New car oil change after 20 miles?

A._Badger

Crabman wrote: »

Please tell me you're joking! :rotfl:

I think you're being slightly misled. The US practice of using oil samples tends to be by firms running large trucks, agricultural vehicles and the like, where an oil change is no simple (or inexpensive) matter.

As for Americans changing oil in domestic vehicles more frequently, they often operate under very different conditions from those in Europe (manufacturers' recommendations reflect this). If you take somewhere like Boston, it can swing between extremes of, say, 103 F and 10 F. Operating in conditions like that can take it out of an oil.

cyclonebri1

Bottom line, has anyone ever ruined an engine by changing the oil toooooooooooo often?

And next to bottom line, the oposite, by not changing the oil.

Few people here realise what a "service" entails.

Basically a look around the car to "see" if there are any obvious issues, any glaring symbols on the dash, which an alert owner would already know about, an oil and filter change, and every now and again an air filter and for the drivers comfort a pollen filter change.

Ask yourselves which is actually the critical one :T:T

Wig

No harm can be done by driving it easy for the first 500 miles and changing the oil & filter before 1000 miles

If I had a new car I know I would definately do the first one but I'd change the oil & filter probably before 6000 miles. No harm to do it at 1000 though and only cost you a few quid esp if you do it yourself.

skiddlydiddly

Wig wrote: »

No harm can be done by driving it easy for the first 500 miles and changing the oil & filter before 1000 miles

If I had a new car I know I would definately do the first one but I'd change the oil & filter probably before 6000 miles. No harm to do it at 1000 though and only cost you a few quid esp if you do it yourself.

According to the engine builder in the link above, you can do harm with an easy run in process.He claims you do not bed the rings in properly which is then irreversible without a rebuild.It allows blow-by gases to contaminate the oil and reduced engine power.

Different strokes for different folks.Personally I followed his advice and only time will tell if he is right.

cyclonebri1

There is a simple answer to all this which is much more in tune with this moneysaving forum rather than a motoring site.

Don't buy a new car, you won't have to make the disscused decisision. :money:

cardinalbiggles

vikingaero wrote: »

But Americans commute and use their cars far more than us Brits. Whereas we think of 10-12k as an average mileage, most Yanks will do upwards of 40-50k per annum and have 2-3 hour commutes each way as normal most private American motorists will cover as much private mileage as our UK sales reps.

Thats an urban legend. The average car mileage in the US is about the same as in the UK.

Rachels1979

I bought a new ford about 4 years ago and I had to take it back to the dealers after about 500 miles for a mini service and oil change. They did this free of charge though.

I guess different cars, and even different dealers would work differently though.

Stephen_Leak

I'm also a firm believer in regular oil & filter changes. Every 6 months or 5000 miles keeps it easy to remember. At somewhere like National Tyres, with a voucher from one of their newspaper ad's or their website, it usually costs about £30. I look on it as an internal service. Oh, and they check your tyres as well.

bigjl

I actually enjoy doing extra bits and pieces to my car, I find it theraputic to get under there and poke around, but then I will be painting my front subframe on the Mondeo due to some surface rust, it doesn't need it, will last for years like that, but if I sort the rust and paint it, it will last forever pretty much.

I also understand the point of view of those that don't bother, but I would be happy to sell my car to a mate because I know I have looked after it well, I even change shocks etc, when the car loses that sharpness, and also do a full wheel alignment twice a year, as the car drives so much better with spot on alignment, though I have friends that just don't notice things like the steering wheel being off centre and the tyres wearing funny, each to his own I suppose.