Are you supposed to do an oil change when you buy a new car?

[soap_hand]

I've seen this advised a few times here. I have not done this at all. In fact I don't think I've changed my oil once on any car at all. Am I at a disadvantage by not doing so, especially directly after car is purchased? Even when racing online? Does car wear, mileage and those things affect online races?

 

[HBR-Roadhog]

Well, you will get more hp out of the car after an oil change, even when new. This has always been the case in all the Gt versions I have played to date. After about 150-200 miles or so you will need to change it again. I generally build my cars to a specific PP after changing the oil. When the PP starts to drop that means it is time for an oil change.

On a new car this should be the first thing you do as you will not get full hp until you put new oil in it. If you build it up to say 500PP without changing the oil then drive it a while the pp will start to drop then you change the oil and it will go over 500pp and you will need to remove parts or use the power limiter to bring it back down.

Yes it effects online racing, just pay attention to the HP on a car you drive a lot and you will see

 

[iainoflo85]

There is no rule that states that you MUST change the oil in a new car.

There is no requirement either, a lot of tuners on here don't change oil, others do.

I think if you can tune to a set PP without changing oil then don't bother, but if you're slightly short without it or a tune suggests it then it's your choice.

I personally don't bother because it just wears off after about 2-300 miles, whereas stock oil lasts for a few thousand miles.

 

[Lawndart]

In short, yes. Or your car will forever be slightly less powerful than it could be.

Its a strange "GT'isum", never really explained or logical.

 

[Super1600]

In short, yes. Or your car will forever be slightly less powerful than it could be.

Its a strange "GT'isum", never really explained or logical.

The oil could be stagnant from sitting in the dealership and doing nothing, it could have lost some of the lubricant properties, increasing the friction loss of the engine.

 

[Lawndart]

The oil could be stagnant from sitting in the dealership and doing nothing, it could have lost some of the lubricant properties, increasing the friction loss of the engine.

Or it could be water...

Oil doesn't loose shelf life that quick... The logic is that its high grade synthetic oil, and that it enables the "parts" to move more smoothly. But it's very unrealistic as that doesn't increase HP and definitely only if you have never driven the car before... As GT almost forces you to do it.

Cars do improve when they break in and the ecu auto adjusts the valves (10 years ago you needed a new car service) but that's normal as was in fact simulated in GT 5.

 

[zargdin]

In short, yes. Or your car will forever be slightly less powerful than it could be.

Its a strange "GT'isum", never really explained or logical.

Just to go slightly off topic, there's another strange "GT'uism" I have never understood - lots of Japanese cars (Skylines, Lancers, etc) display a hp of 276 (or maybe it's 274) in the dealers. But once bought this can jump to over 300 hp, (and then a further 15 to 20 hp, after an oil change)

 

[Super1600]

@zargdin
IIRC it was some sort of agreement between the manufacturers to not to go over that number.

 

[Lawndart]

Just to go slightly off topic, there's another strange "GT'uism" I have never understood - lots of Japanese cars (Skylines, Lancers, etc) display a hp of 276 (or maybe it's 274) in the dealers. But once bought this can jump to over 300 hp, (and then a further 15 to 20 hp, after an oil change)

That "isum" is actually quite authentic... The sports car market in Japan is limited to 276hp, its part of their emission regulations.

But once you own the car there a very simple things you can do to boost it to a level more inline with comparable models sold in other countries.

But it's still weird to have any reference of this in GT.

 

[Vegard]

That "isum" is actually quite authentic... The sports car market in Japan is was limited to 276hp, its part of their emission regulations a gentlemans agreement.

But once you own the car there a very simple things you can do to boost it to a level more inline with comparable models sold in other countries you can see how badly most manufacturers cheated.

Fixed that for you.

 

[JLG_GT]

Its there for a reason. Would you never change your oil in your car, nevermind something you race with?

In GT6 it will maximize your cars potential. You can find other ways to change PP, I am starting to think chassis restore may be nice to do at the same time. When its time to do those things after you have driven your car so many hundred miles (which is scaled in GT the amount of time the oil condition fades) your car/tune will not be consistent. I guess you could just buy a new car and repeat.

If you are using the car short term however (seasonal, single event, etc...) it can be an advantage to not change it.

 

[FastGT23]

Well you will initially gain hp with oil change. But the break-in stuff you don't have to do anymore. Feel free to test it I have already. Buy two cars oil change one. Break in other car then oil change. They will both have same hp numbers

 

[grog]

When you do change the oil it states that its a special synthetic blend or something to that effect, in short its trying to replicate a "high performance oil".

