When to do 1st oil change?

Most recommend changing the oil at 1,000 miles. If you bought this car new and currently have 1,500 miles. I would go ahead and change it ASAP. Then every 3,000-3,500 miles after that.

Thanks for the info.

Have to wait until next friday for an oil change. Not like Acura, you can just walk in and have an Oil change anytime of the day. You can tell how bad Acura sales are lol..

my local Subaru dealership used to be that way, where you had to make an appointment to get an oil change. They just opened up like a quick service oil change there so you can go anytime now.

The "first oil change" debate has been covered extensively on this forum and every other auto enthusiasts forum in the world. Some say do it at 1000 miles, some say do it as per the manual.. i don't think the correct answer has been determined yet. Personally, i put less than 3k miles annually so i change mine every 6-8 months.

Holy crap, really? Less than 3K a year? Thats mighty green of u. If that's all I did, i'd be looking for a way to not even have a car.

I opted to do my first oil change at 1000 miles . . . and I've been doing them between 3000 and 5000 miles since then. It may be overkill . . . or it may just be a little bit of extra caution to insure all is good.

I also change my own oil . . . mainly since it's a wicked simple job that you can bang out in 20 to 30 minutes.

rqjoe said:

Holy crap, really? Less than 3K a year? Thats mighty green of u. If that's all I did, i'd be looking for a way to not even have a car.

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Lol.. green isn't how I'd describe myself! For work i have a van that comes home with me..i log 15k-20k a year in that 11mpg beast. For family outings my wife and i pack our 3 kids into her pathfinder. My wrx is pretty much my toy along with my c5 vette :drive:

Some say 1k. I say follow the owners manual.

It'd be too easy for me to fuel this debate and explore Pandora's box (but here I go anyway!:blah2.

I did the motoman hard break-in Break In Secrets--How To Break In New Motorcycle and Car Engines For More Power and change out the synthetic for conventional as soon as I got home from the dealer (3 miles away). Then another change around 500 miles to get the metal bits out. I recently switched back to synthetic at the 5000 mark.

Let's not forget these are cars like any other. There's a difference between beating on the car and gradually approaching its limits.

Firefighterjake said:

I opted to do my first oil change at 1000 miles . . . and I've been doing them between 3000 and 5000 miles since then. It may be overkill . . . or it may just be a little bit of extra caution to insure all is good.

I also change my own oil . . . mainly since it's a wicked simple job that you can bang out in 20 to 30 minutes.

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I just hit 1600KM (1000 Miles) and did an oil change. Once I read there was a debate on if it is necessary I decide to just do it and be on the safe side.

I changed oil for all my cars in the past and for this vehicle it is ALOT easier than my other cars but I still decided to go get it done at the dealership so I can have paper trail to increase the resale value, not that I am trying to sell my baby but just in case. I would LOVE to do it myself because I would be extra clean since its my car.

sammy2017 said:

I just hit 1600KM (1000 Miles) and did an oil change. Once I read there was a debate on if it is necessary I decide to just do it and be on the safe side.

I changed oil for all my cars in the past and for this vehicle it is ALOT easier than my other cars but I still decided to go get it done at the dealership so I can have paper trail to increase the resale value, not that I am trying to sell my baby but just in case. I would LOVE to do it myself because I would be extra clean since its my car.

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I can understand the paper trail . . . but that's why I a) keep a log with the date/mileage of whatever I've done to the vehicle (i.e. oil change, rotating tires, cabin air filter change, etc.), b) keep all receipts for oil filters, oil, cabin air filters, etc. and c) buy the OEM Subaru oil filters at the dealership.

Rofl it's Waffle said:

It'd be too easy for me to fuel this debate and explore Pandora's box (but here I go anyway!:blah2.

I did the motoman hard break-in Break In Secrets--How To Break In New Motorcycle and Car Engines For More Power and change out the synthetic for conventional as soon as I got home from the dealer (3 miles away). Then another change around 500 miles to get the metal bits out. I recently switched back to synthetic at the 5000 mark.

Let's not forget these are cars like any other. There's a difference between beating on the car and gradually approaching its limits.

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I read that--interesting theory, would be nice to see some independent confirmation of this method. I see the rationale--kind of a fast break-in rather than prolonged, but if it's so much better, why don't the manufacturers and dealers recommend it? Just send the car out with non-synth oil, tell the owner to drive the heck out of it especially fast accelerations on the highway, and return it in a month for a change out to synthetic oil?

By independent I mean a reputable magazine or website, actually looking at car (not motorcycle) engines - breaking them down and looking at the parts and tolerances.

I turned 1000 mIles this weekend. I called and scheduled the first oil change for tomorrow. A service advisor called me today and asked how many miles were on my car. I told him 1000. He then proceeded to tell me that Subaru no longer requires a break in oil change. I told him I'm doing it anyway. Fartknocker. Lol

Should I get a sample and test the first oil change? So to compare the oil on the 2nd oil change?

The first oil change is going to be a mess. I never bothered taking a sample to a lab for that reason. The engine should be done breaking in around 15K (or not...) and in any case it's on warranty for 60K, so you have plenty of time to establish a pattern of wear data before then.

I'd not worry about any of this but that's just me.

I wouldn't necessarily go to that level with lab tests. That's a little over the top IMO. I'd just get it done after the initial 1000 miles.

So had my oil change during the weekend. Subaru dealership service did there job, had me in and out within an hour. Didn't give me a hard time on getting an oil change early.

Can't take advantage of free oil change since its only on every 6k intervals.

Wouldn't any bits get caught by the oil filter?