at very high temperatures (when most conventional oils start to break down) and remain fluid at very low temperatures (when conventional oils start to thicken). This reduces wear and tear and helps to maintain a cleaner, more efficient engine.

Synthetics also last longer because they break down more slowly than conventional oils – but remember, just like conventional oils, regular oil changes are essential to remove contaminants.

If you can capitalise on the benefits – for example if you drive in extreme conditions or have a high performance car – synthetics can be the way to go. Although they’re more expensive, they can work out better value in the longer term. You might also consider a blend – a more cost-effective mix of synthetic and conventional oils.

The bottom line is that each car is different and you need to consider a range of factors including manufacturer’s recommendations, climate conditions and, last but not least, affordability. That’s why we recommend using our Oil Selector to find the perfect oil fit for your car.

Did you know it only takes one litre of oil to pollute one million litres of water? And when you consider a single oil change produces about 4 to 5 litres of used oil, you can see the consequences could be pretty major. Disposed of in the wrong way, motor oil is dangerous to our environment and our health. But recycling helps to protect the environment and conserve the earth’s dwindling resources.

In most cases it is illegal to dump used motor oil in garbage bins, down kitchen sinks and storm drains, into sewers and rivers or on the ground.

The good news is that it’s relatively easy to recycle your used oil, protecting our environment and saving precious natural resources into the bargain.

Used oil, or 'sump oil' can be cleaned and re-used again and again. It can come back to life as industrial burner fuel or hydraulic oil or it can be re-refined back into new lubricating oil.

These days most councils and shires have a local used oil collection facility where you can take smaller quantities of used oil for recycling. Some may also accept oily rags, oil filters and oil containers.

If you run a small company, like a workshop or service station, then you may need to contact a used oil collector to come and remove your used oil. Many collectors will do this free of charge.

For more information on recycling your used motor oil safely and responsibly, contact your local council or visit their website.

The Australian Government website also has useful information about recycling used oil: http://www.oilrecycling.gov.au/