 

[Super1600]

Well you will initially gain hp with oil change. But the break-in stuff you don't have to do anymore. Feel free to test it I have already. Buy two cars oil change one. Break in other car then oil change. They will both have same hp numbers

Aaaah, so it's because the 'nice guys' in GTAuto break the car in for you, I bet they reset the odometer so you don't notice
Those jerks.

 

[Hastatus]

My view is this:
- All cars from the dealership come with new OEM oil.
- The OEM oil doesn't need to be changed for thousands of miles: i.e. it doesn't stop protecting your engine for thousands of miles.
- The oil change you get at GT Auto is high-performance racing oil.
- The high-performance racing oil gives you a temporary boost in performance for a few races.
- Once the high-performance oil stops working you essentially are <magically> back to OEM oil.

 

[Lawndart]

Fixed that for you.

LOL - Ok, my knowledge on the matter is now updated

 

[NixxxoN]

My view is this:
- All cars from the dealership come with new OEM oil.
- The OEM oil doesn't need to be changed for thousands of miles: i.e. it doesn't stop protecting your engine for thousands of miles.
- The oil change you get at GT Auto is high-performance racing oil.
- The high-performance racing oil gives you a temporary boost in performance for a few races.
- Once the high-performance oil stops working you essentially are <magically> back to OEM oil.

OEM oil (Standard) vs GT Auto oil (Premium) thats it

 

[Vegard]

My view is this:
- All cars from the dealership come with new OEM oil.
- The OEM oil doesn't need to be changed for thousands of miles: i.e. it doesn't stop protecting your engine for thousands of miles.
- The oil change you get at GT Auto is high-performance racing oil.
- The high-performance racing oil gives you a temporary boost in performance for a few races.
- Once the high-performance oil stops working you essentially are <magically> back to OEM oil.

It's a nice theory, too bad it's wrong.
Even if you don't change the oil, after ~300km the oil light comes on and you start losing power.

 

[Lawndart]

OEM oil (Standard) vs GT Auto oil (Premium) thats it

If only a premium car wash could clean the standard from standard cars...

 

[FishHunters]

Motor City Hami - one of the best tuners says Yes & NO. Yes if its a car you are going to use a lot. No, if you're not going to use it beyond the next required oil change; for things like a seasonal one and done. That's because the HP/PP ratio increases with an oil change. You loose HP. For example. A car might be 300hp/500pp before an oil change. After it is 302hp & 505pp. You just lost 3hp.

 

[FishHunters]

There is no rule that states that you MUST change the oil in a new car.

There is no requirement either, a lot of tuners on here don't change oil, others do.

I think if you can tune to a set PP without changing oil then don't bother, but if you're slightly short without it or a tune suggests it then it's your choice.

I personally don't bother because it just wears off after about 2-300 miles, whereas stock oil lasts for a few thousand miles.

If you're tuning a car you plan on using a lot definitely change the oil. Once you have to change the oil to maintain performance and you didn't do it before the tune; it will screw up your tune.

 

[Flaren89]

The thing is simple:

- For 250cr u get +5% hp;
- Before or later you will need to change it because of exhaustion of the stock oil, so after X km/miles you will put this high-performance oil in your engine.

So: do it.

 

[Hastatus]

It's a nice theory, too bad it's wrong.
Even if you don't change the oil, after ~300km the oil light comes on and you start losing power.

<-- These guys are all invited to this party:

It would be a nice theory if my view was not literally based on first hand observation with my own eyes:

I have only ever done 1 oil change so far and have over 86 hours driven.

My 1 oil change was on a NASCAR car with over 1800 miles driven and the oil was "in good condition" and HP had not dropped from new stock levels.

I just looked at some of my other cars' stats currently:
AMG VGT - 1,050 miles - "Oil is in good condition" and HP has not dropped.
Quattro S1 Pikes PEak '87 - 777 miles - "Oil is in good condition" and HP has not dropped.
Red Bull Junior - 724 miles - "Oil is in good condition" and HP has not dropped.
Corvette Stingray Racer Concept '59 - 338 miles - "Oil is in good condition" and HP has not dropped.

I have not yet seen the oil indicator come on yet for any car.

I have only ever seen the GT-Auto performance boost drop back to normal after a few races and there was no oil indicator telling me the car needed an oil change.

