New car oil change after 20 miles?

flyingscotno1

Used to be in ye olden days more common to have a running in period and a 1000 mile service, which was usually free by the supplying dealer.

bigjl

Lum wrote: »

Subarus are unique in many ways. Your experience is not typical of a more mainstream new car.

Only one of my Subarus was a performance car, the second was just a normal 2.0 saloon with an autobox.

Having fulltime AWD and a boxer engine doesn't change the way an engine wears, what does make a difference is how it is treated, I don't think it is a coincidence that Subarus are one of the most reliable cars on the market and they stipulate, or used to in 2004/5 an oil change and check over at 1000 miles and gives you running in procedures.

Oil has come a long way, but mechanical engineering first principles haven't changed.

As oil has improved the tolerances in engines have also become much tighter.

I will stick to what I know to work for me, and that is what I would recommend for anybody else.

We learn from experience, and after seeing loads of "young lads" coming by my garage with engine problems in 2 year old cars that hadn't been properly serviced, and seeing the damage inside after stripping them down I will also recommend a belt and braces attitude to maintenance.

withabix

If it is a company car, the correct running in procedure is:

Get in. Drive it like it has been stolen.

Refill screen wash at each service. You can't do it at any other time beacuse you will never know where the bonnet release lever is.

Don't check the tyres. Ever.

The only section of the manual you need to read is the bit about the stereo.

Never check the oil. There is a light on the dashboard that will tell you when someone at the garage needs to.

cyclonebri1

If you are going to keep the car for a good few years then change the oil and filter at 500miles. £50ish can do no harm and may just do some good. Some new cars are given a dose of mineral or semi synthetic as this allows the engine to wear in quicker, at 500 miles you want the best stuff in.

Also don't forget you are running the whole of the car in not just the engine, take it steady as brakes, gearbox etc all need time to bed in.;)

roddydogs

What if you get the car, and its already done more that 20 miles? delivery miles!(more than likely)

Lum

bigjl wrote: »

Only one of my Subarus was a performance car, the second was just a normal 2.0 saloon with an autobox.

Having fulltime AWD and a boxer engine doesn't change the way an engine wears

That 2.0 engine is the same basic engine as in the performance cars too.

You are right that it doesn't change how the engine wears, but Subaru are a comparatively small manufacturer so perhaps they don't do the same run in procedures as the big manufacturers and instead ask the customer to do it?

Personally I believe in giving a new car (or a rebuilt engine) a little bit of beans during the run in period. Nothing excessive, but a decent amount of boost and vaccum during the run in period is supposed to help the piston rings bed into the bores better, resulting in better compression.

cardinalbiggles

Do what the handbook says.

Theres a lot of nonsense on here about oil changes.

bigjl

cardinalbiggles wrote: »

Do what the handbook says.

Theres a lot of nonsense on here about oil changes.

You can say that, but actually read the handbook, what exactly is the definition of harsh use, you will see that under harsh use they drop the oil change interval substantially.

I have mentioned it before but the Mobil1 million mile BMW should tell you all you need to do about oil changes and using good oil, a million miles and still within tolerance for a new engine.


I have driven over a million miles, mostly in my own cars, and haven't had an engine wear out or have any problmes relating to lack or lubrication or problems caused by contaminated oil.

I do however know several blokes that used to use the cheapest oil they could get their hands on and stick to the original intervals or sometimes a bit longer and they had several failures, bottom ends, rattly top ends, sticky hydraulic tappets, not talking about old Peogeots but rather Mercs, BMWs and VWs.

You stick to what you thinks works for you, I will stick to what I know works for me.

You cab research things like oil changes on some american forums, though typically of americans theytake things a stage further, and talk about sending samples of their oil off for full analysis, to confirm exactly how much contamination is in the used oil, and all kinds properties of oil that degrade through use.

I also remember when I was into motorbikes in a bike way, then went on to do some courier work, reliability was always an issue, it wasn't unusual for oil changes to be done every 1000/1500 miles, some used to stick to the manufacturer intervals, resulting in lots of decent bikes with very early top end wear etc.

Maintenance is a personal thing in my opinion, my opinion is to do more than the minimum, in my opinion it has saved me more than it has cost me.

Gordon861

On the subject of running in an engine here's an interesting link http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

cardinalbiggles

I wouldnt pay too much attention to most of the US stuff, they have far harsher environments in gereral than we do, either extreme cold or extreme heat, the service intervals are also a lot lower (10k in Texas for VW GTi's but they recommend you have it done more regularly...)

I have always stuck to the recommended oil change intervals and have never had any problems (and I buy mainly Fiats!) thats probably in half a million miles.

I think people are far to quick to fall into the oil trap and continue to harp on about frequent oil changes, that while essential in 1970 are a complete waste of time now.