RennWerks
Go Kart Newbie
- Location
- Hither n Yon
I, too, like to change the factory fill early, but I'll be the first to concede that doing so these days is mostly a compulsive/obsessive, feel-good habit. In this regard, I don't subscribe to the notion that there may be potentially harmful metal filings circulating in the initial fill. To the contrary, even if there were metal filings of any of any meaningful (i.e., harmful) size -- highly unlikely given the manufacturing procedures in place these days to avoid the obvious potential for that issue -- they would be caught in the oil filter; that's why the engine has a replaceable oil filter. Moreover, there's some serious science behind the notion that the really miniscule stuff (think jeweler's rouge) actually advances the break-in process, helping to seat the rings among other things. That's why, for example, Honda used to advise new owners to leave the factory fill unchanged for the entire oil-change interval. (That, and the fact that Honda's initial factory fill had/has a boatload of MoS2.)
So then, why change the motor oil then if there's no "dirty-oil/big chunks" issue? Well, in my case, I couldn't satisfy myself as to what Volkswagen is using as the factory fill in Mexico these days. I know the brand -- Castrol; that's plastered all over the car and the owner's manual -- but the initial oil fill is probably 5W-30. I don't know that, but in any case I'm satisfied that Castrol's 0W-40 (not the 5W-40) is state of the art, and that's what I've chosen to run.
The only footnote I'll add is I was surprised at how little "tension" there is on the drain plug, particular when replacing the plug. The click "home" is almost imperceptible.
So then, why change the motor oil then if there's no "dirty-oil/big chunks" issue? Well, in my case, I couldn't satisfy myself as to what Volkswagen is using as the factory fill in Mexico these days. I know the brand -- Castrol; that's plastered all over the car and the owner's manual -- but the initial oil fill is probably 5W-30. I don't know that, but in any case I'm satisfied that Castrol's 0W-40 (not the 5W-40) is state of the art, and that's what I've chosen to run.
The only footnote I'll add is I was surprised at how little "tension" there is on the drain plug, particular when replacing the plug. The click "home" is almost imperceptible.