Cross-state break in

Cadesun

Cadesun

New member
Hi All

Picking up a new 2020 TRD off road tomorrow to replace my '15TEP that a deer totalled last week. The only one i could find that I liked is in another state so I'm gonna have to drive a couple hundred miles home after purchase. Any tips on breaking in a new vehicle when you have to drive so far at highway speeds right away? Thanks.
 
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Directly from the manual. 2020 Toyota 4Runner Owners Manual and Warranty - Toyota Owners

Breaking in your new Toyota
To extend the life of the vehicle, observing the following precautions is recom-mended:
●For the first 200 miles (300 km):Avoid sudden stops.
●For the first 500 miles (800 km): Do not tow a trailer.
●For the first 1000 miles (1600 km):
• Do not drive at extremely high speeds.
• Avoid sudden acceleration.
• Do not drive continuously in low gears.
• Do not drive at a constant speed for extended periods.

It looks like you're going to have to be a wacko and alternate between 45 and 65 or so on your drive home.
 
Cadesun said:
Hi All

Picking up a new 2020 TRD off road tomorrow to replace my '15TEP that a deer totalled last week. The only one i could find that I liked is in another state so I'm gonna have to drive a couple hundred miles home after purchase. Any tips on breaking in a new vehicle when you have to drive so far at highway speeds right away? Thanks.
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Don't let the deer drive it.....
 
I too had a drive from dealer to home with my new 4R. My unscientific process was to take the back roads rather than freeway, alternate speeds, keep heat down by keeping A/C off.
 
Sonoran Desert is absolutely correct on the proper way to break in a new rig no matter what brand it is, this is advise from some who is older than I car to admit, and have broken in 38 new vehicles of nearly all makes, never had an engine go bad, except in a new Vega which they were bad from the factory to begin with.
 
delloro said:
That's what I did on mine. Bought it in Vegas.
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Same, I bought my Pro a few hundred miles away and just alternated between 45 when no one was around to 70 when I was going to be run over by other people.

I now have 11k and no issues! :)
 
I would drive it around locally where it is picked up, varying speeds for at least 50 miles and then at least change the engine filter if not both the oil and filter before heading for the road trip home.

If that is too inconvenient, then do it when you get home.

There is more wear in an engine the first fe mile than at any other time under normal circumstances.
 
I bought mine in the DC area, drove back to Miami, not much of a choice on the "not keep a constant speed" thing.

Seems all good 60k and 5 1/2 years later.
 
"Breaking in" an engine means seating the rings. You can't do that without putting a load on the engine. When people say "drive it like you stole it" that's what they mean. It won't hurt your new engine to drive it on the highway to your house. But I'd get on it hard once you get home.
 
Mine originated from Hollywood, FL and was driven by a "professional retired LEO" over 700 miles to St. Augustine, FL where I bought it (I am fully aware that is TWICE the actual distance). I never broke it in.

It's fine over 7 years and 120k miles later.
 
We bought ours in Hays, KS on a road trip gone bad and drove it back home to Mt. Pleasant, SC. Went from like 3 miles on the odometer to 1,400 on the first day we owned it. 46k a year and a half later and zero issues.
 
mine had 2km on the odometer. The dealership was located on a ramp to the highway, and I hopped in and drove it home; 1.5 hours. I didn't drive like a douchebag, and 5 years later it's been bulletproof.

I had never had a vehicle with such low mileage on it. I was concerned, but it's a toyota.... which is exactly why I bought it--- I was sick and tired of my nissan's BS reliability. I have had no issues whatsoever. I'm light on the throttle anyway, and I'm sure you will be too.

Don't sweat it. And congrats on the new 4runner! My '15 is going to be replaced soon too. With another 4runner or a GX.

have fun!
 
HoldMyBeer said:
We bought ours in Hays, KS on a road trip gone bad and drove it back home to Mt. Pleasant, SC. Went from like 3 miles on the odometer to 1,400 on the first day we owned it. 46k a year and a half later and zero issues.
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Lol, years ago, ended up stuck in Hays due to a blizzard, had to spend the night in my truck, at least it was a diesel so i could run it and keep me warm.
 
Everyone who has experienced severe premature engine wear or catastrophic failure specifically attributable to improper break-in procedure, please raise your hand.

Thought so.
 
4FL said:
Lol, years ago, ended up stuck in Hays due to a blizzard, had to spend the night in my truck, at least it was a diesel so i could run it and keep me warm.
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Dude. We were stuck for 6 days. My work did a mandatory shut down for a hurricane(that ended up never even touching us) so we used it as an excuse for an impromptu road-trip/vacation to Colorado. Loaded the wife, 2 kids, and 3 dogs into my wife's 2011 Hyundai Sonata and hit the road like a dumbass. 35 miles past Hays the engine shits its guts out at 106,100 miles on the ODO at 11:30pm. Knocking, every engine light, smoke, oil, etc.

We had the car towed to the Toyora dealer in Hays, and bought our 4runner when they opened. Couldn't leave for 5 more days because we couldn't get any company to insure it because our home of record was in the path of the hurricane.

It was quite the adventure to say the least. Ended up driving to Colorado anyways in the dealers loaner 4cyl Patriot with CVO transmission. Getting up Pike's Peak in that was a struggle.:rofl:
 
Just drive it like you normally would. If it's a long interstate drive, take an exit every hour or so. It's going to be fine no matter what you do short of drag-racing it repeatedly for the first few hundred miles.
 
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