I know a lot of you have talked about changing oil the first time at 100, 500, or 1000 miles instead of the factory recommended 5000 miles. This would most likely be to clean out any stray metal pieces from early on in the engine's life, etc.

Does this factory-filled oil have any specific "break-in" properties present so that it should remain in the car for at least 3000 miles? Is it a special "break-in" oil or just standard 5W-20 Motorcraft synthetic blend?

 

The factory oil is Motorcraft 5w20, there are no special additives in it other than what is put there by the manufacture.
It is a semi-synthetic.

Change it when you get ready, just don't exceed the 5000 mile mark, and change the filter at every interval.

Currently the only manufacturer that I know of using a additive from day one is BMW in their vehicles that are using 5w40 & 0w40.
These engines are prone to having internal bearing problems due to bearing supplier tolerances.

TDS

 

For those of us who won't put 5,000 miles on the car in a year, when should the oil and filter be changed? Does it break down wiith time?

 

I can’t say that I agree the factory oil is your normal Motorcraft oil. My reason for this is when I change my oil, when using Motorcraft, it has a amber/tanish tint to it. It has no sign of any green tint to it at all.

When I did my first oil change on my Lightning that I owned I did it at 1,500 miles and the oil had a green tint to it. I just changed the oil in my GT this past weekend at 1,350 miles and it to had a green tint to it. The only time I have seen a green tint to any oil is when I have done the first oil change in a Ford vehicle.

Again, I can’t say there is or is not a special “break-in� oil that Ford uses but that is my observation.

 

The green tint may be from engine oil dye put in the oil to help find oil leaks if any should develop. The oil will glow under an utravilot blacklight.

 

My 03 Honda had break in oil. The owners manual mentioned the importance of waiting before changing the oil the first time. It said you could reduce the life of the engine. Even after 6 months the service tech would not change my oile because I didn't have the 5000 on the odometer yet. Oil changes make them money, I couldn't believe he was denying me an oil change! So it must be pretty important.

I may be wrong but no where in my Mustang manual did it mention the break in oil or give any cautions, I don't think they use special oil for break in since its sythetic blend already IIRC.

 

5,000 miles or 5 months. Ive had my stang since january 24th one oil change at 5,000 miles. Im getting close to 10 months and I have 7,500 mile and im going to change it again because of the time not the miles.

 

To be on the converative side, follow the recommended intervals, time or mileage. I would not leave mineral or syn / mineral oil blend in more than 12 months for those who manage not to drive thier ride very much. If you go to full syn's, unless you push the oil change interval out to 12 ,000 or 12 months (which ever comes 1st) you are wasting a lot of money (but the engine probably does not mind, nor the oil company). At such intervals, filter changes are recommended at 3000 / 4000 mile intervals. Mobil claims thier Extended Service filter is good for 15,000, but I still stick with 3000 / 4000. I do this with all my vehicles (5), two have over 100,000 miles and are shown no signs of distress for doing it this way.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1Ford-Fan

The green tint may be from engine oil dye put in the oil to help find oil leaks if any should develop. The oil will glow under an utravilot blacklight.

That very well could be the reason and again I am not saying that the oil from the factory is "break-in" oil just looks different. Also as someone stated there is no mention of any "break-in" oil or any recommendations on how long to wait for the first oil change...

I too change my oil and filter every 3,000 miles and that is with using full sythetic Mobil One.

 

You are really wasting your money and would do just as well with mineral oil or a mineral oil / synthetic blend if you are religious about a 3,000 mile oil change interval. Full synthetic does not have the oxidation and properties breakdown mineral oil has and that is why 3,000 mi or so is a good interval to toss it. Another property of oil that can be measured by test is TBN and here again, synthetics shine. You are throwing away perfectly good oil at only a 3,000 mile interval, sort of like tossing the tires because 1/4 of the tread thickness is gone. Longer intervals are no sweat as long as you contine to change the filter regularly.