Why is it needed to change the oil within the 1st 100 miles vs 3K

[Dunerunner]

jwight

Just got through with a DIY oil change and used a 24mm 12pt. 1/2' drive socket and 15" breaker bar. Seemed to be it for me? I'd go check but just had the car towed to the dealer this AM. An unrelated issue (smart for problem).

[dcrooks]

Originally Posted by jwight

dc, can you verify the size of the drain plug? Tried the 24 mm mentioned above and that's not it. Thanks!

No, my friend took it out and I saw it on the ground when it was being drained. But I could not tell you exactly how big it was. Sorry...

[jwight]

Originally Posted by Dunerunner

jwight

Just got through with a DIY oil change and used a 24mm 12pt. 1/2' drive socket and 15" breaker bar. Seemed to be it for me? I'd go check but just had the car towed to the dealer this AM. An unrelated issue (smart for problem).

Hmmmm... will have to check again. The guy who was wrenching the plug said 24mm was too big but who knows. Thanks.

[xcrew229x]

Changed mine and as I recall it was 24mm. Amazed that I had a socket that big in metric.

[NCC1701]

Fredvon4 wrote:
Do not be tempted to try and break in a motor over a weekend with some sort of long trip just to build miles. The setting of the rings can be done in less than 500 miles and takes patience. I must re-state Many, Many hot cold cycles are much better.
============

Thanks Fred. I've saved your breakin proceedure for (hopefully near) future reference. But, it may be impossible to follow to the Tee, since I will be taking delivery almost 300 miles from my home. Of course, I don't HAVE to take the Interstate home, but then a five hour drive might double in length.
Heck, I could just spend the night in the dealer's city, then spend the next day slowly working my way home. ; )

[Dunerunner]

Originally Posted by xcrew229x

Changed mine and as I recall it was 24mm. Amazed that I had a socket that big in metric.

Gave me an excuse to go to Sears and buy a 5 socket (23-27mm) set and 15" 1/2" drive breaker bar. I changed the oil at 471 miles. It was dark, no grit but smelled heavily of fuel. I will do the next interval at 1500 mi, then every 3000.

[SuperGeek]

Originally Posted by ncc1701

Fredvon4 wrote:
Do not be tempted to try and break in a motor over a weekend with some sort of long trip just to build miles. The setting of the rings can be done in less than 500 miles and takes patience. I must re-state Many, Many hot cold cycles are much better.
============

Thanks Fred. I've saved your breakin proceedure for (hopefully near) future reference. But, it may be impossible to follow to the Tee, since I will be taking delivery almost 300 miles from my home. Of course, I don't HAVE to take the Interstate home, but then a five hour drive might double in length.
Heck, I could just spend the night in the dealer's city, then spend the next day slowly working my way home. ; )

For Fred or anyone with similar experience:

I brought my Smart home almost 700 miles in two days... 500 miles day one (first 80 miles slow city, then remainder highway) and then 200 miles day two... out of necessity; I wish I had more time to include city driving and heat/cool cycles, but I didn't in this case. Any thoughts on the effect this will have for short or long term? Hopefully I haven't done anything to harm, as I ran the I-10 gauntlet at 60mph as much as possible, much to the chagrin of 18 wheelers with a deadline. I worry that I may have kept the engine / transmission hot too long.

I did notice around the 500 mile mark my RPMs @ 60mph were at 2800 instead of 3000. That suggested to me the drivetrain was more efficient; either by ECU adjustments or metal parts aligning better.

Should I still consider the car in break-in mode for the next 1,000 miles of city driving (about 2 months for me @ 10-20 mi/day)?

Also, referring to dunerunner's oil change ** I checked mine at the stick yesterday (700 miles), and it was so clear I could hardly see it. I did smell a little fuel odor; is that because of the piston/ring gaps that would be fitted by the break-in process?

[Fredvon4]

SuperGeekThere are going to be hundreds of new smart owners that have to do the long trip you described...

Generally the way they are manufactured the typical owner can just drive the car normally and not worry too much about how it eventually breaks in....

The biggest No No is long duration High RPM

My method is overly anal and is intended to increase the probability of a long life low oil consumption motor....but even then there is no way to categorically claim it will last longer then a motor used like your is....

I would just change the oil, filter and call it ready for normal service life and not worry about it...

You guys are now numbering 6 that report some smell of fuel in the oil....I am used to most new stuff being set too lean...sounds like the smart is set rich

This is something to watch as .... no oil can sustain fuel dilution for the change intervals recommended by MB without loosing much of its lubricity

I pick up the Blue Lil Bugger next Monday... and the 75 miles home is already mapped to three Margarita breaks on 5 hour trip.... yes I am that anal about many heat cold cycles

[jwight]

Fred, I can only assume you are bringing a designated driver; 3 Margaritas in 75 miles will definitely be over the limit.

[Fredvon4]

208 pounds... 3 Cool drinks... 1 full meal ......5 hours... BAC will stay under 0.056 for each leg