New car first oil change question

First off I cant believe I am asking this so take it easy on me.

Just bought my first NEW car (Scion FR-S) and I've only got 650 miles on it. The family vacation is next week and I'll be near the tail of the dragon so I figured I might as well drive it. In my mind I think that it would be worth it to do its first oil change to get the last bit of break-in wear out before I head down south. Anyone else agree? Or am I just being crazy?

I'm sure others will chime in with more experience than I, but IMHO it's probably not necessary. If doing it will give you peace of mind and it's worth the $40 in parts to you, then go for it.

Personally, you are crazy. Factories don't build engines like everyone else out there. Typically there aren't any break-in fluids used. About the only thing I have ever seen is to be told to change it a few hundred miles sooner, like 2-2500 miles vs 3k.

^^^ What they said.

In reply to Ranger50:

I understand. And Im not under the assumption that any special snake oil is used for break-in. My concern lies simply with oil contaminants and whether or not this is the norm for a brand-new car. And yeah, Im kind of crazy lol

The car started with a perfectly clean and perfectly working filter. If contaminants exist, the filter should wrangle them. But, as noted, the price of an oil change is cheap comfort and piece of mind.

I would go by what the factory maintenance schedule says. Some cars do (or at least did, don't know about nowadays) call for a break-in period and oil change immediately after, check the schedule in your owner's manual.

IIRC, your car is good for 7,500 miles between oil changes. Even if you use the "severe service" recommendation, you're still good for 3,750 miles. Checking your tire pressures before any hard runs (or any turnpike running for optimum gas mileage) is more important.

The guys on the Honda Accord forum claim there is special break-in oil and you will have oil usage problems if you don't follow Hondas mileage minder.

I would change at 2500.

As for break in- virtually all new car engines come broken in from the plant. That's why no break-in period is required anymore.

basically, research showed what "broken in" really meant, and clever people figured out how to do that as part of the engine machining. Very amazing.

And I would also trust any OEM built engine to not have contanimants anymore. Cleaniness saves a LOT of money.

In reply to alfadriver:

Not to threadjack, but that A) is a great motivator to be even more vigilant about cleanliness on my next rebuild, and B) makes me wonder whether there have been changes from ancient garage conventional wisdom to the basics of what a home rebuilder ought to do when faced with an engine originally built more recently. I think I rebuilt my 2002's engine years ago using a book aimed mostly at small block Chevys for general procedures...

In reply to ransom:

Your 2002 engine build would be very, very applicable with SBC ideas.

But yes, cleanliness is next to Godliness.

What I don't know is if rebuild shops are capable of replicating the broken in machining that plants can do. Worse yet, even if they could, I don't know if it would be applicable to engines built before that procedure was used. Surface treatments and materials have changed so much, it's hard to really say.

Anything prior to some mid-90's date- old ideas are still easy to follow. After that, just not sure for rebuilds.

alfadriver wrote: Anything prior to some mid-90's date- old ideas are still easy to follow. After that, just not sure for rebuilds.

Given that aluminum bearings, dry film coated pistons, light tension rings, and the countless other "little" things, about the only thing you have to do "rebuild" now is deck a block (factory specs to pass, as "flat", are deplorable), dingleberry hone the cylinders, clean, and assemble with new rings and select fit bearings to make a short block.

Better to change it more frequently than less.

Kenny_McCormic wrote: Better to change it more frequently than less.

Better for who?

Most new engines no longer have "break-in oil." Fahgetaboudit.

alfadriver wrote:

Kenny_McCormic wrote: Better to change it more frequently than less.

Better for who?

The petroleum industry, filter manufacturers, and the payroll of the shop doing the unnecessary services.

There is a book inthe glove compartment that has a wealth of information on your car. All about break in , when you should change your oil etc. It is called an "Owners Manual" Most people never read it.

If you want to change your oil with only 1000 miles on it, go ahead. Won't hurt anything.

I doubt changing the oil early will harm anything except maybe your wallet. I plan on having my brand-new Mustang's first oil change once it hits 5k, then every 7.5k after that. I got 4 free oil changes from the stealership in exchange for them not being able to inspect or register the car (I'm in MA, dealership is in NH), so I might as well take advantage of that.

i've only ever had 1 brand new vehicle- a 2002 Chevy Silverado 2500HD with a 6.0.. i changed the oil myself after 500 miles, and it was pretty nasty looking. it was really, really dark and had "stuff" floating in it.. put in Mobil 1 5w-30 and a Wix filter and the oil looked brand new 5000 miles later..

novaderrik wrote: i've only ever had 1 brand new vehicle- a 2002 Chevy Silverado 2500HD with a 6.0.. i changed the oil myself after 500 miles, and it was pretty nasty looking. it was really, really dark and had "stuff" floating in it.. put in Mobil 1 5w-30 and a Wix filter and the oil looked brand new 5000 miles later..

It's the occasional tight engine that is initially really hard on oil till it loosens up a bit that you have to worry about. The Japanese are a lot better at this than the Americans, but if you plan on flogging your new car through mountain passes, I would change it before leaving just to be sure.

I take exception to your "Japanese are better than Americans at this" I have owned lot of new American cars and never had to change the "break in oil".

My 2011 Fiesta said, first oil change at 10k miles and every 10K after that. I will soon becoming up on my 3rd change.

I change the oil in my truck every 5k. It's easy to keep track of. It's probably overkill, but I do it because turbochargers.

novaderrik wrote: i've only ever had 1 brand new vehicle- a 2002 Chevy Silverado 2500HD with a 6.0.. i changed the oil myself after 500 miles, and it was pretty nasty looking. it was really, really dark and had "stuff" floating in it.. put in Mobil 1 5w-30 and a Wix filter and the oil looked brand new 5000 miles later..

thats how I dealt with the Elantra, I do a lot of miles and wanted the assurance that any filings were gone with the dino oil the factory used