Rebuilt 5VZ-FE: Oil Change after 500 Miles? - Toyota 4Runner Forum

NinetySeven · 04-09-2024, 01:40 PM

Hi Everyone,

My mechanic recently rebuilt my 1997 SR5 5VZ-FE engine.

My mechanic says they only want to visually inspect my 4Runner after 500 miles. However, I see online that some suggest an oil and filter change after the first 500 miles.

What is the best practice here? I'm happy to save a few bucks, but I also don't mind changing the oil and filter early if that's going to keep my rebuilt engine healthy.

Thanks in advance for your advice!

phattyduck · 04-09-2024, 01:56 PM

500-1000 miles on a rebuilt street engine is good. There's no hard and fast rule. Let the shop do their visual check, then you do a visual (and put a wrench on every bolt you can find to make sure it is tight) and oil change when you can between now and 1k miles.

-Charlie

JZiggy · 04-09-2024, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NinetySeven

Hi Everyone,

My mechanic recently rebuilt my 1997 SR5 5VZ-FE engine.

My mechanic says they only want to visually inspect my 4Runner after 500 miles. However, I see online that some suggest an oil and filter change after the first 500 miles.

What is the best practice here? I'm happy to save a few bucks, but I also don't mind changing the oil and filter early if that's going to keep my rebuilt engine healthy.

Thanks in advance for your advice!

Personally, I would do an early oil change to more quickly get rid of the break-in products that would be in your oil.

You may also want to read up on engine break-in best practices. There are techniques to help ensure the rings seat into the cylinder walls the way they need to.

NachesPass4x4 · 04-09-2024, 02:27 PM

I would for sure change the oil at 500. The two engines I have rebuilt, I used driven br30 break in oil and dumped it at 450. An actual Toyota mechanic I know told me he likes to dump the oil after cam break in, so like 20min run time, then again at 500. The new engine in a way is machining its self as those new parts start working together. You want to get those metal particles and contaminants out of there. This is my understanding anyway, I'm no expert.

19963.4lsr5 · 04-09-2024, 06:38 PM

When I put the fresh engine in my SR5 I heat cycled the engine three times and then dumped the oil and filter. Then again at 500 miles.

During the first 20 miles I did a bunch of 30-60mph accelerations at 3/4 throttle to help seat the rings before all the flashing gets knocked off the fresh cylinder walls.

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Ed_C · 04-09-2024, 07:48 PM

Wouldn't hurt, an early oil/filter change is cheap if you look at the big picture. My brother and I put in a zero-mile rebuilt engine, drove it 90 minutes to the track the following morning, then changed the oil once it cooled down enough

phattyduck · 04-10-2024, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 19963.4lsr5

When I put the fresh engine in my SR5 I heat cycled the engine three times and then dumped the oil and filter. Then again at 500 miles.

During the first 20 miles I did a bunch of 30-60mph accelerations at 3/4 throttle to help seat the rings before all the flashing gets knocked off the fresh cylinder walls.

Mid-RPM coasting (say, keep it in "2" on the auto or 2nd or 3rd in the manual) is just as important for this break-in method. High engine vacuum seats the coast/vacuum side of the rings to minimize oil burning and maximize sealing just as much as the mid-power and rpm accelerations.

That is probably pretty much what I would do if I did a fresh engine though. (and have done with built engines in the past - new cars I wait until 1k for the oil change) Since the OP is already at 500 miles, just do the oil change and check things over closely and move on. Luckily the 5vz isn't some high-strung race motor...

-Charlie

19963.4lsr5 · 04-10-2024, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phattyduck

Mid-RPM coasting (say, keep it in "2" on the auto or 2nd or 3rd in the manual) is just as important for this break-in method. High engine vacuum seats the coast/vacuum side of the rings to minimize oil burning and maximize sealing just as much as the mid-power and rpm accelerations.

That is probably pretty much what I would do if I did a fresh engine though. (and have done with built engines in the past - new cars I wait until 1k for the oil change) Since the OP is already at 500 miles, just do the oil change and check things over closely and move on. Luckily the 5vz isn't some high-strung race motor...

-Charlie

Ever since I ran into the alternative break in site 20 some years ago this is what I’ve been doing.

I should do a compression check now that I have over 30k miles in the new engine.

I know It’s ambiguous, but my ScanGauge HP meter says 220hp.

It is the most frisky 3.4l I’ve driven. And I only have 4.10’s. The limited had 4.30’s.

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gamefreakgc · 04-10-2024, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed_C

Wouldn't hurt, an early oil/filter change is cheap if you look at the big picture. My brother and I put in a zero-mile rebuilt engine, drove it 90 minutes to the track the following morning, then changed the oil once it cooled down enough

This is what I did as well. An oil change is what, $40 and an hour of your time? Or $60 at a shop? I had a junkyard engine that I put in my 4Runner which technically didn't even need a break in period or oil change but if I lodged something loose or there was a bit of metal wear from parts breaking in, did I really want that floating around for another 2500+ miles?

The oil change just prevents anything bad from happening from may be carried in the oil.

phattyduck · 04-11-2024, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gamefreakgc

The oil change just prevents anything bad from happening from may be carried in the oil.

The unspoken thing here is that the oil filter bypass does let oil past in some operating conditions. Despite being called a "full flow" filter, it doesn't always filter 100% of the oil - and the filter medium itself isn't perfect. Getting contamination out of the engine is the only guaranteed way that it won't get stuck in your bearings.

-Charlie

19963.4lsr5 · 04-11-2024, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phattyduck

The unspoken thing here is that the oil filter bypass does let oil past in some operating conditions. Despite being called a "full flow" filter, it doesn't always filter 100% of the oil - and the filter medium itself isn't perfect. Getting contamination out of the engine is the only guaranteed way that it won't get stuck in your bearings.

-Charlie

That’s one of the reasons I heat cycle the engine three times to look for leaks and then dump the oil with the assembly lube and replace the oil filter.

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