Engine break-in: first oil change

[cy685]

I recently picked up my new 2020 Tracer GT and now have about 90 miles on it.  Per the dealer and the owner's manual my first oil change should be at 600 miles.  I've heard that some owners change the oil initially at 100 miles instead of waiting until 600 miles.  Is it common for owners to change it at 100 miles?  

[kilo3]

I changed at 60miles when I first got home from the dealer. Then again at 500, then 2k. The oil finally cleared up at my next change at 5k. Probably about the worst I've seen for metal in a new engine.

In contrast, my wife's kawasaki z400 twin has been the absolute cleanest engine oil I've ever seen. Haven't hardly seen a glimmer in the first or second oil change.

[RandyN]

I can't think of any reason not to change the oil more than the book says. If you feel like changing it at 100 miles and again at 600 and then again at 1200, or whatever number you pick, it can't hurt. If it makes you feel better about it all you're wasting is some of your time and a few bucks.

 

[Ride365]

I see no reason to change earlier than 600, and when I did mine at 600'ish it looked brand new with zero contaminates of any kind.

[CJ3cyl]

In the words of Sheryl Crow, "If it makes you happy."

[micah2074]

I’m over 100k miles on my 2015. I did the first change at 600 and change it every 4000ish. She runs as good as the day I brought her home. 

[betoney]

I did the first oil and filter change at 100 miles and the second at 500 or 600 miles, LOTS of silver contaminants in the oil.

[cy685]

Interesting the difference between what Ride365 and kilo3 encountered....

Don't really want to spend the time or $ unnecessarily - have other stuff to do and to spend money on!

[larolco]

I paid the dealer an exorbitant amount of money to do the first one, so don't take my opinion to mean much. I have no idea what the oil looked like and don't care.  I paid Yamaha to figure that out. I did stick kinda close to recommended break-in procedure. 

But you should see some evidence of break in with the first oil change. That's the whole point of it. 

I'll be doing the rest of the maintenance on the bike and will pay attention to the oil then. I don't think the first change is going to tell you much. 

 

[TomTracer]

10 hours ago, betoney said:

I did the first oil and filter change at 100 miles and the second at 500 or 600 miles, LOTS of silver contaminants in the oil.

I have never seen visible slivers of metal in oil on any bike I've ever owned. Trace amounts of fine metal fuzz on a drain plug magnet, yes. 

[CRFan250]

I have 230 miles on mine and have no intention of changing until 600 miles.  Same as every bike I have ever owned.  Waste of money to do it sooner.  I am changing at 600 and probably every 3K after.  Let the bike break in.....

[Warchild]

14 hours ago, kilo3 said:

I changed at 60miles when I first got home from the dealer. Then again at 500, then 2k. The oil finally cleared up at my next change at 5k.

 

"Finally cleared up..."  🤔  Very unusual.

In fact... I have never heard anything like this before on any modern engine, regardless of brand.

That's unfortunate.  

[kilo3]

8 minutes ago, Warchild said:

 

"Finally cleared up..."  🤔  Very unusual.

In fact... I have never heard anything like this before on any modern engine, regardless of brand.

That's unfortunate.  

You're telling me, I was concerned, that's why I kept changing the oil. I'll find some pictures tonight, it was a glittery mess.

[TomTracer]

Any thing more than trace amounts fine metal shavings on a new bike is excessive. I'd insist the dealer note same in my bike record, and put it in writing to them. 

[PhotoAl]

Had mine changed at the dealer at 629 miles 3 days after I bought it!  Changed again at 2,500 and about to change at 6,000.  In 7 months have put 6,000 miles on it.  2nd oil change looked OK to me, nothing unusual.