Does Toyota Use Special "Break-In" Oil?

But that’s internal lubricant.

i think virgin break in oil should be around -10w 0? What you think??

 

So I'm just another internet opinion worth exactly what you're paying to read this, but there's an auto maintenance genius by the name of Mike Miller who writes a column about BMW maintenance in a few mags. I read his column in Roundel, the BMW club magazine (note: I have been driving a taco for 8 years now since I last had a BMW - I still get the mag though just to read MM). I'm going to channel his writings here, just briefly.

New engines, transmissions (preferably manual), differentials, 4WD transfer case, all have a break-in period. Tolerances and quality are immensely better today than in the past, but new drivetrain components will ALWAYS have a break-in period. You can measure this - power output is not at full potential, and fuel economy lags until everything is broken in. The process of breaking in mechanical parts & pieces will result in bits and pieces of metal and other debris, as sure as the sun rises every morning.

Today's manufacturer's maintenance schedules are written by the marketing department. Yes, synthetic oils last much longer, but to go 10-15k or even longer before draining your engine oil for the very first time is not something any engineer or good mechanic would ever recommend. Mike has what he calls an "old school" maintenance schedule (anyone can email him and request a copy, mark my word he'll reply back within 24 hours). Engine, transmission and diff get a break-in change at 2k, then engine every 5k and trans/diff/4WD every 30k. Take your pick of favorite engine oils, but stick with one brand. Changing brands (i.e. chemical formulas) is not recommended (I don't know why, just what he says). Redline synthetic is the #1 choice for transmission (manuals - for slushboxes always use the manufacturer recommended brand) and diff/4WD components. Note that type of Redline diff oil is different for a locking diff.

That's it. Do it, don't do it, whatever. If you don't care, like 99/100 car/truck owners out there, don't bother. If you are picky about this sort of stuff, go "old school"!!!

So back to me, I've done this on my '10 G2 and at 190k now my engine burns a half quart of oil (0-20, the thinnest s*** out there!) after every 7,500 miles, and my manual trans still shifts as smooth as butter. The first diff oil change I did had a TON of metal shavings stuck to the drain plug, the 2nd had a little bit, after that no visible shavings at all anymore. I do admit to going 7,500 instead of 5,000 on the engine - this is a taco, not some super-high performance German marvel of engineering.

 

my bmw manual says to change the oil every 15,000... No way I've ever waited that long. Even waiting til 10k seems insane... 7,500 sounds better but idk i'd feel better doing it ever 5k

 

While I have nothing to refute this and I'm also just another guy on the internet....this would surprise me. Only because the manufacturer has to support the vehicle under warranty. If the engineers didn't agree that the product would function without issue, at least over the warranty period, at those intervals I can't imagine the manufacturer would just assume that risk. Anyway, debatable topic, just thought that was an interesting lead in for Mike's advice.

That being said, I don't disagree with Mike's 'old school' approach and even follow something very similar myself.

 

Our long gone 2001 saab and 2001 volvo both were high pressure turbos and had 10k intervals.

 

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Toyota free oil change...is all about $$$$$$$$$$$$$
Is your truck, change it any time you want.
I change mine every 8-10K with AMSoil 5W-30.
Is my truck and do as I please, when I please, where I please, how I please, whenever I please, with whoever I please...crap, TOO much detail.

 

There may not be enough moly in there...

 

Thanks for this response. I definitely lean towards playing on the safe side, and will plan on following something like this. However, it does lead to a question: The Tacoma OM literally doesn't say to change the diff fluid (unless i just missed it in which case please tell me when it says to change). I've heard that Tacoma owners were told that it never has to be changed. Does this mean that if I ask a dealership to change it, they won't? Or should I just try and find out? Thanks again!

 

I’m getting my oil changed as I write this from the Dealer on this Toyota Care @ 7500 miles . Including tire rotation etc . They said you can get your two oil changes WHENEVER u want . So smt to think about ....... I doubt I’ll have em do the second one . I missed the 5k check fyi

 

That's a very frequent comment MM makes, the "marketing department" thing. It relates much more to BMW's than Toyota's. BMW used to have a maintenance schedule that would scare the crap out of anyone from wanting to own such expensive cars. Break-in service was much more than just drain/flush oils - adjust this, torque that, plus stuff like annual brake/clutch fluids, coolant, fuel/air filters, bushings, belts, on and on and on. If you can ever find such a schedule on say a 70's 2002, you'd see what I mean. By the 90's, BMW had a well deserved reputation for being ungodly expensive cars to maintain and repair. Then voila, BMW rolls out "free maintenance". Since then, the "maintenance schedule" thinned out to practically nothing. For most, it means 2 "free" oil changes before the warranty runs out. Sounds good to customers though, especially if you are leasing.

