Proper Break In

[Zachary]

I purchased a new 05 4R Sport V8 4x4. Toyota told me to not tow during the first 500 miles. They also told me to drive at various speeds, but they didn't say for how long.

I purchased the truck with 5 miles on it. During that time, I have done all city driving during the first 200 miles, and never drove over 2,000 rpm. Since then, I have driving on the hwy, at various speeds between 50mph up to about 65. Every once and a while I took it to about 70 or so, but even then for just a few seconds. For about 95% of the time the rpms never exceeded 2,000rpm, and the most I ever did was about 3,400 while getting on the hwy.

I know, this may really be babying it, but I don't care. It has about 650 miles on it now. I will be chaning the oil before it hits 1,000 miles, purely as a break-in procedure so that the shavings can be flushed out.

How do you guys break-in your 4Runners?

Zachary

 

[sharp4runr]

I'm pretty sure its in the manual, but I think it was 1000 miles for the break in period.

 

[Jeff Kleb]

Break-In Period


I test-drove my 4Runner as soon as it came off the car carrier; and it only had ONE MILE on it. (Oddly, I thought they tested them at the factory before they left, but perhaps they don't do that any more.) I added about five more miles before I decided to sign the paperwork.

It was the second one I drove, and I decided that it was the one that I wanted to lease - right color, right equipment, etc., etc. When I drove it home for the first time, it had twelve miles on it - probably because the salesman drove it and the staff at the dealership cleaned it up for me.

I drove it fairly easy for at least the first 500 miles and then "got on it" just a few times after that. I was always sure to go easy on the brakes and avoid driving abruptly in cold weather until the engine was warmed up. I changed the oil & filter at 1800 miles, just before going on a long trip to upstate NY back in April.

I changed the oil & filter again at 5100 miles, but put in Mobil-1 synthetic. Again, I took a long trip and now have 7100 miles on it. I'll change the oil & filter once again at about 8500 to 9000 miles.....and I'll continue to use the Mobil-1. Yes, I know I could go a lot longer but I suppose my 'old school' habits die hard. I don't believe in waiting until the oil is pitch black before changing it.


Even though I leased my 4Runner and it is not likely I will keep it after three years, the possibility still exists. Also, I have extensive documentation and records that might help to show a prospective used-car buyer that my 4Runner has been taken care of just a little bit better than most others. Even if I don't keep it, I would be pleased to know that someone else got to enjoy driving it for another 200,000 miles.
:awais:

 

[Zachary]

I'm surprised (but believe) that your 4R only had 1 mile on it when you got it. The papers on my 4R show that it had 4.5 miles when it arrived at the port in Jacksonville, FL. I similarly tend to wonder how a brand new vehicle gets over one mile anyway. I know that driving from the factory line, to the factory parking lot, onto the loading bed and into the boat, etc., etc., should be no more than half a mile, at most. So what gives? I can only imagine that Toyota test drives the vehicles for a little bit before they load them onto the ships. Otherwise, how did my truck come with 4.5miles when it came off the boat?

Zachary

 

[StaffyBull]

I picked up my 05 Sport V8 a few weeks back and it also had 1 mile on it when I drove it off the lot.

 

[jharris2]

How do you guys break-in your 4Runners?

Zachary

First, we use the search button to read this sticky: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=183

Then, we read and follow what's in the owner's manual.