The type is determined by the composition of the oil.
—
Mineral. Oils made from products of petroleum distillation. Such compounds tolerate temperature extremes worse than synthetic ones, which is why they require more frequent replacement and are poorly suited for extreme conditions and high-end transmissions. On the other hand, during normal driving on relatively simple car models, “mineral water” is practically not inferior to “synthetics”, but costs much less.
—
Synthetics. Compositions from components obtained artificially (synthesis). Considered more advanced than mineral oils, oils are produced in this category, including for expensive cars that are demanding on the quality of fuels and lubricants. In addition, “synthetics” do not pollute the system so much, and after draining such oil, it is often not necessary to flush the transmission at all. However, these brands are not cheap.
— Semi-
synthetics. A compromise between the two types described above are oils consisting of both mineral and synthetic components. Such compositions have more advanced characteristics than "mineral water", while they are much cheaper than "synthetics".
