Synthetic oil is far superior to conventional oil, after all the money we put into our rigs, why are so many people opposed to spending the extra $8 for synthetic. . . ?
For me it is not an issue of being "opposed" to spending more money for synthetic oil. Instead, it is simply that there is little benefit in relation to the additional cost because I don't try to extend oil change intervals beyond 5,000 miles and I don't live where the ambient temperatures are regularly below 30 degrees - the two situations where synthetic oil is documented to be "superior" to conventional oil.
The reason I use Valvoline Maxlife synthetic blend 10w30 rather than Valvoline conventional 10w30 is that I am not immune to the marketing pitch that Maxlife contains an additive package that benefits higher mileage engines. Other than that I have no reason to believe that one is any better at lubricating my engine than the other.
Today's prices at Walmart.com:
Valvoline conventional 10w30 - 5 qt. bottle, $17.97
Valvoline Maxlife synthetic blend 10w30 - 5 qt. bottle $17.97
Valvoline full synthetic 10w30 - 5 qt. bottle regularly $25.97, current rollback price $22.97.
I typically change the oil twice each year, at 5,000 miles or every six months. The cost difference between conventional oil/Maxlife and synthetic would be only $10-$16/year so my choice of oil is not cost driven, however it is tough to ignore the fact that $16 almost covers the cost of one of the two oil changes with conventional or Maxlife.