Early Filter change in new Engine

[Elkins45]

In other words, you have nothing, or little, more than a supposition. You may be right, but OTOH, many thousands of engines go great distances without early filter and/or oil changes.

Without an early filter change, the original filter would continue to catch particles for many more miles, perhaps several thousand more. Perhaps changing the oil plays a greater role than the filter change, although they are often done in concert.

It might be worthwhile to look at the role an early filter change plays in engine longevity.

To quote a wise man on the very slim chance he will ever need a concealed weapon, "It's not the odds, it's the stakes."

 

[Shel_B]

I still feel like an early oil and filter change has no negatives, other than just the cost. Maybe it doesn’t extend the life, but what if you find out later on that a study proves that it does make a difference but you didn’t do that early change? Then it’s too late to turn back time. I feel like it’s better to be safe than sorry.

While I didn't mention it in this thread, I'm an advocate for early oil and filter changes. I've done them with every new car I purchased. Been that way since 1963.

 

[scoot]

While I didn't mention it in this thread, I'm an advocate for early oil and filter changes. I've done them with every new car I purchased. Been that way since 1963.

I'm doing the math

 

[Shel_B]

I'm doing the math

And what math might that be?

 

[Lubener]

I don't see a reason to change it that early. 1500-2000 miles is what I would do. Many go a long time on the original oil and filter and still get several hundred thousand miles out of their engines.

 

[scoot]

And what math might that be?

Kidding you about 1963

 

[mitsuman47]

I don't see a reason to change it that early. 1500-2000 miles is what I would do. Many go a long time on the original oil and filter and still get several hundred thousand miles out of their engines.

If this were 5+ years ago, I could see your point. However, in recent years, it seems QC has taken a nosedive across most industries.

For example, Toyota has been in the news for “machining debris” being left in some of their engines after assembly. No idea if this is actually the cause of these engines meeting an early demise. But, the cost of an oil and filter is nothing compared to the warranty headache if it chews itself up.

 

[Eddie]

Bring me DATA but, not guesses. Ed

 

[Patman]

I don't see a reason to change it that early. 1500-2000 miles is what I would do. Many go a long time on the original oil and filter and still get several hundred thousand miles out of their engines.

That still doesn’t prove that an early oil change isn’t beneficial. A lot of those super high mileage engines out there are not exactly in their best shape. Burning oil, down on compression, loss of power and MPG. Maybe that early oil change would have prevented that. The fact of the matter is that we will probably never know for sure. But for the cheap cost of an oil change at the 500 to 1000 mile mark won’t break the bank so why not do it? Even if there is only a 1% chance of there being a lot of extra debris in that new oil, I would rather err on the side of caution.

 

[Patman]

Bring me DATA but, not guesses. Ed

There really isn’t going to be data here, because how would you do that? Buy two identical vehicles and drive them both under the same conditions for 500k but have one with an early change and one without? Even then there are too many variables that would affect the results.

I can’t believe people are actually arguing against an early oil change here. What harm do you think it’s going to do?

 

[Elkins45]

Bring me DATA but, not guesses. Ed

Sorry, best I can do is a feeling.

 

[ZeeOSix]

For example, Toyota has been in the news for “machining debris” being left in some of their engines after assembly. No idea if this is actually the cause of these engines meeting an early demise.

It was stated it was machining debris that was the cause for them to replace the engines in those effected. But apparently the oil filter wasn't enough to prevent the damage. Maybe it was debris down stream of the filter and the first time it went through the system it causes damage. Or it clogged the filter enough to put it in bypass and the debris got sent through the system over and over that way.

https://pressroom.toyota.com/toyota...022-2023-toyota-tundra-and-lexus-lx-vehicles/

 

[Patman]

It was stated it was machining debris that was the cause for them to replace the engines in those effected. But apparently the oil filter wasn't enough to prevent the damage. Maybe it was debris down stream of the filter and the first time it went through the system it causes damage. Or it clogged the filter enough to put it in bypass and the debris got sent through the system over and over that way.

https://pressroom.toyota.com/toyota...022-2023-toyota-tundra-and-lexus-lx-vehicles/

It would be in Toyota’s best interest to give every single one of those affected vehicles an oil change as soon as they hit the dealers lots. A cheap oil change is a lot less money than an engine replacement.

(I know the recall is for 2022-2023 but I hear that the problem possibly still exists with 2025s)

 

[crashz]

I'm a fan of early changes because you can only do it once, right? Can't go back in time and similarly, can't go back in wear.

On my 2022 GMC Canyon I changed the oil and filter at 1000 miles. No surprises, debris or anything in the oil or filter. However I found out how ridiculous the filter housing placement was and how it naturally trapped dirty oil.

