Am I the only one waiting till' 3,750miles?

[stk10767]

I have been poking aroung this forum for a few weeks now, and have noticed that many of you have been changing your oil after the first 500 miles, 1000 miles, 1500 miles etc.... We all know the first recommended oil change is at 3,750 miles. Then I see some of you who are SO PICKY with staying within the factory specs of the truck. Discussing torque specs for the diff plugs, using Nissan oil filters, only using 75w-90 oil in the 04's but using 75w-140 in the 05's... Blah Blah Blah.

So I ask all of you who torque your diff drain plug to 23.54 foot pounds, why did you change your oil at 500 miles when the owners manual clearly states 3,750 miles?? And before you come back with "Well, you can never change your oil too much!", I say bull $ hit!! In order for your engine to properly break in, eg. seat the rings, seals, valves, cams, there must be some friction to help that process along. By changing your oil in a new engine every 1000 miles or whatever you have been doing, you are doing more damage than good. Let your engine get situated.

[Vegas04]

i'm waiting for 3,750 b/c the oil change will be free at the stealership and b/c I'm lazy. I don't know if it's worse to change it more frequently, I just figure when my engine starts to burn oil from blow-by it'll probably be the year 2010 at the earliest and I'll probably be ready to turn it into a 5.9L by then. I'm sure edelbrock will make heads and an intake manifold for the titan by then.

[Bayou Titan]

Most folks ( including me) that have changed their oil at 500 miles did it only once or twice while the truck was new to drain minute pieces of metal out that new engines frequently cast off. After about 1000 miles most people go to a 3,000 mi. or greater change interval.

[HemiHunter]

I changed mine at 3,500 and used Mobil 1. I change it every 6,000 now.

[tnbowhunter]

Originally Posted by stk10767

I have been poking aroung this forum for a few weeks now, and have noticed that many of you have been changing your oil after the first 500 miles, 1000 miles, 1500 miles etc.... We all know the first recommended oil change is at 3,750 miles. Then I see some of you who are SO PICKY with staying within the factory specs of the truck. Discussing torque specs for the diff plugs, using Nissan oil filters, only using 75w-90 oil in the 04's but using 75w-140 in the 05's... Blah Blah Blah.

So I ask all of you who torque your diff drain plug to 23.54 foot pounds, why did you change your oil at 500 miles when the owners manual clearly states 3,750 miles?? And before you come back with "Well, you can never change your oil too much!", I say bull $ hit!! In order for your engine to properly break in, eg. seat the rings, seals, valves, cams, there must be some friction to help that process along. By changing your oil in a new engine every 1000 miles or whatever you have been doing, you are doing more damage than good. Let your engine get situated.

Man, you better hold on to your hat, cause your going to get flamed for that post, but not by me!!
I usually go by the maintenance schedule in the manual. I changed my oil at 3000 miles the first time and will change it every 3000 miles hereafter. If it goes a couple of hundred of miles past that I'm not going to loose any sleep over it.
There have been a few Titans that had rear differential problems and a lot of people freaked out and drained and refilled their diff's with synthetic oil, I'm sure it won't hurt anything and if it gives them peace of mind so be it. As for me I again went by the book and inspected mine at the recomended number of miles and found it to be about a half qt. low. I topped it off at that time.
As far as replacing the diff fluid the manual recomends to replace at 30k and that's what I will be doing.
I've never used a torque wrench, I just go by experience. Usually if it's a drain plug I just snug it up good and tight. Never had a problem in almost 40 years of doing my own maintenance. A torque wrench would come in handy for tightening head bolts or somthing that needed to have all of the bolts tightened exactly the same.
I say whatever makes you feel good do it!!!

[TitanicSE]

Originally Posted by stk10767

I have been poking aroung this forum for a few weeks now, and have noticed that many of you have been changing your oil after the first 500 miles, 1000 miles, 1500 miles etc.... We all know the first recommended oil change is at 3,750 miles. Then I see some of you who are SO PICKY with staying within the factory specs of the truck. Discussing torque specs for the diff plugs, using Nissan oil filters, only using 75w-90 oil in the 04's but using 75w-140 in the 05's... Blah Blah Blah.

So I ask all of you who torque your diff drain plug to 23.54 foot pounds, why did you change your oil at 500 miles when the owners manual clearly states 3,750 miles?? And before you come back with "Well, you can never change your oil too much!", I say bull $ hit!! In order for your engine to properly break in, eg. seat the rings, seals, valves, cams, there must be some friction to help that process along. By changing your oil in a new engine every 1000 miles or whatever you have been doing, you are doing more damage than good. Let your engine get situated.

Not sure where that info came from but.....changing your oil at 500 or 1000 miles will do nothing to hamper break-in. All it does is rid the oil of any possible metal shavings from manufacturing (although I'm sure that's a think of the past) and rid the oil of combustion by-products...in short, it simply gives your engine cleaner oil.
Now I also don't think waiting until 3750 miles will do any harm whatsoever, but claiming it'll do more damage to change your oil sooner is not only misleading to some who may not know any better but, out and out wrong.
It's also been said in the past that switching over to syntheyic before "break-in" will hamper break-in. Not in ANY way true! Your engine will still break-in using synthetic oil.
So if you feel better waiting, then by all means, do so. But others wanting to do a little extra for their engines know better than to believe what you're pushing.

[sgbofav]

Originally Posted by stk10767

I have been poking aroung this forum for a few weeks now, and have noticed that many of you have been changing your oil after the first 500 miles, 1000 miles, 1500 miles etc.... We all know the first recommended oil change is at 3,750 miles.

