[Q3User]

Is it worth it to change oil out @ ~1K+ when the complimentary 5K service is around the corner?

I do my own oil changes but just thinking out loud if I should let the ole break-in oil change slip by on this one?

Did anyone do this? or did you change out the factory oil prior to your 5K comp change?

Thoughts?

 

[rokutman]

How often do you change your oil?

 

[Ohio Joe]

Is it worth it to change oil out @ ~1K+ when the complimentary 5K service is around the corner?

personally I would wait for the 5K service...

 

[Q3User]

How often do you change your oil?

Every 5.5K-7K miles on synth.

 

[rokutman]

Okay, guess I was confused about your 1K comment. I've done 5K with the BMW and the 04 Envoy.

 

[Q3User]

Okay, guess I was confused about your 1K comment. I've done 5K with the BMW and the 04 Envoy.

Yeah, was just wondering if anyone changed out their straight from factory oil prior to their first 5K service.
Some people do that to get rid of the metal flakings during break in.

 

[rebop]

I belive the intia;l oil is special with additives to harden bearings, etc. I never change that one early, but I do changes about every 7,500 miles after the first.

~Bob

 

[Q3User]

What miles did you all bring in your car for the complementary 5K change?
If earlier than 5K did your dealership give you any hassle?

 

[rnlabas]

As a former lubricant engineer I can say that the initial oils theses days are normal - no special anythings. THAT being said, EVERY engine breaks in a bit during the first 1-3K miles or 10-50 hours (a better test) and sloughs off all kinds of 'stuff' during that time. It is also MUCH more sensitive to fuel and air residues that usually find their way INTO the lubricant during this time. I would (and do) side with earlier rather than later changes of lubricants during break in. Look, oil is cheap compared to any (even under warranty) repairs to lubricated parts later in the engine's life.

What you must understand simply though is the oil change intervals are being LEGISLATED faster than as progressed by better and newer lubricants and additives. That means JUST to reduce maintenance costs and lengthen those intervals, the government is mandating longer intervals - that has NOTHING to do with lubricity and ultimate engine life. While lubricants are getting WAY better too, they are NOT keeping pace with government pundits chasing ever widening change intervals so that the maintenance costs appear to be lower. I say appear, cuz that's just the truth - in the long run they'll be higher when more and costly repairs are needed.

But let's face what the pundits want : they want YOU to trade the car into oblivion (leaving this mess to someone else or as some of you may recall - cash or not for clunkers) or simply OFF the roads to newer and better ZEVs, LEVs, ULEVs or LEED-Vs - The best way for that to happen is for the car's repairs to be higher than it's worth - bada bing !!

btw, I do my 1st change at about 20 hours, then 100 - then every 100 hours (usually about 3-5K miles) or so thereafter - I've NEVER had consumption issues and always have clean oil -

 

[Q3User]

As a former lubricant engineer I can say that the initial oils theses days are normal - no special anythings. THAT being said, EVERY engine breaks in a bit during the first 1-3K miles or 10-50 hours (a better test) and sloughs off all kinds of 'stuff' during that time. It is also MUCH more sensitive to fuel and air residues that usually find their way INTO the lubricant during this time. I would (and do) side with earlier rather than later changes of lubricants during break in. Look, oil is cheap compared to any (even under warranty) repairs to lubricated parts later in the engine's life.

What you must understand simply though is the oil change intervals are being LEGISLATED faster than as progressed by better and newer lubricants and additives. That means JUST to reduce maintenance costs and lengthen those intervals, the government is mandating longer intervals - that has NOTHING to do with lubricity and ultimate engine life. While lubricants are getting WAY better too, they are NOT keeping pace with government pundits chasing ever widening change intervals so that the maintenance costs appear to be lower. I say appear, cuz that's just the truth - in the long run they'll be higher when more and costly repairs are needed.

But let's face what the pundits want : they want YOU to trade the car into oblivion (leaving this mess to someone else or as some of you may recall - cash or not for clunkers) or simply OFF the roads to newer and better ZEVs, LEVs, ULEVs or LEED-Vs - The best way for that to happen is for the car's repairs to be higher than it's worth - bada bing !!

btw, I do my 1st change at about 20 hours, then 100 - then every 100 hours (usually about 3-5K miles) or so thereafter - I've NEVER had consumption issues and always have clean oil -

Excellent feedback Roger.
I kinda of let the 1K break-in go & am at the upper end of your loose mileage range (3K) to change it out.

I might just go to the dealership & let them do the comp 5K early.

 

[DampDuffer]

Speaking of first (6 month) service......

During the first service of our Q3 last month the tires were rotated, but I was told the tires would NOT be rotated on subsequent annual servicing because they've "learned the tires just don't need to be rotated on Quattro models."

Anyone here have an opinion about rotating the tires on the Quattro?

I have a kind of "whatever" attitude about it, but as I've been getting tires rotated every 5,000 or so forever, and as I've been led to believe the Q3 is generally considered to be in front-wheel drive for the most part.....

 

[Q3User]

Speaking of first (6 month) service......

During the first service of our Q3 last month the tires were rotated, but I was told the tires would NOT be rotated on subsequent annual servicing because they've "learned the tires just don't need to be rotated on Quattro models."

Anyone here have an opinion about rotating the tires on the Quattro?

I have a kind of "whatever" attitude about it, but as I've been getting tires rotated every 5,000 or so forever, and as I've been led to believe the Q3 is generally considered to be in front-wheel drive for the most part.....

Our prior Merc GLK was 4matic aka AWD & I never had them rotated in our 4 years of ownership.
We lived in a city where the streets were just beginning to get repaved after 20 years - ie they were in fluctuating states of repair.
When we turn the car in - there was no wear issues.

Take it for what it's worth.

I'm going to rotate them when I can but I won't be obsessed with them like I used to be at every 5K -7.5K's.

 

[rnlabas]

I'm MUCH more simple-minded than to just rotate tires for the heck of it or at some mileage cuz someone suggests so whether I have 4matic, AWD, quattro or moon drive. I just take a nice long look over them all and decide from that. Remember Q3 quattros are 95% FWD cars ; so a good look is better than ANY generalized recommendation ...