Select Synthetics

Important Note: I have since reconsidered my position on this subject since I originally wrote and published this article back in 2014. I now believe that you should do the first oil change (and your second one) on a new vehicle much earlier than what is recommended in the Owners Manual. Now I did briefly discuss the reasons why I always change out the initial ‘factory fill’ motor oil earlier than recommended in my own vehicles, but I will now give a more detailed explanation about why YOU should also do the same in this revised 2026 article.

Let me start by sharing the original article that I wrote in 2014, then I will explain what led me to change my recommendation about this very important subject.

Here is my original article from 2014:

When should you do your first oil change? The short answer is: there is really no need to do the first oil change earlier than what is recommended in the Owners Manual. However, since I’ve never been very good at giving short answers, here’s a more elaborate answer.

Today’s modern engines are a combination of accurate and precise machining and assembly. The different components are honed, polished, and built to much higher/tighter manufacturing tolerances (measured in the ten-thousandths of an inch) than they were in the past.

Furthermore, the automotive industry has much higher cleanliness standards and requirements today than in the past. The working environment and the engine components need to be kept very clean during the entire assembly process.

The engine parts are thoroughly cleaned before assembly using specially engineered cleaning equipment. Improper part cleaning can potentially lead to big problems such as excessive wear or even, in a worst case scenario, a powertrain failure if debris is released into the engine. It can also adversely affect downstream processes such as heat treating and plating.

It is for these reasons that the auto companies’ component cleanliness standards have become more stringent over the years. So how clean is clean enough for the automakers? It depends largely on the application; however, automakers generally require that, after final part cleaning, critical components must not release particles larger than 250 microns, or a collection of particles weighing more than 1 milligram.

Furthermore, engine oil quality has also come a long way. This isn’t your grandfather’s oil. Due to the use of higher quality base stocks and better additive packages, today’s oil can last (and protect) a lot longer than it could in the past. For instance, AMSOIL uses only the highest quality base oils and additives available in their premium top-tier product formulations.

The bottom line is, since today’s engines are cleaner, better designed, and built to much higher standards than yesterday’s engines, and since modern engine oil formulations are vastly superior to formulations of yesteryear, there is really no need to change out the ‘factory fill’ early.

However, all that being said, even though I know that the initial ‘factory fill’ motor oil doesn’t need to be drained earlier than recommended and will easily go the manufacturer’s recommended distance, I still always prefer to do my very first oil change early (I changed it at around 1500 mi/2400 km on my 2014 KIA Sorento).

"Why?" you ask. Mostly for my own ‘peace of mind’ and because it makes me feel better having fresh new oil in the sump of my brand new ride. Besides, even though the FF oil can and will easily go the distance, it is true (IMHO) that there is significantly more wear metal particles and other contaminants in the oil due to engine break-in as well as from the machining and assembly process (the oil was ‘dirtier’ on my first oil change than on my second and third ones).

Another reason I usually choose to change it out early is that I don't know what was in the sump in the first place, so I want to get a high quality 100% Synthetic Oil (I use our AMSOIL Signature Series motor oil) in there as soon as possible.

But it’s up to you whether or not you want to change it out early. Just keep in mind that it doesn't really need to be drained earlier that recommended by the manufacturer.

Now here is my new updated recommendation:

It has been shown and proven though Oil Analysis that there is significantly more wear metal particles present in a sample of the motor oil taken from the first oil drain, and even from the second and third oil drains, than what you find in oil samples from subsequent drains (be sure check out my article on: Oil Analysis). This indicates that the new engine is still in the process of 'breaking-in'.

I now recommend that you do your first initial oil change on you car at around 500-1,000 miles, and your second oil change at around 2,000-3,000 miles. You can also do your third oil change a little early as well if you so desire. And YES, you can use our premium AMSOIL 100% Synthetic motor oils for that very first fill.

Note: For your first oil change, you don’t necessarily have to change the oil filter as it has been shown that a slightly dirty oil filter will filter better than a brand new one. But you can change it out if it makes you feel better, entirely your choice.

Here is a YouTube video by a “motor oil expert” about this topic. Lake Speed Jr. is a Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers Certified Lubrication Specialist as well as a professional Motor Oil Analyzer. I also have studied the subject of Tribology (which is the study of the science of lubrication, friction and wear) over the past 12+ years. So I happen to know a little bit about it myself. (The video is approximately 11 minutes long.)