The FACTS About Oil Changes (What The Owner's Manual DIDN'T Tell You)

About this video

• Video Title: The FACTS About Oil Changes (What The Owner's Manual DIDN'T Tell You)
• Channel: The Motor Oil Geek
• Speakers: Lake
• Duration: 00:11:22

Overview

This video explains the importance of early and frequent oil changes for new engines, especially turbocharged ones. The speaker, a certified lubrication specialist, details a specific break-in procedure for a new Toyota Tacoma, involving multiple oil changes within the first 5,000 miles. The video also touches on engine break-in dynamics, oil temperature and contamination factors, and the reasoning behind not changing the oil filter during these initial changes, contrasting these practices with standard owner's manual recommendations based on scientific data.

Key takeaways

• Early Oil Changes for Break-in: The most significant engine wear occurs during the break-in period. Frequent oil changes, particularly in the first 5,000 miles (at 500, 1,500, and 3,000 miles), are crucial to remove wear contaminants that oil filters cannot fully capture.
• Proper Engine Break-in Technique: While avoiding extreme acceleration or prolonged constant RPMs is advised by owner's manuals, it's also important not to "baby" the engine. Accelerating with some throttle, near peak torque, is necessary for piston rings to break in properly.
• Factors Affecting Oil: Oil performance is primarily impacted by temperature and contamination. Turbocharged engines generate higher temperatures, which directly affect the oil.
• Oil Filter Strategy: The speaker advocates for not changing the oil filter during the initial oil changes because filters become more efficient as they get older and collect more particles. The original filter is kept on for the first two oil drains.
• Data-Driven Maintenance: The speaker emphasizes using scientific data rather than solely relying on owner's manual recommendations, especially when data suggests a more optimal maintenance approach for engine longevity.