8k mile oil changes on new 500?

[mdrburchette]

What do you guys think of the new maintenance schedule for the 500? They suggest oil change intervals at 8,000 miles. I talked to the service tech and he said Fiat says this is recommended and no need to bother with a first oil change at 1000 miles. Will this engine not use any oil either?

[ga.spyder]

I can see 8000 between changes,with synthetic oil,but 8000 miles before the first oil change?? I wouldnt leave oil in a brand new engine for more than 1000 miles,no matter what kind it is. What kind of break in do they call for?

[mdrburchette]

They said changing the oil after break-in period is not necessary. The clearances are more exact than older engines so it won't use oil, it won't burn oil and you don't have to worry about metall in the oil from break in. They also said they wouldn't recommend changing the oil unless you bring it to the dealer because if something happens they could come back on me. I say the factory doesn't give a rat's ass what happens to the engine just so it lasts 50k and 4 years. How can they be so sure it will be okay?

[Redline]

The long changes started over here in Europe (together with the use of better oils). I trust the intervals here (20'000km, or 12'000 miles!) as our heavily-used turbodiesel has gone over 100K with no signs of wear or distress. The economy keeps improving, the performance is spot on, and it never burns oil. However, Ford did recommend a first service at 1'500km (1'000km). I think this is good peace of mind, as I can't believe an assembly-line motor is perfectly clean and has perfect tolerances, despite the improvements.

[dhagood]

pretty much every engine manufacturer has greatly extended the oil change intervals as a result of better materials, better machining, better lubricants, and better assembly.

[ventura ace]

I asked my salesman if I could bring the car in for a 1000 mile oil change, and he said it would be fine, but that I am only allowed so many changes per the maintenance agreement, and when that number of changes is complete, it would be up to me for the next one.

I'm trying to find out what kind of oil they are using, and if filters are available, and where the darn thing is!

Alvon

[wikkid]

I'd get the max number done by the dealers, then by the time you run out of covered changes, you will be fine doing them yourself. But I wouldn't skip the first at 1000 miles.

[mdrburchette]

The filter is a cartridge type and they are using 5w30 non synthetic. The cartridge is around $7.50 a piece.

[engineerted]

I don't know the specifics of the new 500 engine but there is no need to change the oil at the 1000 mile mark, but if it make you feel better It is not going to hurt anything. Does it have an oil monitoring system that counts down the % oil life? Most all new GM cars are equipted with this system, and no it is not just a milage counter, it calculates the load, idle time and other parameters to make its calculations. It is a very common to get 10K to 12k miles between oil changes, I change my truck's oil at 30% oil life this equates to ~ 5k to 7k miles, no loss of oil and it is not tar either.

Ted

[gary124sport]

My 2000 BMW and my 2010 Mini Cooper go 15,000 miles between changes. They call for full synthetic oil. Maintenance is free on these vehicles over the life of the warranty (long since used up on the BMW). Having said that, I still change the oil on all my vehicles using Mobil 1 at 3,000 miles intervals. My dad and now I have been doing this on the 1969 124 Spider since he purchased it new in 1968. Maybe it's considered a waste but the Fiat has close to 270,000 miles. The engine has not been apart since 1979 and now has close to 180,000 miles. It is driven regularly, and has made it to all events under it's own power including those several thousand miles away. 8,000 miles between changes seems a bit scary but is certainly the norm these days. If it scares you then do what I do and change it more often. And.... Denise, the next time there's an event out here in California by all means pack up your 1972 and drive it out yonder all the way across them there states. You know you are always welcome at my house or Alvon's.

[mdrburchette]

Hey Gary! One of these days I'll take you up on that.
I guess I'm old school. I'm going to have to think long and hard on this one. This is my first new car in 25 years and I don't want to take a chance of shortening it's life. Shoot, I'm just as anal about the maintenance on my vehicles with over 200k miles on them but I wouldn't hesitate jumping in any of them and driving to Gary's house.

[baltobernie]

Not sure what is in your crankcase now, Denise, but I remember at least one of my new cars in the past came with a stern warning not to perform an initial change prior to the recommended interval, as the engine was filled with special break-in oil at the factory.

It seems that manufacturers and customers would prefer hoods to be welded shut.

[mdrburchette]

The tech told me they didn't use a break-in oil so there was no need to change it at 1000 miles. My concern is to get the break in metal filings out of the system.

[baltobernie]

Maybe you could change only the filter earlier than recommended. They're so tiny nowadays, I wonder how they can last 5,000 - 7,500+ miles

[htchevyii]

I believe that today's high oil change intervals have more to do with enviromental impact and low maintainence bragging rights. That's the same reason they are going back to 1950's cartiridge type oil filters. I wouldn't go over 5k with conventional oil, no matter what they say. One of the magazines I read did a oil analysis on a new engine at 800 miles, (sorry I don't remember what kind of vehicle it was, but it was new) but there was a scarry amount of contaminants in it! If you really want to know, spent $25.00 and find out!
http://www.blackstone-labs.com/free-test-kits.php

Then again, Amsoil says you can go 400, 000 miles in between oil changes!!
http://www.oaitesting.com/testimonials/g1343.pdf