Break-in and first oil change

[Primalzer]

Well I've bought my first brand new car, and with it comes a lot of questions about maintenance and the like. First of all, I probably should've asked this questions 750 miles ago, but how does everyone break-in there car. I have heard take it easy for the first 300,500, or 1000 miles and I have also heard people say drive it like you stole it off the lot.

Second, the first oil change is not scheduled until 5000 miles. I have heard people say to change the original oil and filter within the first 500-1000 miles to get out any contaminants or anything else left behind from the manufacturing process. Now I would assume that the manufacturing processes at this day and age have gotten to a point where this wouldn't be necessary, but am I willing to take that risk. Am I going to hinder the break-in process by taking out that original oil? Isn't the original oil a special blend specifically made for engine break-ins?

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[TonzKnock-G]

The g8 is my 4th brand new car and I always drive them like i stole em. Typical oil change intervals. Just sayin...

 

[SRT41320]

drive it like you stole it!!! as for the "break-in" oil change....most engines these days are broken in at the factory so you dont have to worry about it...just follow the owners manual for scheduled maint.!!

 

[Stink Star]

Beat the shit out of it and don't ever... And I mean ever change the oil until the vehicle tells you to, that is unless u like wasting large amounts of money

 

[Stink Star]

In fact, the first 40 miles are the most important... You need to drive the engine hard enough to seat the rings firmly into the cylinder walls to promote a good seal, but not too hard as to abuse the fresh bearings.

 

[Bru]

Do what the owner's manual tells you. It will have break-in procedure and recommendations. I'd probably change the oil sooner than recommended, then follow what the OEM says.

 

[skeezer]

I'M GOING TO DO WHAT THE GM TECHNICIAN IN THIS THREAD SAYS TO DO

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

I'M GOING TO DO WHAT THE GM TECHNICIAN IN THIS THREAD SAYS TO DO

He bought a ford. Not a gm.

 

[skeezer]

I DO NOT BUY FORDS

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

I DO NOT BUY FORDS

BUT JOHN DID.

 

[Stink Star]

either way, a ring seal is a ring seal... and im fairly confident that the engineer who designed the motor and that designed the oil monitoring system/ change oil light know more than jiffy lube saying "change your oil every 3000 miles" they tell you to change the oil when it needs it, not to help a company satisfy a quota

 

[machausta]

In fact, the first 40 miles are the most important... You need to drive the engine hard enough to seat the rings firmly into the cylinder walls to promote a good seal, but not too hard as to abuse the fresh bearings.

http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

This pretty much confirms this information.

 

[Bru]

either way, a ring seal is a ring seal... and im fairly confident that the engineer who designed the motor and that designed the oil monitoring system/ change oil light know more than jiffy lube saying "change your oil every 3000 miles" they tell you to change the oil when it needs it, not to help a company satisfy a quota

Changing every 3,000 miles is fairly bogus unless the OEM recommends doing such.

 

[Yaj Yak]

pin it to win it

 

[Primalzer]

http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

This pretty much confirms this information.

This is the exact website I wish I had read BEFORE i bought and started to break in my car. Oh well, I've been driving it a lot harder, but not over doing it. Plus this car does not like to be wound up like most 4-cylinders, or I may just be used to the turbo motor. Just feels sluggish, then again I am gaining 200 pounds, losing 45 top end HP, and almost 70 lb/ft of torque.

As for the oil, I think I'll change it at 5000, like the service manual says. What I will do is go with synthetic at the first change, and keep with synth for the life of the car. I don't like changing synth every 5K on a new car and I'd like to go longer. I did it with the PT just for that little extra insurance so the turbo wouldn't blow up on me.

 

[Primalzer]

I DO NOT BUY FORDS

I DO NOT BUY GM

 

[Alacran]

Beware of debris from production process.

 

[sp_dynasty]

I DO NOT BUY FORDS

 

[machausta]

I DO NOT BUY FORDS

Buy American.

 

[Primalzer]

I honestly have nothing against GM, they just didn't have anything that interested me at this point. I wanted a mid-size 4-door car with a stick. I wasn't going to wait around for the Cruze to get over that new design price bubble, and even then I would probably have gone with the new Focus. GM is definitely getting better, but the majority of their models are just old tired platforms that have some new sheetmetal, and interiors that are better, but are still light years behind Ford.

 

[Stink Star]

the cruze eats civics and shits focuses.... anybody who says otherwise hasnt driven both

 

[Primalzer]

the cruze eats civics and shits focuses.... anybody who says otherwise hasnt driven both

I am sure it does this focus is quite lackluster and I didn't even attempt to look at one, however I am talking 2012 Focus, and no one can say anything about it yet as no one has driven it. I am more than willing to admit the cruze is better after I have driven both, but that'll be some time

 

[Stink Star]

oh, well i havent seen the 2012 focuses yet

 

[Primalzer]

Here is a outside shot, although I've never been a huge fan of 5-doors, and a picture of the interior

 

[THEHKP7M13]

Well I've bought my first brand new car, and with it comes a lot of questions about maintenance and the like. First of all, I probably should've asked this questions 750 miles ago, but how does everyone break-in there car. I have heard take it easy for the first 300,500, or 1000 miles and I have also heard people say drive it like you stole it off the lot.

Second, the first oil change is not scheduled until 5000 miles. I have heard people say to change the original oil and filter within the first 500-1000 miles to get out any contaminants or anything else left behind from the manufacturing process. Now I would assume that the manufacturing processes at this day and age have gotten to a point where this wouldn't be necessary, but am I willing to take that risk. Am I going to hinder the break-in process by taking out that original oil? Isn't the original oil a special blend specifically made for engine break-ins?

I guess I like wasting $$$$. Everytime I bought a new car the plug got pulled and the filter got changed at 100, 500, 1000 and every 2,000 thereafter. Amuse yourself pull the plug on your oil asap, then drap an underwear type t-shirt over the funnel your pouring the dirty oil in. It will be covered in a fine silt once it all drains in. That is bearing material that slipped by your oil filter scraping away at your walls and rings.

Oil is a dollar or two a quart on sale and Menard's just had a sale on filter for $1,88 a piece. I stock up when there is a sale. If I am wrong I am out en extra hundred or so dollars over the course of the vehicles life, if the other guys are wrong they are buying an engine.

Hell thats how I got my rod knocking GTO on the cheap. The kid followed the long o.c. interval and beat on it.