Oil Change at 1000 miles?

[Shingomyelin]

Well I finally reached my 1000 mile mark, in my 2006 STI. I made an appointment with Subaru to have my oil and filter changed today. I've been reading about how it's a good idea to change your oil after the first 1000 miles, to remove any metal shavings/debris.

So when I brought the car in, the main mechanic came back to ask me "Are you really sure you want to change your oil?" I told them about what I learned from Nasioc, and he says "Subaru puts an additive into the oil and they advise the owners to run with it until about 3000miles for their first oil change. I recommend that you follow the owner's manual". So now, I'm confused. I trust this mechanic as he seems to know his stuff, but wondering what you guys think.

thanks in advance,
Shing

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[BriSTi]

I'm not familiar with the 1000 mile oil change. A buddy of mine recently hit 3000 on his 05 STi and that was his first oil change.

Maybe someone else can explain why that's important?

[kaisersouse]

ive not heard of this. at the same time there is no such thing as "breaking in oil" if thats what he's refering to.

[Unabomber]

Your mechanic = miss-informed idiot.

ALL Subarus come with regular oil and there is NO SUCH THING as special break-in oil. Changing your oil sooner than 3000 miles is 100% unneeded, but many of us have done so because it makes us feel better.

I'll move this to the proper forum for this type of question. Once there, view the stickys at the top of the page. I think someone did a write up in there on oil information if memory serves....

[Bishop]

i did my first oil change at 3000 w/regular oil. then switched to mobil 1 syn at 12,000.

[Hayes]

Subaru recomends that the first oil change be done at 3,000 miles for a reason and an email from them to me said and NOT before 1,000. While the oil may not be special there are several UOAs of factory oil that indicates that the oil does have additives in it either by generous assembly anti-scuff lubracants and or oil additions. My last Saab & Volvo had similar recomendations. To encourage owners to not change the factory oil too soon they offered a free oil and filter change IF the owner would bring the car to a dealer when the mileage was between 1800 and 2600 miles. I may have the upper millage wrong but, the message is clear that it not the best to change too early. Not MHO

[Corkfish]

I've posted this before, but Subaru indicates that you can even change to synthetic at 1000 miles ( although they recommend waiting to 3000). My understanding is that their vehicles come from the factory with regular Havoline motor oil with no special additives.



Thank you for contacting us.

We hope that you are enjoying driving your Forester XT. As for the use
of synthetic oil in your vehicle, this is your decision. Our Technical
Services Department advised that if you do decide to use synthetic oil,
that you always use it because your engine will become accustomed to
it. The same goes if you decide to use 'regular' oil.

We recommend that you first change the oil in your Subaru at 3,000
miles or 3 months, whichever comes first. We STRONGLY recommend that you at
least wait until the break-in period of 1,000 miles is surpassed.

The break-in period of the engine requires that a given amount of
friction exists between components. The piston rings need to rub against the
cylinder wall to break-in or finely tune the machine mating between the
two metal parts. To properly seat all mechanical components, a certain
amount of friction is required between the metal parts. Since synthetic
oil has a lower friction rating than regular oil, we recommend that
Subaru owners wait until after the 1,000 mile break-in period to switch to
synthetic engine oil.

Synthetic engine oils can be used in our engines if the user follows
the engine oil recommendations prescribed in the Owner's Manual. Subaru
has not tested the compatibility of all synthetic oils with engine
seals, but the petroleum industry does adhere to standards for the refining
process which meet Subaru requirements. Subaru does not guarantee the
performance of any brand of any engine oil.

Engine Oil Guidelines: - only use engine oil that meets or exceeds the
API classification designated in the Owner's Manual for the vehicle -
only use engine oil that meets the VISCOSITY requirements for the
ambient temperatures under which the vehicle will be operated as outlined in
the Owner's Manual - THE ENGINE OIL MUST BE CHANGED AT THE INTERVALS
SPECIFIED IN THE WARRANTY AND MAINTENANCE BOOKLET FOR THE VEHICLE. SOME
SYNTHETIC OIL REFINERS RECOMMEND EXTENDED OIL CHANGE INTERVALS. SUBARU
DOES NOT RECOMMEND ANY DEVIATION FROM THE SPECIFIED INTERVALS IN THE
OWNER'S MANUAL.

If we can be of any other assistance, please let us know.

Best wishes,

[Shingomyelin]

thanks for the quick reply guys.

Well like I said earlier, I've been reading up on this forum alot, and I read in numerous occasions that you should change the oil at 1000miles. I dunno, maybe I'm misreading the material. here's one link below

showthread.php?t=852599&highlight=oil+change

(it won't allow me make a link, since I'm a noob

So I guess the consensus is to wait till 3000miles. I get free oil changes from Subaru anyways (following the recommended guidelines), so I'm just a little confused if there really are additives. Whatever, Subaru's are made to last, regardless of a few extra couple of miles... right?

thanks again,
Shing

[Hayes]

There will always be people who feel they have more knowledge than the factory engineers. Just do as the factory recomends and you won't go wrong. ed

[kero]

I normally do at 500 miles for first but after reading many posts here, I am waiting till 2000, I am currently at 1100.

[bluesubie]

I've been following the owner's manual for the first oil change on my third new Subaru now (since '97). It's likely that your oil will shear down to a 20 weight during the first 1,000 or so miles, depending on your driving conditions and geographic location. There are several used oil analyses to back this claim up.

A used oil analysis on the factory oil will show that it is high in molybdenum. Texaco Havoline conventional oil, which as already mentioned is purportedly the factory fill, is high in moly. Not really any other special additives.

1. Forester XT analysis on factory fill .
2. Thread talking about factory fill (high moly)
3. UOA on factory fill for an STi
4. Virgin oil analysis on Havoline showing high moly

-Dennis

[boozy04]

I just did my first at around 2600

[Shingomyelin]

wow I'm LearnDing... Cool. Well my original plan for this weekend was to get my oil change and then come straight home, remove the intake silencer and reset the ECU. It's funny, because this Nasioc forum has managed to talk me out of both. I'm not going to remove the silencer now either, because I hear of possible boost loss (but that is for another thread, another day). I'm just going to sit back and enjoy my car. It's funny cuz I'm at 1064 miles now and I am still too timid to go beyond 5000rpm, it's enough to make me smile as is. (it's hard to drive beyond 3K rpm when I spent the last month getting used to driving like a sissy.. I better step it up, before I end up on another forum saying "I smoked this STI's ass," )

thanks again guys

[Slik]

A common reason given for suggesting an oil change at the first 1000 miles with most any vehicle is the belief that a brand new engine will shear off very fine aluminum/metal particles during cohesion and break-in, since the parts are all brand new. The idea behind changing the oil at such an early interval the first time is to rid the engine of metal particles too fine to be caught be the filter (or to prevent the filter from becoming ineffective by getting clogged with the particles/shavings it does catch.

Some people believe there is truth to this, and others do not. This idea, of course, only applies to the first 1000 miles during the break-in period, not all other following oil change intervals.

[RS Paul]

At least check the oil level often during the break-in period. My
experience is that you'll loose a quart or two before your scheduled
oil change.

[Hayes]

I'm with RS Paul::: CHECK TO OIL LEVEL OFTEN. I did mine at every gas fill. Never found it low but, often and safe is the keyword with a new car untill you get a warm and comfortable feeling at ~ the 3d oil change.