[realroadrage]

A co-worker of mine just bought a new 3-series. The first scheduled oil change is either 10 or 15K. During the break-in period, I believe the car has a different type of oil ("break-in" oil). My co-worker read that new cars are delivered with metallic shavings throughout the engine and despite the recommended service interval, he wants to get an oil change at 1K to flush out the metal, etc.

Is this a myth or reality? Griot's garage even sells a magnetic belt you can place around your oil filter to combat this "problem."

[BobNovas]

I'm going to go with the theory that you can't harm the engine by changing the oil more frequently than the manufacturer suggests. Especially if the car is on one of those free service programs, where the dealer gets to change the oil for free, and you get to pay for out of warranty repairs. If you change the filter and put the right oil back in the engine, it has to be a good thing.

[mroberts]

I'm very curious about those magnetic bands - shouldn't the filter itself stop all those bits of metal ?

[Vicegrip]

Just an opinion but why would he want to differ from the manufacture recommendations? They have a vested interest in the motor too. All the profit in a new car sale would be consumed and then some by a motor replacement. Why would a manufacture use a build process that might leave machining frass behind that could would cause major mechanical issues? Yes it could happen but I bet not to any extent that would be mitigated by oil changing. Changing the oil (if not a true break in oil) would do little other than cost oil and time or make the owner feel better, and feeling good about what you are doing has some weight in life. Any frass would ether be still in the motor, safely trapped in the filter and rendered inert or so small as to able to pass through the filter and also remain suspended in the oil. If it is a true break in fill, what good would come from changing out an oil fill that was intended for break in prior to the time/distance recommendations?
IIRC Honda is one of the last to have a break in fill but this is only a guess. Modern engines are a lot different than even 15 years ago. There is also a lot of “It is the WAY it is done” stuff still floating around. Perhaps we need an “Old method that does not pertain to this app” magnet.

As to the filter magnets my guess is they would not hurt anything but if you think about it the magnet is only going to catch something that was about to be captured by the filter anyway. The real trick is to catch stuff before it migrates to where it could cause harm.
Griot's also sells a magnet that sticks to the fuel line to break up the hydrocarbon "clusters" This is 100% complete unadulterated bullshit and not based on any science or factual data yet many sell them and many buy them.

Have you noticed that oil filters are getting smaller on most cars? One of the reasons is that studies have shown that the time a new filter is filling with oil during the inital startup after a oil and filter change caused measurable wear to some of the motors oil wetted parts via oil starvation. You can mitigate the fill time by filling the filter with oil prior to install if the filter is orented correctly. Some cars filter after the primary pass through the motor and the fill time does not starve the motor during.

[type954]

... and the magnet would only attract iron based grit. no Al, Pb, brass, Cu grit and alot of many modern day engines have Al blocks.

(aluminium and lead and copper)

[Vicegrip]

that is an easy fix, just add an aluminoiuminum magnet as well!

[Rick Lee]

The last BMW I did an oil change on was a '96 328ic and it had the paper filter cartridge which goes inside a plastic housing. I don't know how that magnetic band could work on such a setup.

BMW is funny about their oil service recommendations. Even on my old '87 325is, the shop I bought it from swore I should use BMW's own brand of oil. I don't know how it could be any better than the normal brands we use on other cars, as long as it's the right weight and changed often enough. I could never bring myself to let ANY fluid in any of my cars go 10k miles. before a change, but then there is some disease out there with my namesake on it. IIRC, BMW's free oil service plan on new cars does not include just changing it whenever you feel like it. I think it cannot be before a certain mileage. Still, I'd drop the few bucks and do it myself at least twice as often as 10-15k miles.

[VaSteve]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

The last BMW I did an oil change on was a '96 328ic and it had the paper filter cartridge which goes inside a plastic housing. I don't know how that magnetic band could work on such a setup.

BMW is funny about their oil service recommendations. Even on my old '87 325is, the shop I bought it from swore I should use BMW's own brand of oil. I don't know how it could be any better than the normal brands we use on other cars, as long as it's the right weight and changed often enough. I could never bring myself to let ANY fluid in any of my cars go 10k miles. before a change, but then there is some disease out there with my namesake on it. IIRC, BMW's free oil service plan on new cars does not include just changing it whenever you feel like it. I think it cannot be before a certain mileage. Still, I'd drop the few bucks and do it myself at least twice as often as 10-15k miles.

I showed up 1K too early for mine and they turned me away. A smart servicer would have done it anyway since the cost (if you follow activity based costing) of me coming back is more than turning out a drain plug and filter while the car is already on the lift.

Plus they had my car an extra day for the parts they didn't have. I'm a shitty negotiator. All I got was a half ass car was and still have to take it in for the oil.

FWIW, BMW only does bi-annual brake fluid changes as well. Non-warrenty is $120!

[Trak Ratt]

I’ve personally performed the “extended oil change” test and quite frankly was not happy with the resulting findings. I agree with Kurt and Bob and would recommend changing the oil anyway. There is always crap in the engine, changing the oil if nothing else is therapeutic.

[markwemple]

Is the filter a paper cartridge on top of the engine. If so, why not simply change it and look for particles to ease your mind.