Question first oil change.

[ShadowsPapa]

Is there something an owner of a vehicle they drive little can do to make sure their engine and internal parts stay in good condition? I only get about 3k miles on my subaru a year and it's almost always in 500 mile increments.

As long as it's long drives - long enough to get up to normal operating temperature for 20-30 minutes - enough to "boil out" any moisture and allow the oil and filter to do their work it's likely ok. The problem is with shorter drives that allow moisture to stay in the crankcase - never get heated and boiled out, and cause the formations of sludge, etc.
If you drive it long enough that it's at operating temperature for longer periods, it won't be so bad. I've worked on engines where the people lived in town, drove their car or truck to the store (about 15 minutes away) and back and then parked it - some were coked up so badly and bearings literally etched. I recall one where oil got up into the valve covers but couldn't drain back because of the build-up. They complained of valve cover gasket leaks. I pulled a cover and oil went cascading down the side of the engine. I bet there were 2 cups of oil under the valve cover on each side.

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[JT4000]

Hello folks, retired diesel guy here, you want you truck to last for the manufacturers lifespan, use their maintenance cycles. You want to have your truck for a while like I do with my JTRD change filters as often as you can. I run my truck on a 5000km oil change cycle and my first change for "break in" was at 2500km. When I took my truck to the dealer for its dealer first change I was already on oil change number 3. I keep all my old filters in the new filter box and plastic wrap. Mark date and mileage on filter box cover. This gives me an oil sample in the filter if needed down the road. Change your fuel filter earlier as well. Our fuel systems like clean fuel. I think I have the highest mileage truck right now with just under 30,000km. It runs like a top. We have had -20 here many times over the last month and the diesel starts on the first click. Do the math for your maintenance schedules. I get Mopar filters for $90.each up here in Canada and my T6 Rottela is about $100. for two jugs of 5 litres each. Do your own changes and take it to the dealer for key changes. like the first one on their system. Dealers do not key in your changes even when you buy the parts from them, go figure..You bought a diesel, its going to cost you more to run, period and you are not going to get your maintenance costs back with fuel savings. We buy our diesels because they are awesome to drive and even better on the trail. Enjoy and turn your own wrenches. Im almost 70 and still doing my own stuff so you can too.