NEW Engine BREAK-IN: Truth or MYTH?

Back in the day, new engines required a break-in period. With today's modern manufacturing techniques and material technology, do modern vehicles still require a break-in period? In this video, we utilizes the analytical power of used oil analysis to determine the truth.

Since we are talking about oil changes, here are some links to previous videos on oil filters and oil change procedures:

Should you pre-fill an oil filter?

Who is the @themotoroilgeek? I'm a Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers Certified Lubrication Specialist and Oil Monitoring Analyst (I've maintained both of those for over a decade). I also worked for Joe Gibbs Racing for 12 years as their lubricant specialist. During that time, we worked with Wix Filters (one of our sponsors) to test and develop filters for our race engines. We also worked with Lubrizol and Chevron-Phillips Chemical to test and develop oils for our race cars. Following that, I was the head of R&D for Driven Racing Oil. During that time, I formulated and tested over 50 products. We also worked with Cummins, Comp Cams, Oak Ridge National Labs and General Motors on various R&D products. Those efforts are recorded in peer reviewed white papers published by SAE International and ACS Sustainable Chemistry journals. I also own and operate SPEEDiagnostix, which provides used oil analysis.

#oilchange #motoroil #syntheticoil #newengine #engine #newcar

[themotoroilgeek]

Thanks for all the comments, suggestions and questions. I appreciate them (even though the volume is quite overwhelming).

Just a few points to clarify…

I didn’t say these new engines are not run at the factory. I know they are started and checked for leaks, etc…, but that is not breaking in the engine.

Also, this car was built in Japan. I am not speculating that because it is a Toyota. I know it was built in Japan because all of the paperwork with the car said it was built in Japan. Also, the 0W-8 is an indication it was built in Japan because that is what Toyota recommends in Japan. Here in the US, 0W-8 was still not available when she got the car.

I hope that clears up any confusion.

[bwhammm]

"It's not because I'm smarter than Toyota, it's because we have different objectives." You just won the automotive internet.

[CubanRider]

My man, breaking myths left and right. Thank you for your content.

[peymanlashgari]

Every car/gun/machine, no matter how fine made, needs some kind of break in which means to be used with a reasonable care and maintenance at the early stages. Needless to say, a proper maintenance in its whole life cycle, too. Thanks for your scientifically proven tests.

[pfcstuck]

I just got a new Ford Maverick (Fx4 and tow package). The dealership did not tell me about break-in. When reading the owners manual I found that a 1, 000 mile break-in period with a mix of highway and in-town driving is recommended before off-roading, towing, or "aggressive driving".

[butWhyDad]

Finally someone who knows his stuff. I was getting tired of fake gurus and overconfident ignorance to fake knowledge

[sunking]

I bought a new 2005 Camry 2.4. The dealer had some gimmick of "the first one is on us" oil change at 3500 miles. I asked about the 500 - 700 mile "break-in" oil change. They told me that was "old fashioned technology." I changed the oil myself at 700 miles and when I held my trouble light over the 700 mile oil in the drain pan...there were millions of tiny metal particles floating in the oil. I felt good about getting rid of all that metal at an early life of the engine. I owned the car for 15 years and racked up 218, 000 miles before I sold it. The engine ran like it was "brand new" for all those miles. Fast forward to 2020...I bought a new Camry 2.5. I did the same thing but, this time I didn't see millions of metal particles in the oil. Still...I felt good about that first oil change. I totally agree with the first early oil change. BTW...while purchasing my new 2020 Camry the financing clown told me they break in the engines at the factory. I knew it was total bullshit because...how can they have the time and resources to break in millions of engines at the engine factory? Many of these dealership clowns will lie to anyone about anything...even their own mother!

[apexriders_]

I took you advice. Went and changed my oil today at 700 miles. I just bought my 2024 tundra 2 weeks ago. The dealership looked at me like I'm crazy when I asked for an oil change. I also asked for an oil sample. Explaining to them its a new engine. It's breaking in. There will be micro metal particulate in the oil. Long story short. After they changed the oil and inspected the sample of the first 600 miles oil. They found that I was right and gave me a huge discount on that oil change. Anyways I'm glad I changed the oil. Cause regardless of what any manufacturer says I think a new engine needs that 600 miles oil change.

[donniceblakely]

I've always done my first oil change at 500 mile, 1000 miles and then 3000 miles from then on. I've never had an oil related failure in 30 years! This man is spot on with the information he is giving.

