When to change FF after car on lot for 11 months?

[travelingman79]

I will soon be purchasing a Mazda6 2.5 that's been on the dealer's lot for almost 11 months, during which time it's been driven less than 40 miles, and need some advice on when to change the factory fill.

If I go on a "oil breaks down over time" principle, I should probably get them to change it before I even drive off with the car.

However, the argument contrary to this is that the factory fill oil is somehow "special" and needs to be left in until the first recommended oil change interval of 5k mi.

If it matters, this is in Louisiana, and we experience 90F temps for months on end, if heat is a factor.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

 

[Colt]

I bought a 'new' '10 IS350 with 95 miles that sat on the lot for 16 months.
Also posted the same thing.
I received good advice but went with a post that said when in doubt just change it and I did.

 

[2oldtommy]

No problem, leave it in. FWIW--Oldtommy

 

[blmlozz]

If you can put a few thousand on the car within a month or two, I'd leave it in. If it takes you more than 2 months to eek out 2K, I'd drain and fill with your favorite conventional until 5K. I wouldn't neve change the filter.

 

[GMFan]

Congrats on the new car. You will like it. What model did you get?

I'd just leave the oil in and run it about 3,000 miles and drain it. I followed the regimen with mine and it was sitting on the dealers lot for 3 months.

 

[Whimsey]

My wife bought a new 2005 Explorer in July 2005, it was built in early October 2004. It sat on the lot and was moved periodically through the northern NJ winter without being run till the oil reached operating temps, thus loading the oil with fuel. In fact the battery had to be replaced before she took delivery because it would not hold a charge. The dealer agreed to change the oil and filter for delivery. A week later I discovered they didn't and brought it back and they changed both. Then went 3,000 miles and then onto 5,000 mile OCI with Motorcraft 5W-20 and Motorcraft 820S oil filters at 5,000 mile OCI's. For the last year and a half went to full synthetic and extended the OCI's to ~8,500 miles which is ~6 months.

Whimsey

 

[Kuato]

This car was test driven for 40 miles. You don't know how many starts that was, how long it was idled by the sales personnel, or if it ever warmed up completely. It was probably driven hard during at least some of the test drives. Since you're closing in on a year and don't know what oil was used, IMO it should be changed as soon as you get it home.

 

[Patman]

I bought a 1995 Trans Am brand new in January 1996, and the build date on the car was Sept 1994, so even though my car was new, the oil in it was a year and a half old, plus it had a bit more "test drive" miles on it than usual (200 or so) and I decided to err on the side of caution and did the first oil change the second day I owned the car.

AFAIK, Mazda doesn't use any special break in oil (unlike Honda or VW for instance) so you're ok in that regard.

 

[yaris0128]

It's not like that oils getting much worse just sitting there. I'd use it for a while before you have to pay for your own change. I've got the same oil in my del sol for the last year and I'm not fretting.

 

[Nick R]

Sitting on the lot 11 months? Jeez our cruzes and the nox were pretty much fresh off the truck when we bought them.

As far as changing the FF goes, I wouldn't worry about it. I'd change it at 3k just to make myself feel better.

 

[blmlozz]

Originally Posted By: Kuato
This car was test driven for 40 miles. You don't know how many starts that was, how long it was idled by the sales personnel, or if it ever warmed up completely. It was probably driven hard during at least some of the test drives. Since you're closing in on a year and don't know what oil was used, IMO it should be changed as soon as you get it home.

I rather doubt someone was playing F&F for anything more than a few seconds in a 3300lb car with 170hp.

 

[ammolab]

I have oil in my "stash" far older than 11 months... and I don't know how old it was before I even brought it home!

Those first 40 miles were probably no 'harder' on the oil than your next 40 miles are going to be.

I wouldn't even worry about it. Plenty of cars are sold as "lot queens" and we don't seem to hear of any issues from stale oil.

 

[blmlozz]

Originally Posted By: ammolab
I have oil in my "stash" far older than 11 months... and I don't know how old it was before I even brought it home!

