The break-in procedure is typically outlined in your car manual. Most suggest coming in at 500-1000 miles for your first oil change, and then again at 3000 miles. Up until 3000-5000 miles, you are to keep driving gently, not revving the car, not dumping the clutch, not braking too hard, and so on and so forth. The key thing to remember is that it's not just the engine that's new in a new car, it's everything. The transmission, the brakes, the engine - these are the key parts. Modern machining can produce remarkably accurate parts, but no two are identical and when two gears interact, they work themselves in. Piston rings, which separate the air from the combustion chamber with the oil/air from the crankcase, need to settle, and are unlikely to do so if the car is driven spiritedly. Even after 300 or 500 miles you'd be surprised how much filth is in your oil - tiny metal particles mostly - which needs to be replaced. So, to answer your question, while there is no set standard, if you wish to be as good to your car as you can you should: 1. Change oil at 300 miles. 2. Change oil again at 1000. 3. Change oil at at the scheduled interval (typically 3000/3500 miles.) 4. Drive very gently the first 1000 miles. No racing, no crazy downshifting, no hard braking, no dumping the clutch. 5. Drive normally until your first scheduled oil change (3000/3500 miles), but still refrain from spirited driving. 6. Drive normally from then on.

First, consult your owners manual especially concerning the first oil change since many modern engines come filled with a "break-in" oil to allow new internal parts to fit properly and remove the fine metal particles that result from the natural wearing in process of metal fittings. Generally, avoid stop and go driving and sudden starts and stops. On the highway, stay under 60mph and vary your driving speeds. Don't use the cruise control if your car has that feature.

Vehicle manufacturers do NOT use a break in oil. They have contracts with the large oil companies,and use bulk production oils. Usually 5W30. All the advise was OK,but I have had the best luck driving new vehicles completely normal,or take a long trip of a couple hundred miles. Drain the oil early,before 3K miles. After 5-10K miles start using a full synthetic oil. I prefer Amsoil or Mobil 1. Oil changes at 3K miles are good,but really uneeded with newer engines,and overkill. Today's oil are proven to last much longer than that. Your manual will most likely state 7,500 miles for normal oil change. If using regular oil,I would change at 5,000 miles. If you use a synthetic, like I do, you can stretch them out. I go 20,000 miles,and have no problems,and oil is still in good condition. Not recommended with anything but a top quality synthetic oil,& a top of the line oil filter.

as far as the breakin period hes right but disregard the owners manual recommendations on regular oil changes when you buy oil look at the bottle it will tell you how long it will last, stop just short of that period.