[homerfry]

Thanks to you I changed the oil in both my new vehicles at 700 and 1700 miles. It is a great piece of mind knowing its been changed twice before the 5000 miles "first change".

[airlinehum]

Thanks, Lake! Love the science based look at oil instead of all the speculation based info on YouTube and the web. As been said below, keep up the oil myth busting videos!

[TrevorMilliren-cjes]

I grew up working with my stepdad who had a machine shop and was a very good engine builder. He was always very strict about engine break in. When I started rebuilding engines for my own vehicles, I did the first oil change at 100 miles, the next one 500 miles, then another at 1, 000 miles. Then every 3, 000 after that. Some might consider that overkill, but there are a lot of contaminates during break in.

[GgRae-gvtg]

When i changed the oil on my 2020 F150 3.5 at 2000 miles i sent it in to Blackstone Labs. Good thing I did. Second oil change at 4200 miles showed a big difference. Good idea to change early.

[patrickwhiddon]

And NOW, all filters are not created equal!!!

Excellent detailed video.
Thanks for confirming my opinions!

[WeSRT]

I have found that if you want to avoid an oil consuming engine it's best to change the oil after the first few hundred miles. I'm with you!

[adrianzbaeren]

Great Video, thank you for the content!

A good friend of mine decieded around 8 years ago to sign a contract to work as an professional soldier for the swiss army. (In switzerland we have mandatory army service for at least 270 days. During this time we get trained by the professional „soldiers“).
When he started his new job he and his 20 classmates recieved all together the exact same model of car with an 1.5 liter diesel engine and manual transmission.
My friend told me that he was the only one reading the manual about how to treat the car during break in. So he broke the car in and never had any issues with the engine. Most other classmates just drove the car from the beginnin „normal“ or even quite agressiv.
After 1 year some classmates said that they had to top of the oil between changing intervalls.
My friend drove his car truble free without oil consumption for 4 years and 180‘000km (110‘000 miles) until he recieved a new car.

I don‘t have exact data, but the opinion that it is necessary to brake in an ICE engine with an early oil change and to drive it as described in the owner manual.

[cjfun]

I totally agree! New cars today are not broke in. When I bought a new 2013 Chevy Silverado 5.3, It sayed in the manual not to tow, let the engine idol or drive at steady speeds to much of a length of time, and to gradually accelerate for the first 500 miles, I know it's hard to believe but that's exactly what I did just to see if this was for real, and if it really made difference, and I gotta say, it seemed to have really worked. I've change the engine oil around every 6500 miles using Mobil 1 5w30 and AC Delco filters. So far, I've only had to add less than a half a quart of oil between oil changes and it now has over 214, 000 miles now. This Engine has the AFM with Cylinder deactvation also. Early on when I had less than 50, 000 miles on the truck, i had discovered that some of these engines had lifter problems, So I decided to get a Power programmer and disable the cylinder deactivation so that it stays in V8 mode and have never had a problem since, and get same MPG, s as before, plus at the same time I added an oil catch can. I think this has made a huge impact on the longevity, and you woulded believe how much contaminated crank case condensation and sludge I have stopped from going into the combustion chambers, and coaking up the intake valves, this Idea about the catch can, I had read about where the Corvettes and Camaros were having problems on the race track at around 20, 000 miles on the engines with direct injection and had to have the intake pulled and manually clean the intake ports because there is not gas flowing into the ports to help keep the oil washed down and from sticking to the valve seats and stems causing performace problems. I know this turned into a long winded reply, but I figure it may help since it's oil related and can effect the moving parts of the engine. I really enjoy your videos 👍

[markcal]

I change my oil sooner than the owner's manual recommends, but like most Toyota owners living in the rustbelt, the frame will fail long before my motor will.

[notlisten]

This is truly wonderful!

I am one of those people that, if I get a brand new car or I'm breaking in a rebuilt engine, I will do a 3000 mile break-in process (500 mile, 1000 mile, 1500 mile) with break-in oil specifically.

It has proven to me as being the proper way to break-in an engine for the sake of longevity. Like you detailed, the wear in metals do change during that initial break-in period. This also helps to limit piston ring early wear/degradation.

Thank you for this!

[tinoarreguin]

When I bought my 2022 Tacoma I brought my truck back at 1000 miles for an oil change and the service advisor said engines don't have to be broken in and more like 50 yrs ago. I told I'm old school (56 yes old.) and to do it anyway. I'm glad I did because this truck gets a lot of highway driving and an oil change every 5000 miles. Thanks for breaking the myth.