Did anyone change their oil at 1500 miles or after break-in? I was planning to just change the oil filter and not the oil but just want to know what everyone thought on this?

 

Why bother changing one and not the other? And why is everyone so afraid of oil changes around here, it's baffling!!

 

I changed mine at 4K miles, oil and filter.

 

I'll change mine at either 1k or 1.5K.

 

It's break-in oil.
Yeah, the technology may be all advanced and stuff, and the builder may tell you that you don't need to change it until the little service light computer thingy thinks it is is time.

I may be old school, and I like to run non-detergent 30 weight in new engine builds. It's cheap enough to do, and IF there were any metal shavings floating around in that oil, wouldn't you want to get them out of your engine sooner. I'll be doing an oil change around 1000 miles or so, then probably every 5k or so after that.

I tend to do oil changes sooner (around 3-4k) when I am running straight dino oil in the engines, and I usually do the changes later (around 5-6k or a scooch more) when I am running the synthetics- Mobil 1 or Castrol(BMW) 5-30.

 

I'll be changing my oil when the computer tells me to. Oil changes are way too expensive and take up too much of my time to do them more frequently than necessary, and I'm not convinced that more frequent oil changes are going to make my engine last longer. Usually, everything else in the cars I've owned tend to fall apart before the engine ever fails.

 

I've never owned anything resembling a performance car before, so forgive me if I seem naive. Is the reason for an oil change after 1000 or 1500 miles is to cleanse the engine of lingering junk (metal shavings and such) leftover from production?

 

The thread below might be helpful/informative. (I hope the link works, if not, go to yahoo.com in Featured Section today (6/17/08)

http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/auto...awMzMDAwLW9pbA--

 

 

i changed it at 1100 i think, then again at 4500

 

I think this thread is geared towards that initial "break-in" period in which people believe there are more engine particulates circulating around from the engine creating the tolerances it will be run at (why people say drive it carefully), thus change the oil to clean them out. After that change it at the manufactures recommended dates.

 

I was planning the first sythetic change for an S clubman at 3k then every 7k. I believe MINI pays for every 15k.

 

ya and the customer pays for the blown motor at 70k

 

You are wasting your money...

synthetic oil will last a lot longer than traditional oil.. a LOT longer...

 

78k on my 04 and it's still running great.

 

tick tick tick...........

lol jk jk.....

 

Amen to that. 7k is too often for synthetic. I change my Z06 once per year. My mini will be once per year with synthetic. Most people do not keep their cars long enough to matter. Who keeps a car for 10 years and 100,000+ miles .

2 or 3 years and then buy another new one.

 

ummm......ya, no not really i for one can not afford to buy a new car every 2 or 3 years, i dont think most people can afford that....

 

you can afford your payment now so you can afford it in 3 years from now for the next one.

 

making the payment is not the only factor, aside from the loss in the down payment and/or interest paid, theres also the factor of purchasing vs. leasing...if someone was leasing a car then ya they would always change their car every 2 or 3 years....but if you're purchasing, i would think the reason would be to one day own the car and not have to make payments.....

and there lies the reason why i said, i cannt afford to purchase a car every 2 or 3 years....that would mean you are constantly making car payments and down payments, might as well jsut lease....

 

I figure $45 for a case of Mobil one, $10 for a filter, and $20 for MINI dealer to do the work = $75 every 7.5k miles = MINI pays for every other one = my cost $75 total per year (big deal). Vs. the risk of overheating an engine, and premature wear. A turbo engine runs very hot - a MINI turbo runs very hot in a mini sized compartment. Even sythetic will break down quicky, I live in an environment that averages over 90 degs.

I will spend the $75, it is the cheapest way to preserve an engine. I like to try to keep my cars one or two years after the payments are done.

 

I changed the factory oil on my 2005 S at 3500 miles, then once a year for free by my dealer every 7-9K, which is fine for fully synthetic as long as U dont race or track every day. Then I would use Royal Purple or Redline.

Ive lectured so many stubborn old schoolers who are stuck in the every 3K change mode, even for synthetics, it is ridiculous. Anything less than say 7500 for a daily driver and weekend road warrior is shamefully wasteful

 

For some of us though, we have to add in the cost of driving a long distance to the dealer, and the fact that we're not doing anything productive while we're sitting in the waiting room. An oil change at my dealer is $85; Gas round trip is $15; and then I spend about one or two hours waiting for my car depending on how far behind they get. For me, it's too expensive and too inconvenient and too unnecessary.

Oh yeah... add $7 in tolls too.

 

HEY, I get bored sometimes doing the same old work around the house and my job, so I change the oil on the MINI or the motorcycle, no problemo!

 

If you want to change it, go for it! Its all about what you are comfortable with. I have an 03 ( I know completly different engine) and have followed the OBC change intervals. Usually over 15,000 mile, some around 18k. Im currently just over 176,000 miles and still running strong. Oil comsumption is about the same as it has always been.

Here is a pic of w/ the valve cover off - looks new to me - Very clean @~ 170,000 miles.


Do what makes you happy!

Nik