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From: dw@rocksvax.UUCP (Don Wegeng)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: Mobil 1 and auto warranties
Message-ID: <594@rocksvax.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 12-Nov-84 16:04:55 EST
Article-I.D.: rocksvax.594
Posted: Mon Nov 12 16:04:55 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 13-Nov-84 01:35:02 EST
References: <1826@ucla-cs.ARPA> <565@rocksvax.UUCP> <2044@ucla-cs.ARPA>
Reply-To: dw@rocksvax.UUCP (Don Wegeng)
Organization: Xerox
Lines: 43
Summary: 

In article <2044@ucla-cs.ARPA> wales@ucla-cs.UUCP writes:
>No one thus far has commented on this question (at least, if they have,
>I never saw it).  However, in article <565@rocksvax.UUCP>, Don Wegeng
>says the following:
>
>    [Honda] might be able to disclaim [your new-car warranty] based on
>    the number of miles on the engine when you changed to Mobil 1.  Most
>    experts agree that you should not switch to a synthetic oil until
>    the engine has been broken in, which usually takes 5000 to 10,000
>    miles.  I suspect that you would have safer to have driven more than
>    600 miles before switching.
>
>My initial reactions to the above (to which I welcome comment):
>
>(1) I confess that this is the first comment I have heard so far to the
>    effect that synthetic oils are NOT good for a brand-new engine.
>
>(2) I asked the service departments of several Honda dealerships regard-
>    ing engine break-in period.  Incredibly, NOT ONE claimed to be aware
>    of any need at all to change oil or filter before the first sched-
>    uled oil change at 7,500 miles!!!

Actually, I guess that I should have been more explicit in my reply.  The
problem that I was refering to is that synthetic oil does not allow the engine
to break in properly.  This is because it lubercates better than regular oil,
thus the necessary wear which accompanies breaking in an engine will not occur.

As for the manufacturers recommendations about changing the oil/filter,
it probably depends on the make/model of car.  Saab uses a special oil
and filter which is replaced after 1000 miles with the regular oil and
filter.  My father (who is an engineer at GM) says that the general trend
seems to be to move away from special break in equipment because consumers
find it to be a pain.  You decide which is best.


-- 
/Don

"Fighting for peace is like making love for virginity".

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