First oil change?

[SSpray]

I hear some people talking about they do their first oil change on a brand new car sooner than normal. What do you do?

And how often do you change your oil with Mobil 1, I hear some say 3k, some 5, some 10k and even some 15k.

[Jakez]

What I've always been told is that the oil will have a lot of stuff built up in it from the factory that needs to be cleaned out with the first oil change at like 500-1000mi, then every 3000mi afterwards..

[stevesrt8]

that's stupid old crap from 50 years ago. Modern engines are not full of casting flakes and debris! They're clean like a hospital!

SRT boys told me in person at SRTTE in Homestead that 6.1 is shipped with special break in additive. DO NOT change your oil early, no benefit, may be detrimental to your engines life.

Crap, 3000 miles is already crazy with synth oil!

[sjz]

Originally Posted by stevesrt8

that's stupid old crap from 50 years ago. Modern engines are not full of casting flakes and debris! They're clean like a hospital!

SRT boys told me in person at SRTTE in Homestead that 6.1 is shipped with special break in additive. DO NOT change your oil early, no benefit, may be detrimental to your engines life.

Crap, 3000 miles is already crazy with synth oil!

I can't say I agree with you here. Even IF (and that's a BIG IF) the inside of the engine was as "clean like a hospital" when assembled, it doesn't take too much running time before the friction between moving parts (i.e. piston/cylinder wall, etc.) will cause lots of metal particles to be suspended in the oil. This is a natural part of the wear-in process. Most of this wear will be in the first few hundred miles.

Your statement that the "SRT boys told me in person at SRTTE in Homestead that 6.1 is shipped with special break in additive" is the first I've ever heard about that. These were actually DCX employees that said this? I would think that if there were some "break-in additive" which shouldn't be removed too soon, the owner's or service manual would make some mention of it. Actually, break-in additive was the stuff used 50 years ago.

Depending on the type of driving you do, 3000 miles may be just about right. If you never get the engine hot enough for long periods, water, present in the crankcase, will never get a chance to burn off. While less detrimental in synthetic oil, it's still a good idea to get rid of it with an oil change. If you do frequent long hauls, you could probably get away with more miles between changes.

I usually keep my cars for over 5 years (I've had my Jeep for 13+), change the oil every ~2500 miles, and have never (knocking on wood) had any engine troubles in any of my cars. My current fleet consists of six vehicles, between myself, wife & kids which I maintain.

Of course you'll do as you will, but until I have documentation telling me otherwise, I'll continue my practice of an early oil change (~200 miles if I can), and frequent oil changes. I will also recommend the same to others.
-Steve

[GoofyTimL]

First change for the H.E. was at about 700-750 miles with a couple hunder (at least) being at highway speeds, and the occasional WOT after about 300. Thereafter I've been on a 3k miles schedule with Mobil1 every time. Changed the '05 to Mobil 1 at the first 3k change after we purchased (used). Been keeping a a3k mile schedule since. However, thinking of increasing to 5k miles, which I did with all previous vehicles using dino oil.

[SSpray]

Thinking about it, I think I have heard of the special break in additive somewhere...
I don't know if I read it here or it was told me to at the dealer.

[srt8danno]

Well I wasn’t going to take any chances with my new baby that I waited sooooooo long for……that’s why I did my first oil change after I drove her around the block! Then I did the next one after I drove her all the way up to 10 miles!

This is the interval that works for me….every 10 miles it gets changed. It really makes it hard to drive anywhere though…anyone else have that problem?

[II kings 9:20]

I agree that 3K is insane but that is what DC requires for 95% of us (I still do 6K).

AS far as the frist change, I did mine as I recall at 1K and went to synthetic at 1900. I use a Filtermag and a drain bolt magnet and highly recommend them. Look at the pic, you decide if there is any crap there and if you think there is, is it a good thing or a bad thing to get this crap out of the engine. Subsequent oil changes are much cleaner when wipe testing the drain bolt tip. For some reason I can't upload pics, Hereis a link to my original trhead and pic showing real (not theoretical) crap from the first oil change.

[33hemi]

Originally Posted by II kings 9:20

I agree that 3K is insane but that is what DC requires for 95% of us (I still do 6K).


AS far as the frist change, I did mine as I recall at 1K and went to synthetic at 1900. I use a Filtermag and a drain bolt magnet and highly recommend them. Look at the pic, you decide if there is any crap there and if you think there is, is it a good thing or a bad thing to get this crap out of the engine. Subsequent oil changes are much cleaner when wipe testing the drain bolt tip. For some reason I can't upload pics, Hereis a link to my original trhead and pic showing real (not theoretical) crap from the first oil change.

I changed mine at 3,000 and have been using Mobil 1 every 4,000 since but am also going to 5,000 on the next change. I'm at 16,500 now.

[stevesrt8]

Originally Posted by sjz

I can't say I agree with you here. Even IF (and that's a BIG IF) the inside of the engine was as "clean like a hospital" when assembled, it doesn't take too much running time before the friction between moving parts (i.e. piston/cylinder wall, etc.) will cause lots of metal particles to be suspended in the oil. This is a natural part of the wear-in process. Most of this wear will be in the first few hundred miles. Old Wives Tale. Modern machining processes do NOT leave edges to be worn off. What is your oil filter for?

Your statement that the "SRT boys told me in person at SRTTE in Homestead that 6.1 is shipped with special break in additive" is the first I've ever heard about that. These were actually DCX employees that said this? I would think that if there were some "break-in additive" which shouldn't be removed too soon, the owner's or service manual would make some mention of it. Actually, break-in additive was the stuff used 50 years ago. Modern Moly/Blended additives (not even available 50 years ago) are recommended by Valvetrain experts such as Crane, etc. Yes, I had lunch with actual DCX employees including the Chief SRT Engineer! The owners manual does mention exactly when to change your oil!

Depending on the type of driving you do, 3000 miles may be just about right. If you never get the engine hot enough for long periods, water, present in the crankcase, will never get a chance to burn off. While less detrimental in synthetic oil, it's still a good idea to get rid of it with an oil change. If you do frequent long hauls, you could probably get away with more miles between changes. I have performed oil analysis on an entire fleet of vehicles. We run a service business and we don't guess, we analyze. If you did you would see that the oil change interval you describe was invented by oil manufacturers!!!

I usually keep my cars for over 5 years (I've had my Jeep for 13+), change the oil every ~2500 miles, and have never (knocking on wood) had any engine troubles in any of my cars. My current fleet consists of six vehicles, between myself, wife & kids which I maintain. I maintain 5 personal vehicles plus my work vans. I am a former NIASE certified mechanic with a brother who runs a machine shop. We have built many of HI-PO engines. We have one van with over 300 thousand miles on the original drivetrain. No failures, no oil consumption, runs every day and makes money.

Of course you'll do as you will, but until I have documentation telling me otherwise, I'll continue my practice of an early oil change (~200 miles if I can), and frequent oil changes. I will also recommend the same to others.
-Steve

The trick would be to get a sample of the used oil and analyze it. Otherwise you're just guessing. I like FACTS!