Those first 40 miles were probably no 'harder' on the oil than your next 40 miles are going to be.

I wouldn't even worry about it. Plenty of cars are sold as "lot queens" and we don't seem to hear of any issues from stale oil.


He's going on the assumption that the general rule of thumb is to change oil once a year regardless of mileage. Sealed containers are good for years.

 

[someguy]

I would probably drive it around for a month then change it.

 

[Ddub]

Unrelated to the extra time on the lot, but here's what I did if it helps; working out fine for me (all 5W-20). Lots of varying opinions. I kind of split the difference on my wife's Mazda 6. I changed the factory fill to PYB at 2500 miles, changed from PYB to PP at 5K, and have been doing 5K oci's with PP ever since. I have been using filters that I picked up on sale. It has been a mix of Purolator P1, Bosch Premium and Bosch distance plus. This makes sense to me and I feel good about it as well. One of these days I'll do a UOA just for kicks and will most likely switch to Ultra and do 6K oci's starting next year.

 

[ammolab]

Originally Posted By: blmlozz
Originally Posted By: ammolab
I have oil in my "stash" far older than 11 months... and I don't know how old it was before I even brought it home!

Those first 40 miles were probably no 'harder' on the oil than your next 40 miles are going to be.

I wouldn't even worry about it. Plenty of cars are sold as "lot queens" and we don't seem to hear of any issues from stale oil.


He's going on the assumption that the general rule of thumb is to change oil once a year regardless of mileage. Sealed containers are good for years.


And the one year rule assumes that we drive more than 40 miles in 12 months, no? The modern crankcase is pretty much
'sealed' as well! I would still run it to 1000 miles or more.

Where are all the "break in oil is sacred" guys????

 

[Kuato]

Originally Posted By: blmlozz

I rather doubt someone was playing F&F for anything more than a few seconds in a 3300lb car with 170hp.


Probably not, but you know what I meant.

 

[travelingman79]

Thanks for the replies.

In consideration of what's been said, plus the fact I've come to learn that the factory fill is synthetic 0w-20 and Mazda (unlike Honda) doesn't put anything "special" in their factory fill, I'm going to change the factory fill between 1,000-1,500mi (should reach that mileage in less than a month) and then at 5k intervals. Since it's a synthetic, I'm less concerned of its degradation over time.

I have used GC in my E46 3.0l engine for almost 150k mi with no oil issues, save for consumption of ~1qt every 7k mi - well within what I consider normal. OCI was approximately every 15k mi until 100k and every 7.5k thereafter. If BMW is OK letting synthetic oil go to 12 months on a time basis, I'm ok with letting the Mazda factory fill synthetic go one year on a time basis as well.

Due to my good experience with GC in the BMW, I'd like to stay with Castrol and go with the 0w-20 Edge with Syntec (not Titanium) in the Mazda6, but the only Castrol 0w-20 I've been able to find is the Edge with Titanium. If I can't find a source for the Syntec by the time 1.5k comes around, I'll probably go with M1 0w-20 and the Mazda/Motorcraft filter. I do wish Mazda had upped the recommended OCI when they switched to synthetic rather than keeping the 7.5k/5k they recommended with 5w-20. Looking forward to doing a UOA of the oil changed at the 5k mark.

 

[71Chevyguy]

I bought a new car that sat on the lot for a year and a half or so. I put 1,000 miles on it to get the metal that is planning to come off into the oil. Changed my oil then to Mobil 1 which was what I planned to use in it and had no issues. Car turned out to be a lemon anyway (not oil related) Got bought back and I really feel sorry for the next person that owned it. Had 35,927 miles on it though.

 

[Gene K]

Originally Posted By: 71Chevyguy
I bought a new car that sat on the lot for a year and a half or so. I put 1,000 miles on it to get the metal that is planning to come off into the oil.


We have a winner!

I bought a truck that was on the lot for 14 months and changed it immediately. The difference was it had 2700 miles with an unknown amount of cold starts and idling. With 40 miles I would have put on 1000 miles first.