 

[FlyingVan]

Since we are sharing anecdotes, here is mine. My only vehicle that I bought new was a 2004 Freightliner (Mercedes) Sprinter. I did the first oil change at 10k miles, then I believe over the next few changes I increased the interval little by little with every oil change (based on oil analyses) until I got to 15k OCI. I could have gone further but kept the oil changes at 15k intervals until the body rusted out at 800k miles. Engine never had an issue, still started and ran like new when I gave it away. I saw it once parked at a gas station last year, so it was definitely still running in 2024, 20 years later.

What would an early oil change done to this engine? Increase the mileage from 2 million to 2.5 million?

If it makes you happy to do an early filter or filter/oil change, do it. It might not do any good, but definitely won't do anything bad to the engine either.

All my other vehicles were bought used, so I don't know how they were treated when new, but they all lasted hundreds of thousands of miles before I got rid of them. None of them were gotten rid of because of the engine.

 

[berniedd]

I have 7000 miles on my new car, and recently the fuel consumption started trending downward from where I was expecting it to go. That is, the last 2 tanks and the current one. So If that is due to the engine doing new engine things like I suspect I really do think there should still be extra particles being shed.

It seems like the fuel consumption is about 5% lower than it was, btw...

My brother bought a new Nissan Sentra 20 years ago, and it didn't fully break in till 15,000 miles (best fuel mileage).

 

[Jetronic]

My brother bought a new Nissan Sentra 20 years ago, and it didn't fully break in till 15,000 miles (best fuel mileage).

I can see that, my previous diesel took 60k miles (and I drove that car hard, full boost and full rpm daily). And customer hyundai diesels had problems with ring seating (if babied too much) and oil consumption until 40k miles. What helped with those was a few pulls to redline after I did a service on them. By the 5th service the oil consumption seemed to stop.

This is the first time I kept meticulous records of fuel consumption and miles driven, and kept notes about unusual driving habits and what the weather did. I can see very clearly now how the fuel consumption deviates from expectations.

 

[Patman]

Since we are sharing anecdotes, here is mine. My only vehicle that I bought new was a 2004 Freightliner (Mercedes) Sprinter. I did the first oil change at 10k miles, then I believe over the next few changes I increased the interval little by little with every oil change (based on oil analyses) until I got to 15k OCI. I could have gone further but kept the oil changes at 15k intervals until the body rusted out at 800k miles. Engine never had an issue, still started and ran like new when I gave it away. I saw it once parked at a gas station last year, so it was definitely still running in 2024, 20 years later.

What would an early oil change done to this engine? Increase the mileage from 2 million to 2.5 million?

If it makes you happy to do an early filter or filter/oil change, do it. It might not do any good, but definitely won't do anything bad to the engine either.

All my other vehicles were bought used, so I don't know how they were treated when new, but they all lasted hundreds of thousands of miles before I got rid of them. None of them were gotten rid of because of the engine.

That’s likely one of those “over engineered” engines that last forever no matter what you do. But a lot of engines aren’t quite built that stout so you will want to do everything you can to help it. Is it really a problem to spend $30 or $40 just in case it might help? It certainly won’t hurt.

 

[PontiacHO]

Changed oil and filter on a new 2025 Lexus ES 350 F-Sport at 254 miles. I've often done early oil/filter changes on new engines, but I never cut open the filters. The 3.5L V6 Toyota filter is a replaceable cartridge type, so it was simple to view.

EVERY pleat contained easily visible particles...some only a few, some with probably over 50 particles. They were mostly silver, some copper-colored, some appeared sand-like.

I used an OEM filter and new O-rings. Filled with Mobil 1 ESP 0w-30 and will run it to 5000 miles and change it again. I'll let Lexus do the 10,000 mile oil service (I'm sure they'll use 0w-20 Toyota oil), I'll change that out at 15,000 probably with Mobil 1 ESP 0w-30 again, let Lexus do the 20,000 oil service, then at 25,000 I'll move to HPL 0w-30 and go 10,000 miles per oil change interval from there onward until the warranty runs out at 70,000 miles. Maybe then I'll go further than 10,000 miles...but that will be a few years from now.

I think this simple V6 with no hybrid option and simple FWD is a dying breed. Wanted to get one before they get more complicated. Toyota already killed the simple V6 FWD Avalon...I think the ES 350 may be next.

That’s a nice car and a wise choice especially if you keep a car a long time. You’re one of a few that care enough to keep the break in debris out of the oil-engine. You will enjoy that car for as long as you want. Smart move.

 

[nomas]

I still feel like an early oil and filter change has no negatives, other than just the cost. Maybe it doesn’t extend the life, but what if you find out later on that a study proves that it does make a difference but you didn’t do that early change? Then it’s too late to turn back time. I feel like it’s better to be safe than sorry.

And it took a study for you to know there was any kind of benefit ? Even though you never saw one ....