Challenge to anyone: find a picture of the GT Auto Oil Light indicator that has turned orange, yet alone red with the lowest mileage you can.

As far as I'm concerned oil changes are the biggest waste of time. I'd rather drive a car stock without the temporary 5% HP boost than waste time always worrying about oil changes every few races. As far as I can tell tunes should be built around the stock oil because that level never fluctuates for really long periods of time: it might even be 3000 miles like it was in real life back in the 60s before longer lasting oils of today.

Personally I have suspected that the Oil change indicator and the Body Rigidity indicators were accidentally swapped by PD...but that's a discussion for another day.

 

[Vegard]

The thing is simple:

- For 250cr u get +5% hp;
- Before or later you will need to change it because of exhaustion of the stock oil, so after X km/miles you will put this high-performance oil in your engine.

So: do it.

Or, run the car until the oil is dirty, then tune it to meet your desired PP level.
This way you don't have to worry about changing the oil all the time.
Very useful if you are doing long races, as the power won't start dropping until the engine needs a rebuild.
Also saves the trouble of having to leave a lobby for a visit to GT Auto when online racing.

 

[Vegard]

I have not yet seen the oil indicator come on yet for any car.

That's certainly strange.
Has it changed with 1.03 perhaps?

It could be that you're right about the body rigidity/oil change mix up, that seems very wrong.

It will probably be patched back to GT5-mode though.

Edit: apologies for jumping to conclusions.

 

[MrWednesday]

My view is this:
- All cars from the dealership come with new OEM oil.
- The OEM oil doesn't need to be changed for thousands of miles: i.e. it doesn't stop protecting your engine for thousands of miles.
- The oil change you get at GT Auto is high-performance racing oil.
- The high-performance racing oil gives you a temporary boost in performance for a few races.
- Once the high-performance oil stops working you essentially are <magically> back to OEM oil.

But this isn't based on anything realistic. Racing oil is special because of its resistance to breaking down in more extreme conditions, and sometimes because of particular wear additives that are no longer allowed in road-use oils e.g. ZDDP, not because it magically boosts performance (despite being at the same viscosity).

 

[grog]

No, High performance oil in fact extracts extra power due to it viscosity creating less drag on the engine. Now in GT6 its pretty exagerated, but it its based on the real world behavior.

For those having trouble understanding this you can liken it to turning off the air conditioning in a way.


More Info:

1. Switch to Synthetic Lubricants
This one draws a big sigh because it seems pointless. However, synthetic lubricants are great friction reducers and engine savers. Because they reduce or eliminate friction, they help engines live longer. And there's more: Synthetic lubricants create a better oil wedge between moving parts better than conventional oils. They don't break down in high-heat, high-stress situations, which is why you see them used a lot in performance applications. They also offer excellent cold weather performance. Conventional engine oil begins to break down at 260 degrees F. Synthetic keeps going at 300+ degrees F. Truth is, if your engine's oil temperature is 260 to 300 degrees F, you have greater problems than which oil to choose.

Take conventional engine oil and rub it between your fingertips. Then, try this with synthetic and feel the slip-slide difference. There's less friction with synthetics. Even if using synthetics frees up 1-2 horsepower and comparable torque, that's 1-2 more than you had before, and it all adds up.

Found here

 

[CSLACR]

If you don't change the oil in GT6, nothing happens for a long time, at least 526.1 miles without power loss.

No, High performance oil in fact extracts extra power due to it viscosity creating less drag on the engine. Now in GT6 its pretty exagerated, but it its based on the real world behavior.

For those having trouble understanding this you can liken it to turning off the air conditioning in a way.


More Info:


Found here

Except that many cars today come with synthetic oil from the factory.

Let alone 5%.
I want to see the dyno where cars gain 20-40 horsepower by changing oil. (over perfectly good brand-new oil)

You might gain 1% in reality, and that's only if it's a car that doesn't come with synthetic in the first place.

 

[backnfourth]

An oil change is one of the least efficient HP/PP upgrades for practically every car. If you are building your car to a certain PP level, do not change the oil, you are better off using more efficient performance parts. If you use the power limiter to some degree to get to some PP level, just bump the limiter up as the stock oil degrades. And if that runs out, change the oil then, or buy a new car.
If you are just maxing everything out, then of course change the oil.

 

[Dutchyfutch]

Aaaah, so it's because the 'nice guys' in GTAuto break the car in for you, I bet they reset the odometer so you don't notice
Those jerks.

LOOL