Subaru BRZ First Oil Change - Synthetic at 1000 kms ?

[Glenda W.]

Congrats on your new Subie. I’ve had at least one in my fleet since the early 80’s, currently own 2 and maintain several for friends and family. I always do my first oci around 1,000 miles and switch to a 30 grade. Currently running M1 ESP 0w30 with great results. Amsoil will serve you well.

 

[02zx9r rev2]

Sometimes BITOG is amazing to me.

We have a member that thinks Lake Speed Lickity split is gospel.

Another member says ignore everyone telling you not to change oil early, but listen to him and overfill by a quart.

Ah, time for more coffee......

So what is your opinion on an early oil change or not since your post didn’t say either way

 

[Snagglefoot]

The trouble is, the “ experts” tell you to get out the bad stuff out but don’t hang around to see the result. The “ bad stuff “ is inside the oil filter and the remaining particles are too small to damage anything. I went the full OLM on my new Suburban with a 6.0. Seventeen years later it has 265,000 miles and doesn’t burn any oil. Enough for me.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

On an Asian Brand from Japan I find the FF and filter to be the best you will likely have in there and on there. I've broken in over 50 cars and owned over 70.
Leave the FF in for at least 1500 miles/ 3 months

 

[zeroptzero]

Sometimes BITOG is amazing to me.

We have a member that thinks Lake Speed Lickity split is gospel.

Another member says ignore everyone telling you not to change oil early, but listen to him and overfill by a quart.

Ah, time for more coffee......

Well everyone should fully be aware that any discussion regarding motor oil is 99% preference and 1% facts, and you will get opinions on every side of the issue. I don't mind that.

I like Lake Speed Jr. , he has an educated opinion with a good bit of experience, I sure don't. What he suggests is not some hokey-pokey advice, and he doesn't sell anything. Always worth hearing different opinions. We ask a question, we get opinions and people make decisions, nothing wrong with that. I don't know who is really right or wrong, but that is besides the point.

Coffee does help too.

 

[kschachn]

Well everyone should fully be aware that any discussion regarding motor oil is 99% preference and 1% facts, and you will get opinions on every side of the issue. I don't mind that.

I like Lake Speed Jr. , he has an educated opinion with a good bit of experience, I sure don't. What he suggests is not some hokey-pokey advice, and he doesn't sell anything. Always worth hearing different opinions. We ask a question, we get opinions and people make decisions, nothing wrong with that. I don't know who is really right or wrong, but that is besides the point.

Coffee does help too.

Sometimes it’s just that people conflate opinion with fact. It’s not always nefarious, but just drawing incorrect conclusions from data that doesn’t actually support that conclusion.

 

[Urshurak776]

So what is your opinion on an early oil change or not since your post didn’t say either way

Whatever makes you happy. Doubt the book calls for an early change?

I, personally, do an early change, but, like I said, whatever works for you.

 

[zeroptzero]

Lots of good replies in this thread, I appreciate them all even if I don't follow the suggestions, nice to hear differing opinions. At the end of the day no engine is going to self-destruct with any of the suggestions. When it comes to motor oil many people are looking for the fountain of youth.

 

[zeroptzero]

I dumped the factory oil at 600 miles (est), I collected the oil in a clean plastic pan. After the oil change I poured the oil in a second container and swished it around as I got towards the bottom like I was panning for gold. That left some very fine metal material at the bottom, the bits were small, you could feel them between your fingers as they were gritty, shiny metal. They were not in suspension in the oil , but likely bits dropped straight to the bottom of the oil pan. I flushed the pan during the oil change to get as much stuff out as I could. It wasn't a lot in terms of quantity, just small gritty stuff. The best way to describe what I seen is what you can see in the picture in the link below. That's what my pan looked like after my panning for gold motion. I think this is somewhat normal, just want to be sure though. I took the oil filter apart and seen nothing in the oil filter, so the grit was just sitting in the bottom of the oil pan. Any opinions welcomed. See the picture in the link below if possible.

https://automototips.com/metal-in-oil-after-break-in/

 

[Glenda W.]

I dumped the factory oil at 600 miles (est), I collected the oil in a clean plastic pan. After the oil change I poured the oil in a second container and swished it around as I got towards the bottom like I was panning for gold. That left some very fine metal material at the bottom, the bits were small, you could feel them between your fingers as they were gritty, shiny metal. They were not in suspension in the oil , but likely bits dropped straight to the bottom of the oil pan. I flushed the pan during the oil change to get as much stuff out as I could. It wasn't a lot in terms of quantity, just small gritty stuff. The best way to describe what I seen is what you can see in the picture in the link below. That's what my pan looked like after my panning for gold motion. I think this is somewhat normal, just want to be sure though. I took the oil filter apart and seen nothing in the oil filter, so the grit was just sitting in the bottom of the oil pan. Any opinions welcomed. See the picture in the link below if possible.

https://automototips.com/metal-in-oil-after-break-in/

I’ve had similar glitter on early drains. Makes me feel better to get it out. What oil and filter went in and on?

 

[sw99]

I **usually** keep the factory fill in for 5k or so in the new vehicles. I decided to get wild and crazy this time an dump the FF on the 25' Crosstrek at 500 miles. I was quite surprised to see light glitter in the oil drain bucket. I've seen a few threads where Subaru's tend to shed quite a bit during break in so I figured it couldn't hurt.

 

[zeroptzero]

I’ve had similar glitter on early drains. Makes me feel better to get it out. What oil and filter went in and on?

Thanks for the reply, that is reassuring to know it can be normal to find this material. I installed Amsoil 5w20 SS, with a factory Subaru oil filter for the BRZ. I put in a magnetic oil drain plug too.

 

[zeroptzero]

I **usually** keep the factory fill in for 5k or so in the new vehicles. I decided to get wild and crazy this time an dump the FF on the 25' Crosstrek at 500 miles. I was quite surprised to see light glitter in the oil drain bucket. I've seen a few threads where Subaru's tend to shed quite a bit during break in so I figured it couldn't hurt.

Yes I made sure to check the oil in the bright sun, you do see glitter suspended in the oil , but I found some gritty stuff that settled to the bottom of the drain pan, you can feel it between your fingers and it remains in the pan as the last fluid is cleared out of the collection pan. Not a huge amount but definitely stuff you can feel and rub between your fingers.

 

[DirtyGary]

dumped my 22 brz's factory fill right around 3000 miles. didn't notice any metal but I also didn't go prospecting for it.

have changed it twice a year since, roughly 3500 miles on each change. car runs great, doesn't burn any.

 

[NorthernDriver]

Overfill is only needed if you track drive the car. Not needed for any street applications

 

[Patman]

Overfill is only needed if you track drive the car. Not needed for any street applications

It doesn’t hurt though. The owners manual of my old 98 Corvette said that you could add an extra quart of oil when racing so I just ran an extra quart all of the time. Did that for 9 years and over 100,000 miles.
It has always been my opinion that the more oil you can safely put in there the better. There really aren’t any negatives that I can think of.

 

[zeroptzero]

my thinking is that the hone pattern on the cylinders has valleys and peaks, during break in those peaks get sheared down, and that metal has only one way to go - down to the oil pan. I suspect that is the metal that is seen from early break-in, and it settles at the bottom of the pan. It doesn't make it up to the oil filter, as I seen no metal in the oil filter when taken apart. The metal at the bottom of the oil pan doesn't circulate to the top of the engine. I think that explains what I was seeing.