Bushwack

Whenever I got a new car, I'd change the oil after the first 500-1,000 miles. Never stated to do so in an owner's manual, but many mechanics say it is a good idea due to metal shavings occurring during initial break-in period (GS350 has 750 miles on the odometer).

With all these new monikers attached to engine design (i.e. VVT) and many manufacturers putting an added detergent into the crankcase at finished assembly (don't know if that is what Lexus does), is it still a good idea to perform a LOF or just sit tight until 3,000 miles (I know the manual says 5,000 but old habits are hard to break)?

slk_dds

+1 for the mechanics...

I always do my first oil change right after the "break-in" period, between 1,500-2,500 miles.
On the very 1st oil chang, I ask them to do the followings:
1. drain the factory oil out;
2. refilled with regular engine oil, and let it run for another 5 minutes;
3. drain it out again;
4. replaced the oil filter and filled up with Synthetic blend.

0-2,500 miles --> Factory oil
2,500-5,000 miles --> Synthetic blend
5,000-10,000 miles --> Mobil 1
and so on...

I rather take my chance and go ahead with oil change, instead of leaving the metal particles inside of the engine till 5,000 miles.

flipside909

Go with the factory 5k interval. Follow what the factory recommends and you will not have any problems. Personally changing oil before your 5k is overkill, even during initial break in period. If Lexus/Toyota engineers felt it was really crucial to change your oil in the first 1-2k miles, they would say so. Just food for thought. I've put many of my own Toyota and Lexus vehicles well beyond 100k and have never had any wear issues or even valve cover gasket leakage problems ever. I am one to drive long distance mileage in a short period of time. That explains why my 2004 IS300 purchased 9/2003 has 105k miles and no issues what so ever.

AlBoston

yeah man, no reason to drain out the factory oil at 1k. The whole "metal shavings" is a thing of the past man.

Reminds of people waiting for their new car paint to "cure" before waxing haha.