It is advisable to do the first oil change within the first 1500 miles of ownership. I worked for FMNA in the Technical Warranty Claims Department and every new FIAT sold required an oil change within the first 30 days of ownership or 1500 miles. Flushing out any debris or metal shavings is the prime reason for doing it so soon and within the critical break-in period. Always change the oil filter as well with every oil change. This is the cheapest and most valuable insurance against expensive engine repairs down the road.I've got a new 500 Lounge and just hit 1000 miles. I was wondering if I should take her in for her first oil change, since I've read that new cars should get one early on to get shavings, etc out and then regular intervals at that?
The reason no dealer would do it for you is that the first scheduled oil change is at 8,000 miles or at six months, whichever comes first.
The "metal shavings" and whatnot don't exist. There is no need to change the oil at 1500 miles. If you want to change the oil anyway, go ahead, but don't expect the dealer to do it.
On European 500's FIAT's recommendation is for the first oil change to be carried out at 18000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first.
There seems to be some very funny ideas floating around about new engines and oil changes at ridiculously low miles. Where has this misconception about metal shavings contaminating new engines come from? I agree, metal is moving against metal, but really, it isn't that bad, surely?
Brand new engines are 'run in' to a certain degree at the factory prior to shipping. Having visited the production line at both the Nissan car plant in Oppama in Japan and the BMW plant at Rossyln in South Africa, I have witnessed engine testing and running in prior to shipping. It is then the responsibility of the owner to not 'over stress' the engine in the first thousand miles or so.
I just don't understand why some insist on changing their oil so early. Seems like a mighty waste of time and money and whether it is entirely endorsed by the vehicle manufacturer seems questionable.
I just a 500c last month and the service manager told me the same thing. These engines are built with newer composition steel that don't leave shavings.
The reason no dealer would do it for you is that the first scheduled oil change is at 8,000 miles or at six months, whichever comes first.
The "metal shavings" and whatnot don't exist. There is no need to change the oil at 1500 miles. If you want to change the oil anyway, go ahead, but don't expect the dealer to do it.
What exactly does that mean for a break in period though?
There is a so much stuff out there but there's a recommendation on FF on how to break in with varying your driving and not nailing it from the word go.It's a good link Loveshandbags with an interesting read. A trawl through the www has revealed many similar veins of advice and indeed, all well worth following. Never fully understood why some people just get into a new car and rag it without following the Manufacturers advice. Then again, how many people actually sit down and read fully through their vehicle manual?
I did come across a clip of a manufacturer running an engine on the bench to do the initial breaking in - something that was not done on older engines in my 'father's time'. So the break in is not as critical as it used to be. JR did post about other components needing 'breaking in' or I should say 'bedding in' like the suspension, brakes, drivetrain, etc.Again though, none of the articles that I have read have included any reference to car engines being run in at the factory. Why is that? Not an antagonistic question whatsoever, but it is important in my view and yet no one seems to pay it much attention. Fact is, the Manufacturer has done a lot of the hard work before the customer even gets the car.
The North American Engine is the same as the Multi-air in the later Punto Evo and the later MiTo. In turbo charged form the power it's turned down a bit from the 170bhp MiTo & 165bhp Punto Evo Abarth but it hasn't got the beefed up 6 speed because it wouldn't fit in their A500. The 5 speed from the Alfa 147 in used in both US & European in the A500. They also can't fit the standard 6 speed in the 'standard' US Fiat 500 but they have a 6 speed true automatic.I wasn't aware of the differences between the USA and European engines, so it has been good to be enlightened.
I can't understand why some spend £13K+ on a new motor and then do their first oil change at 18K miles. It makes no sense to me - all to save c.£100.Still, I'm glad our own oil was changed at 4100 miles from new and within the first year. I'd consider that as about right in our own vehicle usage circumstances.
Just a couple of thoughts about breaking in a new engine. These are just my suggestions, and if you disagree, that's fine.
The rule I have followed over the years has been to just not over stress the engine for the first 1000 miles. When starting up, don't drive right off with a cold engine, but just take a minute to allow the oil to warm up before heading out. You don't have to sit there idling, because that isn't good either. Just start up, let the engine idle for 60 seconds, then drive normally.
Don't race the engine and just accelerate smoothly up to cruising speed.
If you are on a highway, don't stay at the same RPM's but move your speed up and down at intervals.
I know that the new engine designs allow for longer periods between oil changes, especially if you are using synthetics, but I still like to change my oil on a three month basis. Old habits die hard.
The cars I have owned and that I have treated this way, and then passed on down to the kids, are still cruising along beautifully. One car has just been handed through three generations of owners and it's still going strong.
In 15yrs + of working in the motor trade i have always worked on the following principles regarding oil changes.
1) Metal fillings is a myth. In the hundreds and hundreds of vans i have sold (Some which have been abused since day 1 in a manner which is 100 times worse than any of you could inflict on your cars) not one vehicle has had any metal fillings evident other than if there has been a traceable breakdown of a part elsewhere in the engine.
2) On collection i give every customer 1 litre of the specific oil and tell them to keep an eye on the oil level for the first few thousand miles. Dont even do this anymore, the vehicles i sell now tell the customer when and how much oil is required on the dash.
3) Only advice i ever give about running the engine in is to refrain from bouncing the rev counter. Its ok to sit at 70mph on the mway and its ok to sit at whatever the legal speeds are. These days 70mph isnt exactly taxing the engines anyhow. The thing they shouldnt do in the early days is have the rev counter dancing about like its on speed.
4) The worst vehicles i ever experience are the ones that are driven like a nun. They eventually get asked to do something extra and thats when everything else starts ailing.
Just collected my 500 last week and as it will be such a low mileage car it will get its oil changed once per annum as per the instructions. Other than the myth about fillings the only other reason to change oil is due to it losing its viscosity due to use. A lot of manufacturers have sensors which tell the customer when this is at a level where the oil needs changed which is how the variable servicing works. Just because its black doesnt mean it isnt doing its job.
3 months for an oil change is crazy, it'll cost you more in oil and filters than the saving in engine wear.