Early Oil Change on Brand New Vehicle a Good Idea?

[OilBurnerFan]

So I thought I was being really smart by changing my new vehicles' engine oil prematurely.

I used M1 in my wife's 2021 Jeep Wrangler 2.0L turbo engine at 1k miles and then again at 2.5k miles. (Used Wix for synthetic oil filter both times).

I used M1 in my Ford F-150 PowerBoost 3.5L turbo engine at 500 miles and 4,500 miles.

After the first oil change for each vehicle I saw particularly prominent specks of metal in the oil basin. I mean like there was plenty of particle debris in the bottom.

These particles diminished in size and quantity after the second change.

Then my neighborhood mechanic -- a very experienced Ford technician -- told me I shouldn't have. That those particles are good to circulate and embed and help seat components and help seal the pistons.

Seriously?

The only data point I have is my son's 2014 Jeep Wrangler with the 3.7. We changed its oil at 500 miles, then 3k miles, then 6,600 miles -- using only M1 and either Mopar or Wix filters. The engine is still humming along at 82k miles with no noticeable oil consumption.

Thoughts anyone?

 

[buster]

I've never heard of that theory before. I don't think it's crucial to change early, but can't hurt either. I usually try and drain factory fill between 1k-3k miles.

Some are extreme about this and will dump the OE fill around 500 miles and drain/fill again several times before they're even at 3k lol.

 

[tasch72]

If it was good to circulate particulate, oil filters wouldn't exist. Particulate causes wear.

 

[Wrenchturner44]

I would ask this "experienced mechanic" to provide some proof or detail as to his explanation. When some engines use to have chrome piston rings, there were specific break-in procedures used to get them to seat properly, including how to load the engine from driving the car, to oil changes and specific oils to be used. I do not believe any of that is applicable to today's engines.

 

[cptbarkey]

Then my neighborhood mechanic -- a very experienced Ford technician -- told me I shouldn't have. That those particles are good to circulate and embed and help seat components and help seal the pistons.

proper break in depends on the application, not word of mouth black magic. Case in point, Yanmar says run the piss out of it, you'll find documentation differs for Toyota.

 

[thastinger]

I've only bought new in the past 25 years, have changed the oil immediately after the drive home from the dealerships (following some "ring seating" acceleration/deceleration cycles), then again at 500 miles, then went to a regular change schedule. Never an engine issue and we still drive all 5 of them.

 

[DGXR]

An early first oil change is not necessary but it won't hurt anything except your wallet, a little. I believe this is more of a feel-good thing because I haven't seen any conclusive evidence that an early first oil change will significantly improve the performance or prolong the lifespan of an engine. But honestly, I would do it early if I ever had a brand new or freshly rebuilt engine.

 

[Snagglefoot]

I didn’t change early on my 6.0 Chev and am now closing in on 250,000 miles. The filter grabs any particles to 20 microns long before you get to drain it.

 

[loneryder]

So I thought I was being really smart by changing my new vehicles' engine oil prematurely.

I used M1 in my wife's 2021 Jeep Wrangler 2.0L turbo engine at 1k miles and then again at 2.5k miles. (Used Wix for synthetic oil filter both times).

I used M1 in my Ford F-150 PowerBoost 3.5L turbo engine at 500 miles and 4,500 miles.

After the first oil change for each vehicle I saw particularly prominent specks of metal in the oil basin. I mean like there was plenty of particle debris in the bottom.

These particles diminished in size and quantity after the second change.

Then my neighborhood mechanic -- a very experienced Ford technician -- told me I shouldn't have. That those particles are good to circulate and embed and help seat components and help seal the pistons.

Seriously?

The only data point I have is my son's 2014 Jeep Wrangler with the 3.7. We changed its oil at 500 miles, then 3k miles, then 6,600 miles -- using only M1 and either Mopar or Wix filters. The engine is still humming along at 82k miles with no noticeable oil consumption.

Thoughts anyone?

 

[kschachn]

If it was good to circulate particulate, oil filters wouldn't exist. Particulate causes wear.