Manufacturers have very little to lose by this. Failing to change your oil means you'll run into expensive problems at 100k, long after the warranty expires, and when the car is on it's 3rd or more owner. Used to be, cars like Mercedes and to some extent BMW could last nearly forever if properly maintained. Now, they are so full of cheap plastic crap parts, and so packed with electronic gizmo's that are stone cold obsolete and unrepairable after 5-8 years, the last thing anyone's worried about are piston rings or crankshaft bearings going bad for lack of oil changes. Toyota's are a different animal, in that they are designed to be durable and dependable, not high performance, but the basic point is the same. By the time you start having problems resulting from insanely long oil change intervals, the warranty is ancient history.

 

During the 5000 mile Toyotacare maintenance, I paid for an oil change. Got the free one at 10,000 miles. So, the first two oil changes were both done at 5000 miles. Now, I will go to the recommended 10,000 mile intervals. Did I need to have the oil changed so early ? Probably not.

But, to answer your question: I do not believe that Toyota ships Tacomas with special break-in oil in the crankcase. Modern, new engines are broken in at the factory.

So, why did I change the oil at 5000 miles ? Just as an added, (probably unnecessary), precaution.

 

I use used peanut oil from 5 Guys. It’s amazing how many dogs follow me around.

 

Ha! Another Mike Miller sore spot!! I'm again going to repeat again what he says over and over, in my words.

The trend is to claim that components such as differentials now (all of a sudden!!) have "lifetime" fluids. A lot of cars (BMW included) don't even put a drain bolt in the diff anymore. Basically, that means that when the component inevitably fails, well then it's reached the end of it's service life. What's missing from this talking point is that because of lack of regular maintenance, that component will now (statistically speaking) fail much earlier than it should have. So, a differential that burns up at 120k might have gone 200k or more with regular maintenance. They did not start making diffs out of materials that don't wear; it's the same old guts inside them. This is "marketing", not engineering.

And again, most people buying new cars probably don't have the slightest clue about any of this, and could not possibly care less. What matters is the "magic"... less trips to and hassles from that awful service department!

It's weirdo's like me that buy new cars and want to get 250k reliable miles out of them that are interested in this kind of stuff.

 

I think it's great that you change it early, and even greater that you use Amsoil (In my opinion), but why in gods earth would you go against the engineered recommended weight, and use 5W-30?

 

I missed this last bit in my previous response, sorry. I don't know what they would tell you, but I will say that changing the diff oil on a taco is crazy simple. You unscrew the drain bolt, then the fill bolt. Let the fluid drain, put the drain bolt back in, then add fluid until it starts seeping out the fill bolt. You can literally train a gorilla to do it - if I can do it myself, anyone can. Ditto for a manual transmission.

If they refuse to do it, or want to charge a ton, find a good independent mechanic. The last BMW I owned, I did ask the dealer about changing the diff and manual transmission fluids. They first looked at me like I had 2 heads, then spent way too much time looking the job up in the computer. Then the guy quoted me an insane price, like $600. So after reading Mike Miller for as long as I have, I bought the proper fluids from Redline online (about $100 worth of stuff) and had an indy BMW guy in town do the work for another $50 or so. The nice thing about a taco is you can get underneath without a lift and do it yourself as easy as can be.

 

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- Because the auto engineers are morons, stupid, idiots, brain dead, (can not think of any more compliments) and I know it all. Ha .
- Because AZ and not AK.
If you look at both 0W-20 and 5W-30 in a glass, both are almost identical. Have used 5/30 in all autos I have own and like it.
- 5/30 tastes better than 0/20.
Take your pick.
( I have a friend that builds high end engines for the road racers you see on TV and confirmed that for the engine we have 5/30 is a better choice. The 0/20 is for CAFE and EPA ratings. Have used 5/30 since I got the taco, is lifted with bigger tires and still get 20MPG in combined driving. No problems so far, why change it?)

 

Interesting story about oil changes,

Back when I had my 1st gen I changed my oil every 5000 miles with synthetic and gave it to my buddy, he would run it for another 5000 miles.

He drove a lot more than I did, so he got free oil about every 2-3 oil changes. His truck lasted to 440,000 miles on original 3.4L engine when he sold it.

 

Your motor ain't blowing blue smoke out the tail pipe is it? LOL

 

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No blue smoke out the end hole 'cause is a PRO. It runs on GOOD WILL.

 

O.K. Just checking