When Should You Get Your First Oil Change After Buying A New Car?

Like other mechanical devices that utilize fuel and oil, vehicles require regular maintenance to be in good condition. This is a norm for all cars, both used and new cars.

However, brand-new cars seem more delicate because they are just out of the factory; hence, they need to be properly maintained to avoid early faults. One of the most common contemplations in the automotive space is changing oil.

Most brand new car owners constantly search “First oil change new car” on the internet to access the required information to guide them on their vehicle maintenance properly. If you own a brand-new car, you should change the engine oil much early than the 5,000 to 10,000 miles recommendations.

When Should You Get Your First Oil Change After Buying A New Car?

when to get first oil change on brand new car

Vehicles come with manufacturer-specific manuals. The manual contains information about the vehicle, how its components are operated, their lifespan, and maintenance intervals.

One of the vital information captured in the vehicle manufacturer’s manual is the interval prescribed for the car owner to change the oil. The estimated period for oil change used to be 3,000 miles.

The latest developments in the automotive industry introduced improved engine materials, fuel delivery systems, oil chemistry, and manufacturing methods. Hence, modern car engines can now be stretched for 5000 to 10,000 miles before requiring an oil change.

Therefore, if you are wondering when to get the first oil change on a brand new 2023 car, it is ideal to follow the prescription in the vehicle-specific manufacturer’s manual for the first oil change and subsequently.

However, professional auto mechanics recommend an interval shorter than what is prescribed in a vehicle’s manual.

If you are contemplating the first oil change in a new Honda car or your respective car model, to be on the safer side, you may have to change your brand new car’s oil anywhere around 500 to 1,500 miles. However, if your manufacturer states the interval for your first oil change, then you have to follow the recommendations.

Should you do the first oil change early?

Every car comes with its vehicle-specific manufacturer’s manual. All the information that is expected to guide the car owner, including the interval to change the vehicle’s oil, is captured in the manual’s content.

So, there is really no point in changing a brand-new car’s oil earlier than the period recommended by the manufacturer’s manual. It will result in a waste of money because the oil will still be suitable for the engine before the prescribed interval.

However, if the owner’s manual does not state when to get the first oil change, then you should replace it around 500 to 1,500 miles. Most owner’s manuals only state the general oil replacement interval. If this is the case with your manual, you have to replace the oil much early before the general recommendation.

In all you do, you must not allow a car’s engine oil to stay beyond the recommended time frame; otherwise, you may be risking severe damage to the engine. So, if you are contemplating the first oil change on a new Subaru car, check the vehicle’s manufacturer’s manual for details.

when should you do your first oil change on a new truck

FAQs

Should I change the oil in my new car after 1000 miles?

Vehicle manufacturers prescribe the intervals within which the oil in the engines of all their vehicles make, and models should be changed. The interval for one vehicle manufacturer may differ from another. However, there are general safe intervals that car owners can follow.

Some auto mechanics recommend anywhere around 7,500 to 10,000 miles or 6 to 12 months as the intervals to change the engine oil in a vehicle.

If you are asking when to get a first oil change on a brand-new Nissan car, it would be better to get an oil change before the generally prescribed interval (7,500 – 10,000 miles). To stand on the safer side, anywhere around 500 to 1,500 miles would do.

Should you change the oil after the first 500 miles?

A contradiction seems to exist between the recommended intervals to change a vehicle’s oil. While the vehicle manufacturer’s manual prescribes a particular interval, expert auto mechanics prescribe an interval earlier than what is recorded on the vehicle’s manual.

Changing a vehicle’s oil according to manufacturers’ recommendations may not necessarily affect the engine; however, expert auto mechanics recommend a period earlier than the manufacturers’ prescription for car owners to be on the safer side.

If you are wondering when to get the first oil change in a new Honda Accord or any car model, changing the oil after the first 500 miles isn’t a bad idea. It is better to do it earlier than the prescribed time frame recommended by manufacturers than to allow the oil to stay beyond the recommended interval.

