Your Hyundai Elantra
requires either 5W-20 or 5W-30 oil, but whether you use conventional or synthetic oil is entirely up to you. Conventional oil is crude oil that does not undergo the refinement process. On the other hand, synthetic oil removes all impurities through the refinement process. Once they’re removed, the oil gets mixed with additives to assist with the adaptation to newer engine technology.
Conventional oil is more affordable because it’s easier to produce. It’s perfectly safe to use in your Elantra—as long as you select something between 5W-20 or 5W-30. You will, however, need to change the oil every 3,000 miles to maintain engine health.
Synthetic oil is more expensive because it undergoes the refinement process, but it does last much longer! You’ll be able to go 7,500 to 10,000 miles before an oil change because it breaks down much more slowly.
So your mechanic might be right: If you can afford the higher upfront costs of synthetic oil, you’ll probably save money in the long run. Plus, you’ll be able to avoid extra trips to the mechanic. However, if you would rather not splurge, conventional oil is just fine as long as you keep up with your oil changes!
If you ever need advice on your car insurance
policy, super app](https://getjerry.com/car-insurance/is-jerry-legit
) Jerry is here. Simply download the app, answer a few short questions, and you’ll get customized quotes within minutes. The savings keep coming even after Jerry
finds you great insurance at the lowest price. Before every policy renewal period, you’ll be presented with new competitive quotes, which means you’ll always have the best coverage at the best price. If you want to switch policies, that’s also fine—Jerry can help cancel your old policy, too!