Do any manufacturers still use break in oil?

[BMWTurboDzl]

We used to talk a lot about how Honda might have been using a break in oil which they recommended leaving in for the full interval on their new cars. But I’m not even sure they are still doing this. Are there any car manufacturers at all that use a special break in oil anymore?

I doubt it because break-in oil is formulated to chemically wear in the engine in a short period of time and then change it out. Theses oils, iirc, typically have high levels of zddp. The Asian brands always saw full OCI so they can be excluded by default. UOAs on factory fills of some high performance brands like BMW M didn't show anything special.

 

[factorytuned2012]

BMW M uses break-in oil in engines and drivelines.

where is this information published?

 

[Glenda W.]

I’m still an early oil change advocate on a new vehicle. I’ve had some look like glitter bombs and others look fine. I also don’t believe in lifetime fluids, call me crazy

 

[Carlostrece]

Yet there are people who still insist on changing the oil after 250, 500, 1000, etc miles

Yes, such as Lake Speed Jr prefers to change a new car's oil at around 750 miles for 1st oil change. I assume he knows what he's doing. He has a Youtube video about it.

 

[ka9mnx]

I think engine break in oil went away in the 1950's. I've never changed oil early. But if it makes you sleep well at night...

 

[chris719]

BMW M uses break-in oil in engines and drivelines.

They do a break in change but there’s no evidence it is a special oil.

 

[Hall]

change a new car's oil at around 750 miles for 1st oil change. I assume he knows what he's doing.

Good for him. Doesn't prove anything though.... What about the hundreds of thousands of vehicles that do NOT get their oil changed for the first time at 5k, 8k, even 10k miles, then those cars end up in the junk yard but the original engine is running just fine after 300k miles ?

 

[facility1]

Good for him. Doesn't prove anything though.... What about the hundreds of thousands of vehicles that do NOT get their oil changed for the first time at 5k, 8k, even 10k miles, then those cars end up in the junk yard but the original engine is running just fine after 300k miles ?

it is a good policy to do at least one oil change early, say around eight hundred miles or so to help remove machining particles, solvents manufacturing oils etc from the engine that the filter may not get. and not aware of any use of break in oils used any more, though a possibility in more rare brands of vehicles/engines.

 

[OilUzer]

I knew guys that worked in an engine plant. They changed the oil used because they got a better price than the old oil. It was all about the money.

Maybe they think oil is oil or why not get the least expensive if it meets the required approvals!

 

[sfbmw]

where is this information published?

BMW hasn’t officially published whether they factory fill M cars with different fluids AFAIK, but all receive a 1200mi (~2k KM) service where engine, manual gearbox, and differential oil are changed. They also take the car out of break-in mode allowing the car to run its most aggressive ignition maps (supposedly). Multiple master techs I’ve talked too have all note that the break-in fluids have a different color and smell than the new fluids.

I doubt it because break-in oil is formulated to chemically wear in the engine in a short period of time and then change it out. Theses oils, iirc, typically have high levels of zddp. The Asian brands always saw full OCI so they can be excluded by default. UOAs on factory fills of some high performance brands like BMW M didn't show anything special.

They do a break in change but there’s no evidence it is a special oil.

Confirmation otherwise.

M

Thread 'Castrol TWS 10w60 1200 mi break-in BMW M3'

May 28, 2013

Here is a uoa (done by Polaris Labs) of the factory fill from a 2013 BMW M3. BMW requires the oil on M cars to be changed at the first 1200 mi. Thereafter the factory oci is 15k mi. The service fill for the M3 is Castrol Edge TWS 10w60, an oil made exclusively for some M cars. For comparison sake, the voa of the service fill is here: https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/posts/2989167/

I did the 1200 mi uoa primarily to dispel what I believe is the myth of the need to "wash out" wear metals during the break-in. The fact that BMW requires a 1200 mi drain of the factory fill on M cars has...

• m6pwr

 

[chris719]

BMW hasn’t officially published whether they factory fill M cars with different fluids AFAIK, but all receive a 1200mi (~2k KM) service where engine, manual gearbox, and differential oil are changed. They also take the car out of break-in mode allowing the car to run its most aggressive ignition maps (supposedly). Multiple master techs I’ve talked too have all note that the break-in fluids have a different color and smell than the new fluids.





Confirmation otherwise.

M

Thread 'Castrol TWS 10w60 1200 mi break-in BMW M3'

May 28, 2013

Here is a uoa (done by Polaris Labs) of the factory fill from a 2013 BMW M3. BMW requires the oil on M cars to be changed at the first 1200 mi. Thereafter the factory oci is 15k mi. The service fill for the M3 is Castrol Edge TWS 10w60, an oil made exclusively for some M cars. For comparison sake, the voa of the service fill is here: https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/posts/2989167/

I did the 1200 mi uoa primarily to dispel what I believe is the myth of the need to "wash out" wear metals during the break-in. The fact that BMW requires a 1200 mi drain of the factory fill on M cars has...

• m6pwr

No, it’s completely wrong. I’ve had three M cars. I sampled my old (first) Z4M at break in service in 2008 and it was identical to the Castrol TWS that is the normal fill for that car.

