Break-in oil change

geohil

geohil

New member
I'm about ready to do the 1000 mile break-in oil change on my '15 trail. Anyone have any input on oil selection? I know the 4Runner should be full synthetic but will that allow the rings to seat properly? I've always been told the first couple oil changes should be traditional oil....but this breaks the mold. Advice? Brand?

Thanks!
 
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you're going to see a lot of different responses on this one. I've never heard of using traditional oil when it calls for synthetic, though. I believe most of us just go by the maintenance schedule per Toyota (synthetic, every 10k miles...even your first change).
 
Agree with MSinDC. 10,000 mi and synthetic, even the first time around. It really is personal preference, but it's hard to argue with what the manual says.
 
Call me paranoid but even the best manufacturing and assembly process leaves some assembly grease and possible metal fragments that get washed out by the oil. I'll go full synthetic like the FSM says but I'm thinking a quick oil change is cheap insurance. Mobile 1 it is.
 
But, in the process, you're oping up a closed system, allowing in dirt and particulates.

I'd just go with what the manual says. I haven't heard of any issues with these engines, that wasn't self induced. Also, following your manual to a T exposes you to the least liability in the event of a warranty claim.

Now sit back and enjoy the show that follows. I'm sure we'll seeing this thread explode over the next few days.:popcorn::popcorn::popcorn:
 
You can certainly observe Toyota maintenance protocol regarding LOF. Myself, being an over-cautious 'ole timer' with OCD, scheduled my first (free) oil change at 3,000 mi (Toyota synthetic) to rid the crankcase of any suspected 'Break-in metal by-product' in that oil, as they say: An ounce of prevention... :nerd:

Cheers
 
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This has been discussed here before, the oil in your T4R is not break-in oil.
Your engine was run prior to installing in your truck. Read your manual, period.
Use what it recommends at the interval recommended.
Do you think Toyota would tell you to go 10,000 miles on your first oil change if it was not engineered for it or tested thoroughly? I don't think so.

If you think you need to change it at 1K, go ahead.

Its your truck, so put whatever oil you think it should have, but when you have to take it in for warranty because of an oil related failure because you didn't use the recommended oil, don't complain. And be sure to let them know, you knew best!

I wanna buy a ticket to this! :nicethread::pop2:

just sayin'
 
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geohil said:
Call me paranoid but even the best manufacturing and assembly process leaves some assembly grease and possible metal fragments that get washed out by the oil. I'll go full synthetic like the FSM says but I'm thinking a quick oil change is cheap insurance. Mobile 1 it is.
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This is not 1997. There is no break in oil in there. Your engine was filled, tested, ran, drained and refilled before it ever left the plant in Japan. There are several here (search for topic) that have sampled their oil since day 1 and the results all come back the same.... no issues. Change it at 10K like the guys who designed it said to.
 
I just did my first 10k in my 4runner as well as my wife's Camry. The oil in both still looked pretty good. Better than I've seen conventional oil look at 5k or even 3k miles in my past vehicles and I never had issues with those vehicles. I honestly would not be too concerned about following the 10k mile intervals.
 
1997 was a very good year!
Fine. I'll join the heard and follow my manual. :yield:
I'll use the money I would have spent to change the oil 3 time in my 1997. Honor thy warranty at all costs.....but 10K! Man I'm too old-school for this!
No fun not getting to play with the new one.

Tough crowed over here.
 
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Change your oil whenever you want to, but don't pretend you're making any sort of difference by changing it abnormally early.
 
Weird, my dealer scheduled me for a 5k oil change the day I took mine home. Any reason the T4R collective can deduce as to why?
 
mc813 said:
Weird, my dealer scheduled me for a 5k oil change the day I took mine home. Any reason the T4R collective can deduce as to why?
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Well you do have to go in for your tire rotation and "multi point" inspection... Just confirm that they aren't actually changing any fluids.

They did the same for me, but when I showed up, the Service manager confirmed to me it was just rotate and inspect. No fluids.
 
mc813 said:
Weird, my dealer scheduled me for a 5k oil change the day I took mine home. Any reason the T4R collective can deduce as to why?
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I just had my '14 LE oil changed at 5K. My reason? TOYOTA pays for 2 yrs maintenance and I'm sitting at 1 year old.
 
0w20 is the only oil you should ever use in the 5th Gen T4R. It ONLY comes in synthetic. Follow 10k oil changes or 1 year per owners manual.
 
Engines are run on a dyno before they're shipped to/installed in a vehicle these days, it's actually cool to see how the factory works (got to tour NUMMI once, though they get their engines shipped from another Toyota supplier)If you watch "How it's Made," or some videos of factories online you'll see they have this neat machine that can quickly hook-up to an engine and run it real quick to verify that it is correctly built; then it's drained and filled with oil.

Should be 5k Tire Rotation/Inspection service, 10k Oil Change for the free TAC services.
 
BlackWorksInc said:
Engines are run on a dyno before they're shipped to/installed in a vehicle these days, it's actually cool to see how the factory works (got to tour NUMMI once, though they get their engines shipped from another Toyota supplier)If you watch "How it's Made," or some videos of factories online you'll see they have this neat machine that can quickly hook-up to an engine and run it real quick to verify that it is correctly built; then it's drained and filled with oil.

Should be 5k Tire Rotation/Inspection service, 10k Oil Change for the free TAC services.
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Ah thanks, that's probably what it is then.
 
BlackWorksInc said:
Engines are run on a dyno before they're shipped to/installed in a vehicle these days, it's actually cool to see how the factory works (got to tour NUMMI once, though they get their engines shipped from another Toyota supplier)If you watch "How it's Made," or some videos of factories online you'll see they have this neat machine that can quickly hook-up to an engine and run it real quick to verify that it is correctly built; then it's drained and filled with oil.
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I believe all engines are cold run (spun without fuel), but not necessarily hot run (typical engine dyno setup). During the downturn, some plants were running every engine on the dyno, but stopped once production picked back up. So, the oil at 10k may be the oil the first filled it with at the engine plant. Depends on where exactly it was made. Not sure what the case is for the 1GR-FE's made at Tahara.
 
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