So I ask all of you who torque your diff drain plug to 23.54 foot pounds, why did you change your oil at 500 miles when the owners manual clearly states 3,750 miles?? And before you come back with "Well, you can never change your oil too much!", I say bull $ hit!! In order for your engine to properly break in, eg. seat the rings, seals, valves, cams, there must be some friction to help that process along.

The friction needed for break-in comes from the metal parts rubbing together. You don't need worn out oil to acheive this process.

By changing your oil in a new engine every 1000 miles or whatever you have been doing, you are doing more damage than good

.

That is absolutely false. Before you make such blanket statements, be sure you have proof to back them up.

The engine will still break-in regardless if the oil is new or "well used". I have seen plenty of Used Oil Analysis results that cleary show an engine breaking-in after it's oil was changed. Even engines that were switched to synthetic oil at an early age 500 to 3000 miles, continued the break-in process. I do recommend sticking with petroleum oil for the first 500 to 3000 miles before switching to synthetic oil.

[ICE17N24]

Originally Posted by stk10767

..... why did you change your oil at 500 miles when the owners manual clearly states 3,750 miles?? ...I say bull $ hit!! In order for your engine to properly break in, eg. seat the rings, seals, valves, cams, there must be some friction to help that process along.....

I changed at about 1700 or so. I figured that 1700 would do those things you mentioned and then I could get the particles out that Bayou mentioned. I will change my oil at the recomended intervals with synthetic from now on but I believe that the initial oil should be removed within the first 2000. Just my opinion. It's your truck do what YOU want. I'm going to do what I THINK IS BEST, NO MATTER WHAT ANYONE else says!! I'll listen to opinions and factual based statements, but it all boils down to the fact that it's my truck and I decide which work will be done and at what intervals.

You really can't fault the oil guys that change frequently, because it's THEIR truck. They are doing what they think is best.

[blueskys]

I agree with BayouTitan. He explained it best. In any machining operation there are going to be minute displaced metal particles that are going to be picked up by the oil. These particles may or may not be trapped in the oil filter. It just makes economical sense to flush these out before they can do any damage to bearings and cylinder walls. How does the cost of a oil change compare to the cost of reduced engine life?

Oil is a friction reducer and it transfers heat away from critical parts. I don't care what kind of super lubricant you choose, there will always be some amount of friction while your engine is running.

I recommend changing the oil on any new vehicle at 1000 miles with a mineral-based oil. Follow this with another mineral-based change at 3000.
At 6000 miles switch to a blended or full synthetic oil.

This method has never failed me.

[Finnattic]

Originally Posted by ICE17N24

I changed at about 1700 or so. I figured that 1700 would do those things you mentioned and then I could get the particles out that Bayou mentioned. I will change my oil at the recomended intervals with synthetic from now on but I believe that the initial oil should be removed within the first 2000. Just my opinion. It's your truck do what YOU want. I'm going to do what I THINK IS BEST, NO MATTER WHAT ANYONE else says!! I'll listen to opinions and factual based statements, but it all boils down to the fact that it's my truck and I decide which work will be done and at what intervals.

You really can't fault the oil guys that change frequently, because it's THEIR truck. They are doing what they think is best.

and if anyone uses anything other than Royal Purple for oil they are just wrong ... tellem ICE

[ICE17N24]

Originally Posted by Finnattic

and if anyone uses anything other than Royal Purple for oil they are just wrong ... tellem ICE

YEAH, what I said!! I mean what he said

Finn

LATER ICE

[SM68]

Here's the deal. A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, engine's came with "break-in oil" Those engines had to be run for X miles and then have the oil changed. The oil was designed to suspend the metal particles so when you flush the oil, you take any particles with it.

Not any more. Engines are initially broken in before delivery. The rings will still be seating but nothing will benefit from changing the oil at 500 miles. There is no longer any need for break-in oil. The first "500 mile" oil change is a thing of the past. With todays engines (like the Titans) you can quite safely wait till 3750.

If changing the oil at 500 miles makes you feel better, then go ahead and do it. It won't hurt anything. Oil changes are cheap.

Cheers,
...Colin

[raskm]

OMG where are these people coming from today...oh thats right Xmas break. I agree your intitled to your own opinion, but this is not the old days of break-in oil....Think you have been spending way to much time on the honda boards. Now I know why some complain about the whiners and such, but maybe you could have waited until your 2nd post to make such a honda troll comment.

[GETSOMZ28]

How would you explain the break-in process with vehicles that came from the factory with synthetics?? For example Corvettes, 02 F-body's (previous years came with dino oil from the factory, yet it is the same engine), BMWs, etc.

Answer, the engine breaks in regardless of what kind of oil is in it.

[TYTAIN]

Originally Posted by stk10767

I have been poking aroung this forum for a few weeks now, and have noticed that many of you have been changing your oil after the first 500 miles, 1000 miles, 1500 miles etc.... We all know the first recommended oil change is at 3,750 miles. Then I see some of you who are SO PICKY with staying within the factory specs of the truck. Discussing torque specs for the diff plugs, using Nissan oil filters, only using 75w-90 oil in the 04's but using 75w-140 in the 05's... Blah Blah Blah.

So I ask all of you who torque your diff drain plug to 23.54 foot pounds, why did you change your oil at 500 miles when the owners manual clearly states 3,750 miles?? And before you come back with "Well, you can never change your oil too much!", I say bull $ hit!! In order for your engine to properly break in, eg. seat the rings, seals, valves, cams, there must be some friction to help that process along. By changing your oil in a new engine every 1000 miles or whatever you have been doing, you are doing more damage than good. Let your engine get situated.

That's a helluv'a introduction there, seems like your some type of genius or something? You sure your'e not trolling?