# Motor oil **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 30, 2003, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motor-oil/165263 "2003-03-30T19:49:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![liirogue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dbc845/32.png) [@liirogue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/liirogue)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motor-oil/165263/1 "2003-03-30T19:49:27Z")
I have a question about the different types of motor oil. Some people think the synthetic is better, others tell me that the synthetic will wear down parts in your engine faster than “natural” oil. What’s the goods and bads of “natural” and synthetic oil? Also, I have a '91 Toyota Celica with 180,000 miles on it. Is there a type of oil that is proven to be better for higher mileage cars, and is it really worth the price increase (I would assume there is a price difference) ---
**Author:** ![Harmonix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Harmonix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonix)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motor-oil/165263/2 "2003-03-30T20:34:50Z")
I haven’t read it myself, but I know people who swear by it. [Engine oil bible](http://www.chris-longhurst.com/carbibles/engineoil_bible.html) ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motor-oil/165263/3 "2003-03-30T21:50:13Z")
the synthetic oil is good for later-model cars. If you have a “classic” you’re better off using the real thing. ---
**Author:** ![county](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce7236/32.png) [@county](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/county)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motor-oil/165263/4 "2003-03-30T23:32:09Z")
Most important thing is to change it regularly. A lot of people with “classic” cars 20+ years old that they driev regularly change every 500 or 1000 miles.