My Opinion on New Car Oil Changes

[alwayson]

I was reading some old threads, and I was frankly shocked that people were doing their first oil changes so late, especially on a forum like this.

When I first changed the oil on my last new car at 1,000 miles it WAS FULL OF METAL PARTICLES. A LOT of metal particles. So even 1,000 miles is way too late to do a first oil change.

So unless you have a Honda, which is a special exception, this is what I recommend:

change oil and filter at 500 miles
change oil and filter at 1000 miles
change oil and filter at 3000 miles
change oil and filter at 7000 miles

Then stick to normal OCI's from then on out. Simply factor this in, when you buy a new car.

 

[exranger06]

This has been discussed about 1,438 times on this site. Just do what you feel is best/necessary and let others do the same. No need to argue about it AGAIN.

What makes Hondas so special?

 

[alwayson]

Originally Posted By: exranger06

What makes Hondas so special?


Honda manuals make a point about not changing oil until the first oil change. My 2005 Honda CRV manual certainly did.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: alwayson
So unless you have a Honda, which is a special exception, this is what I recommend:

change oil and filter at 500 miles
change oil and filter at 1000 miles
change oil and filter at 3000 miles
change oil and filter at 7000 miles

Based on what?

There is no evidence that doing the first oil change at the regularly scheduled interval is going to cause your engine to prematurely explode.

If it helps you sleep better at night, by all means do it, but that's about it.

 

[exranger06]

Originally Posted By: alwayson
Originally Posted By: exranger06

What makes Hondas so special?


Honda manuals make a point about not changing oil until the first oil change. My 2005 Honda CRV manual certainly did.


And why is that? If Hondas can go the full normal OCI on the factory fill, why can't other makes do it too? Did you wait until the recommended interval on your CRV, or did you follow your routine?

 

[alwayson]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete

Based on what?


Like I said, personal experience.

Changed oil at 1,000 miles on an Infiniti.

Even my Dad was shocked by the metal particles, and hes seen it all.

If you want to argue that a ridiculous amount of metal particles don't effect anything, please go ahead.

 

[alwayson]

Originally Posted By: exranger06
Did you wait until the recommended interval on your CRV, or did you follow your routine?


I folllowed the manual, because the Honda language was pretty adamant.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: alwayson
Like I said, personal experience.

You could talk about personal experience if you did not change the oil until the first scheduled interval and then had a premature engine failure as a result. What I'm getting at is that you have no way of knowing how changing or not changing the oil early will affect engine longevity in the long run.

Quote:

Changed oil at 1,000 miles on an Infiniti. Even my Dad was shocked by the metal particles, and hes seen it all.

Just because you saw some metal particles there does not mean they were doing any harm in the long run.

Quote:
If you want to argue that a ridiculous amount of metal particles don't effect anything, please go ahead.

All I'm saying is that there is no data to support or deny this. But just think of all the people out there that do not change their oil early. Do you hear of some large number of premature engine failures resulting from it? It would be on the news already if it was the case and multiple class action lawsuits would be thrown at car manufacturers.

 

[alwayson]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete

Just because you saw some metal particles there does not mean they were doing any harm in the long run.


Not some. A LOT.

 

[Indydriver]

Toyota is even worse now. They are specing 10,000 on 0W-20 with no MM. My Accord VCM V6 indicated an oil change was needed at 6300 on it's MM. I tested the oil and it was loaded with metals (does 253ppm cu give you the willies?) and the TBN was down to 2.0.

 

[Gabe]

What about the FF being fortified with the assembly lube?? Do you feel that the engine misses the complete moly polishing effect by changing it out early??

Also, what is your opinion on using synthetic oil as a break-in oil??

 

[exranger06]

Originally Posted By: alwayson
Originally Posted By: exranger06
Did you wait until the recommended interval on your CRV, or did you follow your routine?


I folllowed the manual, because the Honda language was pretty adamant.

And did you suffer any reliability or wear problems because of it? Again, why can Hondas do it no problem but other makes can't?

 

[Rickey]

"If it helps you sleep better at night, by all means do it, but that's about it."


Yep, probably true.

That is why I do it.

Lets consider for a moment that a "good" oil filter will filter down to the 10 to 15 micron range.

Lets assume that there "may" be some more wear going on in a new engine during it's infancy.

I remember a research paper posted on this forum saying that oil borne particles as small as 4 microns could cause wear in an engine.

Let's not forget the oil filter bypass valve which will open if the oil is cold and therefore thick enough.

Yes I sleep much better with a 500 mile initial OCI.

Shucks!! I have changed out factory fill as soon as I got home on several occasions!

I would even do it on a Honda if I had access to their factory fill.

Rickey.

 

[alwayson]

Originally Posted By: exranger06

And did you suffer any reliability or wear problems because of it? Again, why can Hondas do it no problem but other makes can't?


Well I'll never buy a Honda again. No horsepower. Window motor broke, alignment is thrown off just by looking at it, absolutely zero noise insulation etc.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: alwayson

Well I'll never buy a Honda again. No horsepower. [censored] quality. Window motor broke, alignment is thrown off just by looking at it etc.

Just wait till that X5 starts needing work.

 

[Eddie]

My new vehicles have an oil filter which removes metal particles large enough to do serious damage.

 

[Indydriver]

Originally Posted By: Gabe
What about the FF being fortified with the assembly lube?? Do you feel that the engine misses the complete moly polishing effect by changing it out early??

Also, what is your opinion on using synthetic oil as a break-in oil??

Although Honda didn't come out and say it, it seems obvious that their insistence on leaving the FF in IS related to Moly exposure. They announced for the 2011 MY that all engines, both sixes and fours, were getting moly impregnated piston skirts. Presumably, this moly is gradually released into the oil stream. My used oil analysis showed 359 moly FYI. Otherwise, the FF looked an awful lot like Honda Genuine 0W-20.

I have never seen any evidence that synthetic offers any more or less advantages as a FF than it does for any other OC.

 

[alwayson]

Originally Posted By: Gabe

Also, what is your opinion on using synthetic oil as a break-in oil??



What else would you use?

This is 2012. You should use synthetics. Aren't all factory fills synthetic?

 

[alwayson]

Originally Posted By: Gabe
What about the FF being fortified with the assembly lube??



I don't know much about this for other manufacturers beside Honda.

Maybe someone can shed some light.

 

[surfstar]

Originally Posted By: alwayson
So unless you have a Honda, which is a special exception, this is what I recommend:

change oil and filter at 500 miles
change oil and filter at 1000 miles
change oil and filter at 3000 miles
change oil and filter at 7000 miles

Then stick to normal OCI's from then on out. Simply factor this in, when you buy a new car.


How did you ensure this was done on that X5 you just bought?