break-in procedure before road trip from the dealership to home…

Hi all,
This isn’t my first Toyota truck. But it’s the first time I’ve bought from a dealer 200+ miles away. I know it’s a terrible thing to just get on the highway immediately after purchase. And I’m less concerned about engine break-in and more about the rear diff.

Was thinking about putting a few miles in town for a few 15-20 minute sessions with 30 minute cooldowns between. Then gently hit the highway at 45-50mph for 30 minutes and then pull off for an hour cooldown. Repeat once more and then head home at 50-55mph.

Does that sound about right? I intend to keep this truck for a while so want to get break-in done right. I had an F150 get gear whine at 60k miles…was the only vehicle I took on the highway right from the dealer lot. The truck still went 190k before trade in but gear whine got progressively louder with mileage.

Anyway, expert opinions welcome. Truck is 2023 MT 4x4 OR in Ice Cap.

 

Just drive it, it’ll be alright.
Be prepared for a slight rear axle whine.
Enjoy!

 

Do not drag race the Ferrari next to you. Do not test the 100-0 stopping distance. Leave for later finding out the 1/4 mile max speed.

Enjoy the truck as you would any other day.

 

when this subject comes up, i think about the millions of new rental cars, fleet vehicles, and buyers that give no thought whatsoever to break-in.

i think it is smart to take it easy for the initial 100-200 hundred miles.

i've read where some recommend changing the diff fluid after the first 500 miles. i personally did not do this in my tacoma or any vehicle i purchased prior, and i doubt most others do. other than the tacoma, i never had diff whine in a truck.

i changed the front and rear diff fluids at about 15K miles, and they looked OK. no metal shavings as some report finding. the fluid in the rear was starting to darken, the front still golden in color. btw, i used amsoil SG and it made no difference whatsoever in the noise.

good luck with your new truck and post photos.

 

Do figure 8's in the Walmart parking lot for about an hour. Just kidding, drive the fucking thing home and enjoy your new truck!

 

Just send it. I drove my truck 160 miles from the dealer to home like I'd normally drive it.

 

About the only consistent thing I've heard is to avoid constant speeds for the first 1000 miles. To me, that means RPMs. I figure some hills and lack of cruise control will take care of that. That, and not racing/laboring the engine.

 

From what I gather the guys moving it on and off the transports drive it like they stole it. No incentive to take it slow there, so not like your truck is still a virgin.

Now it is statistically better to drive a few hundred highway miles passing through towns before long interstate driving. However chances are both new trucks will still run the same at 300k miles. Maybe someone could find a difference in CMM inspection but all the other factors over the life probably wash that out.

 

Take the long way home....

 

Drive it like you stole it, it's got a warranty.

 

You can change gears and speed every several miles. The truck can ride on the highway perfectly fine in S-4, S-5 or S-6, so it's not hard to vary rpm.

 

You're thinking of looser tolerance vehicles from the 60's and dino oil from the factory, along with 3k oil changes.

Modern vehicles come with very tight tolerances and synthetic oil and much longer OCIs

You mention the diff. It will be fine. But it might make you feel good to vary your speeds. 200 mile is nothing. But if you take some side roads as well as freeways, you'll mix it up pretty good.

Personally I'd be more interested in bedding the brakes properly, since that is not done at the factory or the dealership. Read up on that, follow the procedure, and enjoy a longer vibration free brake life.

 

None of the take it easy stuff makes sense to me. On Dirtbike engines the acceleration and deceleration(engine braking) is what seats the rings. So you want to accelerate somewhat fast. However you do give a few heat cycles before going crazy with it. With car engines they are much lower rpm’s. So other than doing a heat cycle or two first, I wouldn’t worry taking it on the highway after that.

 

Agreed. Once it's warmed up, a high RPM pull onto the highway once or twice is fine.

 

You are way over thinking this. Just drive it normally and don't redline it for the first 500 miles.

 

the only ones that get babied die an early death!

my first new car, i followed break-in to the letter in the manual from the second i left the dealer. 500 miles after break-in, someone decided stop signs are optional, but i was in their way..

when i got the new replacement for that vehicle, i left the dealer lot banging off the rev limiter and sideways.

 

https://youtu.be/zg6xa2caG-I

 

Thanks all...all good comments and really there is truth to all of them. I find myself lending a 'don't stress too much about it' POV to OPs about issues I have experience with. Now it's funny that I have gotten a little too worried about the minutia of breaking things in.

 

changed my rear diff fluid at 500 miles and i have zero diff whine fwiw. the fluid was filled with metal particles and there was 2-3 mm of metal shavings on the drain plug.