When should you first service a new car?

Most manufacturers recommend every 10,000 miles or 12 months (whichever interval comes first) to service a car. This is not different for new cars, as it is the best time frame to carry out the exercise to get the best out of it.

However, to be on the safer side, expert auto mechanics recommend changing the first engine oil on a brand-new car at 500 to 1,500 miles, much earlier than the manufacturer’s recommendations. It is absolutely okay to change the engine oil much earlier than exceeding the recommended interval.

How long should you leave break-in oil in a new engine?

Were you wondering how long you should leave break-in oil in your new car’s engine? It is crucial to know that the break-in time for modern vehicles is around 500 – 1,500 miles.

So, you shouldn’t leave break-in oil in your brand-new car’s engine beyond 1,500 miles. It would be best to work with a shorter break-in time (say, 500 miles and above, but less than 1,500 miles).

Meanwhile, during this period, you must not engage in full-throttle starts or drive at a speed level beyond 60 mph within 500 – 1000 miles to avoid unexpected damage to the engine.

Is it bad to drive a brand-new car long distances?

Manufacturers recommend break-in periods to allow the vehicle’s piston rings to seal appropriately against the vehicle’s cylinder bores. There, most vehicle manufacturers prescribe 500 miles as the break-in period for their vehicle make and models.

However, most modern vehicles can be taken on long road trips because manufacturers have built-in more sophistication to overcome any limitations that older vehicles had in time past.

But it is essential to follow all recommendations on your vehicle’s manual to enable you to maximize its operations.

What should I check on my car first service?

Regular maintenance entails checking most parts of your vehicle to ascertain whether they are in good condition that can keep them running perfectly. Meanwhile, during a new car’s first service, there are a couple of things to inspect properly; they include:

Is it illegal to not service your car?

The answer is no. It is not illegal to not service your car regularly or yearly. However, driving a car without servicing can lead to severe damage to the engine eventually.

In order to stand on the safer side, it would be best to service your car as and when due to keep the engine and other components in good condition. This will guarantee your safety when driving and help your vehicle live its complete lifespan and not break down when you least expected it.

Final Words

For those searching, “First oil change new car,” maintaining a brand new car seems to require more attention than used cars. The vital areas of such maintenance (oil-change) have been dealt with in this article.

Ensure to follow the recommended intervals suitable for your brand-new car’s oil change to get the best out of it. Most vehicle manufacturers recommend around 7,500 to 10,000 miles, while expert auto mechanics recommend between 500 and 1,500 miles.

No matter what you do, never exceed the period prescribed by your vehicle’s manufacturer’s manual. As for opinion, it is better to be earlier than to be later.

Osuagwu Solomon

Osuagwu Solomon is a certified mechanic with over a decade of experience in the mechanic garage, and he has over five years of experience in the writing industry. He started writing automotive articles to share his garage experience with car enthusiasts and armature mechanics. If he is not in the garage fixing challenging mechanical problems, he is writing automotive repair guides, buyer’s guides, and car and tools comparisons.

3 thoughts on “When Should You Get Your First Oil Change After Buying A New Car?

  1. After rebuilding an engine, I always recommend an oil and filter change after 500-1,000 miles, most often on the house. During the initial break-in period, a lot can happen, including foreign/new debris, etc.

  2. Hey Brian,
    I’m glad you find this helpful. I’ll surely do that. Always check back for new and helpful tips.

  3. Hi Osuagwu

    Great article i ran across on 1st oil Change . Picking up a 2024 Honda Ridgeline in March. Will try to keep it at 60 mph or less . For the first 1000 miles. Dump the oil and refill with Amsoil Signature 0w-20.
    Maybe do a article on premium oil next. i know the w stands for winter. We run 0w-40 in my Atv and people are like your gonna blow your motor. Great advice Good Luck .

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts