Any early oil changers out there?

[Karl Roth]

Originally Posted by GHammerly

No, just a new filter, oil and the drain plug gasket or washer.
Normally I don't change the drain plug washer unless it looks rough but this is on my Miata and Acura, I have not seen the washer on a smart yet.

asked for the drain plug gasket from my dealer got an initial quote of 7 bucks?
still waiting...
karl

[meaux61]

I guess I better order one...FAST.

Meaux

[jonnysan]

Originally Posted by GHammerly

No, just a new filter, oil and the drain plug gasket or washer.
Normally I don't change the drain plug washer unless it looks rough but this is on my Miata and Acura, I have not seen the washer on a smart yet.

I didn't have one to change it out. I'll make up a half dozen or so for the change in 5-6000 miles.

John

[wahi]

Changed my dino oil at 600. Oil was black. Noticed wiry, semi-circular specks in the oil waste pan. Put on new OEM filter, hand tight. GTX 10w40 for the next 3K. Did not replace the copper washer on the 15/16 drain plug.

This is my second change. First was for straight 30 dino at 180 miles.

Engine feels strong and responsive. Love the throaty exhaust noise between shifts.

[dstrbd1]

what kind of oil do they recomend running? I always run Mobil 1 in everything I have (considering switching to Amsoil) should this be a problem when I get my car?

[smartune]

I changed at 1500mi. Found some fleece, errant gasket-maker and a fleck of aluminum in the drain-plug strainer.

Oil had some sparkle to it but was clean otherwise.

-Dan

[spdickey]

Originally Posted by dstrbd1

what kind of oil do they recomend running? I always run Mobil 1 in everything I have (considering switching to Amsoil) should this be a problem when I get my car?

Mobil 1 synthetic is recommended. Some of the dinosaurs on the board are running regular oil and changing it every 100-500 miles or so. MB says change oil and filter at 10,000 miles. Better for the environment that way, too.

“Although oil companies and quick-lube shops like to promote this idea [that engine oil should be changed every 3,000 miles], it's usually not necessary. Go by the recommended oil-change schedule in your vehicle's owner's manual. Most vehicles driven under normal conditions can go 7,500 miles or more between oil changes. Some models now come with a monitoring system that alerts the driver when the oil needs changing. Depending on driving conditions, these can extend change intervals to 10,000 or 15,000 miles.”
– Consumer Reports, December 2006

“…for the vast majority, 5,000-mile oil changes will help your engine last to a ripe, old age.”
–Tom and Ray Magliozzi, hosts of NPR’s Car Talk, on MSNBC, April 17, 2006

“Most manufacturers now recommend changing the oil every 7,500 miles. We recommend doing it every 5,000 miles, because we tend to be more cautious about protecting the engine. Very few people recommend changing the oil every 3,000 miles anymore. It's just not necessary, and the environmental cost is too high.”
–Tom and Ray Magliozzi, hosts of NPR’s Car Talk, in the Detroit News, April 6, 2005

“Conventional wisdom has held that the oil should be changed about every 3,000 miles. This notion has been ingrained into people's heads for decades, in part as a marketing ploy by oil companies. The 3,000-mile interval made sense when engines used single-grade nondetergent oils. But with the latest oils and car designs, it's no longer necessary to change oil that often under normal driving conditions.”
–Steve Ritter, in Chemical & Engineering News, March 13, 2006

“Synthetic oils, because of their better properties, need to be changed less often, at intervals up to 25,000 miles or more. In the end, the best advice on the type of oil to use and the frequency of oil changes is to follow the manufacturer's recommendation in your car owner's manual.”
–Steve Ritter, in Chemical & Engineering News, March 13, 2006

“Most major automakers agree: The adage that you should change your car’s oil every 3,000 miles is outdated, and even 5,000 miles may be too often.”
–Tom Krisher, Associated Press, in the Deseret News, March 26, 2007

“I remember getting my first car (a hand-me-down) and how my father kept telling me how important it was to change the oil every 3,000 miles. A lot has changed since then. Today’s oil is much better, and it can last a lot longer. Here’s what to do: Check your owner’s manual and follow the manufacturer’s recommendation.”
–Herb Weisbaum, MSNBC ConsumerMan, April 17, 2006


http://3000milemyth.org

[Smartdavis]

A mechanic that I really trust convinced me that I shouldn't worry about changing the oil too early or too often. He said just follow the manufacturer recommendation. He backs up everything in your post. Says the synthetics work great and that the new engines break-in easier than the old days because of the way they are manufactured. He seemed to know what he was talking about.

[Old smart]

Anybody have any idea of what wonderous casting methods and machine tools are now available that makes a "new" engine easier to break in than a simply modern engine?

[Smartdavis]

Maybe "easier" is not the right word. He said something about "modern" engines, and how they are made now, and oils, german engineering, and race cars, etc. etc. He talked for a long time. I just drive the thing.

Oh, and he was really impressed with the car and thought it was built quite well. He spent about an hour climbing all around it and driving it. He wants one now.