They do not change ANY maps or anything and they do not even change the transmission fluid anymore on 6MT. There is no break-in mode. I know the master tech at my local dealer and I have ISTA+ and every other tool BMW has. I could find the work order from my 2021 M2 Comp somewhere if you don’t believe me that the transmission fluid is no longer changed.

Color and smell mean nothing. Shell or Fuchs blends oils for BMW in EU. Castrol blends for NA. The 10W-60 cars are the only exception, getting an actual Castrol “same as the bottle” fill in the EU. Several people have sampled their 1200 mile change oils on the forums on F8x and G8x and they are nothing interesting. My M2 comp was filled with the same oil that gets put in a 340i for 10k miles.

 

[Carlostrece]

Good for him. Doesn't prove anything though.... What about the hundreds of thousands of vehicles that do NOT get their oil changed for the first time at 5k, 8k, even 10k miles, then those cars end up in the junk yard but the original engine is running just fine after 300k miles ?

It might prove somethings. In his video about it he had a VOA, 750 miles UOA, and a 5000 miles UOA and he compared the wear metals in each. The 750 mile UOA had signifigantly more wear metals than the 5000 mile UOA. Draw your own conclusions.

 

[sfbmw]

No, it’s completely wrong.

We’re off to a great start.

I’ve had three M cars. I sampled my old (first) Z4M at break in service in 2008 and it was identical to the Castrol TWS that is the normal fill for that car.

Care to link the oil analysis you’ve had performed since you statement directly contradicts another pair of analysis linked above?

They do not change ANY maps or anything and they do not even change the transmission fluid anymore on 6MT. There is no break-in mode. I know the master tech at my local dealer and I have ISTA+ and every other tool BMW has. I could find the work order from my 2021 M2 Comp somewhere if you don’t believe me that the transmission fluid is no longer changed.

Ignitions maps is largely a rumor. Hence why I wrote “(supposedly).” It’s a purported to be akin to deactivating delivery mode.

Color and smell mean nothing.

Lol okay… it’s an indicator of a possible difference not a definitive answer.

Shell or Fuchs blends oils for BMW in EU. Castrol blends for NA.

SOPUS and Castrol have both blended motor oils for BMW in NA since 2015.

The 10W-60 cars are the only exception, getting an actual Castrol “same as the bottle” fill in the EU. Several people have sampled their 1200 mile change oils on the forums on F8x and G8x and they are nothing interesting. My M2 comp was filled with the same oil that gets put in a 340i for 10k miles.

Again, care to link this evidence you’re substantiating your claims with? I find zero posts on this forum or the typical BMW specific ones such as you describe.

I will give you credit that MT oil is no longer changed

 

[factorytuned2012]

So what bmw looks over the vehicle at 1200 miles this doesn’t mean fluids are getting changed out. Toyota recommends a 5k service to look over a new vehicle but oil isn’t changed till 10k.

 

[tolian21]

No, but higher levels of molly are usually found

 

[Sumboodie]

I got a hand out back in 97 for my Integra about leaving it in for the full OCI, but that's almost 3 decades ago.

Why in my mind is 97 like 20 years ago, max?!

 

[Patman]

Good for him. Doesn't prove anything though.... What about the hundreds of thousands of vehicles that do NOT get their oil changed for the first time at 5k, 8k, even 10k miles, then those cars end up in the junk yard but the original engine is running just fine after 300k miles ?

There are also a lot of high mileage engines that are burning oil, down on power and getting worse MPG than new as well. So just because they have reached the higher mileage doesn’t mean they’re running perfectly.

I still don’t understand why there is so much pushback on here against spending $40 to do an extra oil change at the beginning of the cars life. You only have one chance to do it so why not? Worst case scenario you lost $40 and accomplished nothing. Best case scenario you have done something that benefits your engine for its lifetime. I see no evidence saying why it is harmful to do that first early oil change.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Yet there are people who still insist on changing the oil after 250, 500, 1000, etc miles

There is going to be a lot of initial small particle wear material <10um on break in that a filter isn't going to grab - if its anything like an industrial machine. I change mine out on a new engine very early - to get rid of that stuff. Has nothing to do with the oil itself.

To each their own.

 

[Learn Ya]

Yet there are people who still insist on changing the oil after 250, 500, 1000, etc miles

I am guilty of this. For vehicles, I do the first oil change at 1,000 miles. For lawn equipment, I change oil after the first 1-2 hours. It may or may not help extend engine life, but oil is cheap and it definitely won't hurt.

 

[Hall]

it is a good policy

You're confusing "policy" with "opinion".

and he compared the wear metals in each. The 750 mile UOA had signifigantly more wear metals than the 5000 mile UOA. Draw your own conclusions.

Again, so what ? Prove the long-term implications.

There are also a lot of high mileage engines that are burning oil, down on power and getting worse MPG

And you automatically blame it on NOT doing early oil changes ?

I still don’t understand why there is so much pushback on here against spending $40 to do an extra oil change at the beginning of the cars life.

I don't care if you do it or don't do it. My argument is there's no proof it makes a difference. Almost no automaker recommends it either, but I guess we're to magically believe that these engines will squeak by long enough to make it out of warranty, right, then fail ?