Synthetic oil isn't just conventional motor oil with a fancier label. It's engineered to handle higher temperatures, extreme cold, turbocharged engines, and longer drain intervals—and making it costs more. But there's another reason your next oil change could be more expensive: the stuff used to make modern synthetic oil is currently in unusually tight supply.
Walk into an auto parts store, and the price difference can be hard to miss. A jug of conventional oil might be relatively inexpensive, while a comparable five-quart jug of full synthetic can cost considerably more. Take that difference to a quick-lube shop, and the gap can become even more noticeable.
