How long should I wait before I switch to Mobil 1 on my new engine? I am running regular oil in it right now, and it now has 700 miles on it. I changed the oil at 500 mi, and I was planning on going to 2000 miles with this oil, then switching to Mobil 1. Is this too early to insure proper ring seating, or will I be safe? I know some cars come filled with Mobil 1 from the factory, and since I have a roller engine, I assume Ill be ok. Anybody regret switching so early? Should I go one more change with regular oil?

 

I would give it about 7000 miles or so, just to make sure everything is running and seating properly. Waiting a few thousand extra miles is definatly better than ruining a brand new engine.

 

I would say you would be fine to start using synthetic's after the break in period, however, i'm gonna use it after 3000 miles. And if you are going to spend the cash on Mobil 1, get the amsoil instead, much better product!

 

Well, I would try Amsoil, but for the fact that I can't find any on shelves anywhere, and I already have 5 5qt jugs of Mobil 1.

 

By "new", do you mean "new from factory crate engine" or "new rebuild"? The crate engine is already broken in, rebuilds can tend to take a little longer for everything to seat. 500 miles is more than enough for either.

You aren't going to "ruin" the engine by switching to to synthetic too early. It'll just use a little more oil and possibly have slightly higher blow-by until the rings finally seat. The rings seat by wearing, which is slowed down by the higher lubrication properties of synthetics - how can you "ruin" an engine by preventing wear?

Check the Yellow Pages for AMSOIL. It may not be on the store shelves, but in a city the size of Queens, there are several dealers that will have it for you. Mobil 1 is a good second choice, though.

 

By new I mean new factory crate engine. It dosent appear to use any oil.. no smoke at all. I had heard that at about 500 miles, the engine is just about fully broken in. Since I just changed the oil with dino at 500, ill wait for a bit, and on the next change definitely go Mobil 1.
I had originally planned on going with either Amsoil, or Royal Purple, but the prices on the 5qt jogs of Mobil 1 at Walmart were too good to pass up.
57, what would be the difference between break ins on a rebuild vs a crate engine? When you said that the crate is already broken in, are you referring to now that I have 700 miles on it, or when I first got it? Are they broken in before they are shipped?

 

Some cars come new with Mobil1 right from the factory.......

 

I reworded things before I submitted, and didn't get that sentence quite right. Sorry. Let me try again.

The only crate engine I know for sure that is factory run is the ZZ4. But, the factory manufacturing technology these days is such that the engine is basically broken in by the time it is shut off the first time (that's why they can do the factory fill with synthetic - Mexico replacement engines and flat-tappet cam engines excepted). Rebuilds, using moly rings and, believe it or not, looser machining controls, typically take a little longer. If it takes more than 500 miles, then it wasn't a quality build.

I realize the WalMart price is hard to resist. But, I'm not stuck in the past with 3000 mile oil changes, either, so I don't mind the slightly higher per-quart price for the higher quality.

 

AMSOIL BABY, NOTHIN BEATS IT,lol:lala: :lala:

 

Keep in mind if the engine has a warranty GM does not recognize longer intervals than 3k for severe service. I agree with 5.7, most of the wear and break in probably occurs in the first few hours of operation. I would not worry at all about changing over at the time you specified.

 

The engine did have the standard 3yr / 50k mi warranty, which was promptly voided by my cam swap. One of the reasons I was slightly concerned switching to synthetic this early.

 

In order to deny a warranty claim, they have to prove that the oil was unserviceable. Length of time it was in the crankcase is moot.