First Oil Change

Three week old 2017 Taco DCSB TRD OR. I have always done the first oil change on a new vehicle at 500 miles. What do you think about this, good idea or waste of time and money?

Thanks Glenn

 

Do what makes you feel good.

Keep in mind that their are thousands of cars/trucks that never have an early change that last just as long as ones that do.

If you proceed, DIY, as the dealer will likely fight you on using one of your free changes. Wait and show up at their place when they think you should. They won't know, or care, that you did.

 

I have done hundreds of used oil analysis on many vehicles over the last 35 years, including the initial oil fill from the factory.

I can state as a fact that the initial fill of oil in an engine typically shows much higher than average wear metals and silicon (which could be from internal gaskets/sealers as well as dirt), even after just a few hundred miles. Subsequent oil analyses show lower levels of wear metals and contaminants.

What I cannot say as a fact is exactly how significant these elevated levels are. If the increased level of particles were large enough to do any engine damage, they should be filtered out by the oil filter. And, as others point out, most vehicles do not get early oil changes and give hundreds of thousands of miles of service. In reality, most of these particles showing up in the analysis are too small to do any significant damage to the engine.

Having said that, I typically do my first oil change at 1,000 miles. I do it because it does make me "feel better". In reality, it could well be a waste of time/money.

My $0.02.

 

Great comments! I will change my oil around 500 miles. It will make me feel better and will remove most manufacturing foreign objects/substances in the oil. I will do it myself as not to use one of the factory services. For sure this won't hurt anything (wallet a little) but will give me piece of mind for a truck I plan on keeping for a long time.