The Acura maintenance manual states to change the engine oil if it's over a year old. I just bought the car new but it's been sitting on the dealer's lot for well over a year. Should I change it right away? I know that Honda's factory filled engine oil has high moly to help with the break in. I'm thinking about changing it after 1k miles. Is that too soon or will that be enough time for the factory filled oil to do its thing?

 

Can't hurt to change it!

 

at this point, we're all arm-chair quarterbacks with a minor in internet-chemistry.
the best advice is to do what you feel is right.

if driving it 1000 miles then changing the oil will help you sleep at night,

 

Leave it in and let it till its time to normally change it. It will be just fine. If the car had been driven for 1k miles then parked for a year then i would say change it but with it being new its best to leave the oil they put in it in.

 

Oil from the factory is break in oil i believe. I would leave it in until the proper miles have been achieved for the first change.

 

+1 Leave it in.

 

oil does become acidic over time so it's advised to change it out yearly despite mileage. I would bring this to the attention of your dealer. If anything, change the oil and get it changed again at the 2K mark to ensure no particles of metal are in the oil.

 

I'd leave it in for the first 2-3k miles.

To be honest, either way, it will not make any difference. or if there is any, it will be wayyyyyy down the road that chances are you won't have that car by then.

 

Changing the oil isn't going to hurt anything. I'd change it personally.

 

see, we're all internet chemist.

 

I talked to several dealers and they all said to change it when the maintenance light comes on. Talked to Acura HQ and they confirmed their factory filled oil does contain break in chemicals just like Honda. Acura said to change the oil if it's over 12 months old. I asked them if there is a way to get some of the factory filled oil with the break in solution in it. They said to talk to my Acura dealer and they should help me out. Talked to dealer again and they said leave it in until the light comes on.

I'll probably do what I did with my Accord. Warm up the car by driving it in the city for 10 miles or so and then start increasing the revs as I accelerate from a stop. I'll keep increasing the revs each time until I get to around redline. I also like to leave it in first, go to 6k RPM, and then get off the gas with it still in gear. I'll probably change the oil after 1k miles. The Accord gets 9-10k miles per oil change and burns pretty much no oil. The oil level on the dip stick is unchanged even after 9k miles on the oil.

 

that vtec tho!

 

can I say "I told you so" ?

 

I'd leave it in for the 1st 1000 and then change it.

 

Do it or don't do it.

Same same different same.

 

There's a real internet chemist called Blackstone labs: Blackstone Labs

To avoid an actual drain, they sell a kit where you can siphon out a sample from the top of the engine. $30 will get you a report on the oil and the level of the active detergents. Unless you're the real curious type, it's probably not worth the trouble. Sounds like the OP has a plan anyway. Instead of a 10 minute warm up period, I'd go for a 20 minute easy cruise to achieve proper warm up which in turn evaporates any moisture and burns off any fuel in the oil.

 

What year and model is your Acura?

 

This reminds me. My car is making a weird whining noise. Check out to this video clip...