Exactly. There are no good particles in oil.

 

[buster]

You can also see a spike in wear metals each time you change the oil. While it may be negligible, it's not always a good practice to drain the oil too soon.

Manufacturing has gotten so good that most wear metals for the break-in oil are never at very high levels. Especially engines like Toyota/Honda/Mazda.

 

[odie]

Have been changing oil + filter early of new cars for many years without any issues .

 

[eljefino]

I've been on this planet driving beaters for thirty years, then when I got my first new car I changed its oil at 10,8xx miles, LOL.

I subscribe to the "all the assembly lube moly is good to have in there" theory. Am now at 70k, not burning a drop.

OTOH my Briggs flathead lawnmower was a glitter factory at five hours.

 

[Patman]

I did the first oil change on my Corvette at 1100 miles and when I got my oil analysis results back the oil had 2% fuel in it and had thinned out from a 5w30 to a 5w20. I was definitely glad I didn't leave that in for 7000 miles! (that's my typical interval since then, following the oil life monitor) That being said, I doubt that an early oil change will result in the engine lasting any longer than it would have with a normal first oil change. But when I buy a new car I always do it anyway, just in case.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

Wife & I have gone thru nine new rides since 1970. Always changed the factory fill at 3k. All the engines purred and were dipstick-clean, when driving them to junkyards because of dangerous rust 15-23 years later.

 

[DavidJones]

Metal particles big enough to see in a new vehicle that has an oil filter?
Seems a bit strange to me.
I've changed a lot of oil in my 65 years and have yet to see that.
The wife's 2012 Highlander got it's 1st oil change at 10,000 miles and every 10,000 since then until Covid came along. Today, at 136,000 miles, it uses no measurable oil and seems pretty happy.

 

[SupremePossum]

Metal particles big enough to see in a new vehicle that has an oil filter?

My Generator (2.4L Mitsubishi Engine) had 25 hours on it when changed, and the oil looked sparkly. Second change was very clean

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

Metal particles big enough to see in a new vehicle that has an oil filter?
Seems a bit strange to me.
I've changed a lot of oil in my 65 years and have yet to see that.
The wife's 2012 Highlander got it's 1st oil change at 10,000 miles and every 10,000 since then until Covid came along. Today, at 136,000 miles, it uses no measurable oil and seems pretty happy.

So they must not have been getting through the filter or you wouldn't have seen them!

 

[Slick3914]

So I thought I was being really smart by changing my new vehicles' engine oil prematurely.

I used M1 in my wife's 2021 Jeep Wrangler 2.0L turbo engine at 1k miles and then again at 2.5k miles. (Used Wix for synthetic oil filter both times).

I used M1 in my Ford F-150 PowerBoost 3.5L turbo engine at 500 miles and 4,500 miles.

After the first oil change for each vehicle I saw particularly prominent specks of metal in the oil basin. I mean like there was plenty of particle debris in the bottom.

These particles diminished in size and quantity after the second change.

Then my neighborhood mechanic -- a very experienced Ford technician -- told me I shouldn't have. That those particles are good to circulate and embed and help seat components and help seal the pistons.

Seriously?

The only data point I have is my son's 2014 Jeep Wrangler with the 3.7. We changed its oil at 500 miles, then 3k miles, then 6,600 miles -- using only M1 and either Mopar or Wix filters. The engine is still humming along at 82k miles with no noticeable oil consumption.

Thoughts anyone?

That advice is a bunch of horse feathers.

 

[mco30mco]

Metal particles big enough to see in a new vehicle that has an oil filter?
Seems a bit strange to me.
I've changed a lot of oil in my 65 years and have yet to see that.
The wife's 2012 Highlander got it's 1st oil change at 10,000 miles and every 10,000 since then until Covid came along. Today, at 136,000 miles, it uses no measurable oil and seems pretty happy.

Every motorized item I’ve ever bought cars boats motorcycles all have gotten early oil changes and yes I could see the glittery stuff in the oil. Doesn’t matter the brand of vehicle either.
If you went 10k the oil was prolly to dirty to see it though