new truck engine break in?

OK, a gazillion ideas on this, but to keep it simple, Did you do anything other than 'normal driving' for your NEW Tacoma Truck?
I drive mine EASY for at least 500 miles to let any 'tight/high' spots wear in instead of 'melt in' [picture a tight spot on a crank or cam lob or bearing journal]. Then I start easing some heavier throttle in lower gears [2nd and 3rd] only for short 3 or 5 second durations, immediately easing off to let any 'tight/hot' spot in wear areas to cool.
At the 1K mile mark I start driving normal around town but still stay out of Over Drive. I'll get some interstate miles soon but will not be towing my boat, a light aluminum 16'/40 hsp/stick steer rig until a few thousand more miles, and then 65mph max.

What think? Overkill? I do believe in 'gentle at first 1K miles, then definately some 'increase in throttle' to get some break in wear as I believe one can be 'too easy' on a new engine, too {after 1 or 2K put on it}.

What's your thinking on engine break in? {I've heard the "get in and floor it on the interstate for an hour" technique....don't believe I like that one"}

 

Well, every engine is broken in from the factory. But it is a good idea to drive your brand new truck easy for a few hundred miles. That's what I did and had no problems.. It's also good to change the oil.

 

I've gotten so many different responses. The guy From the dealership told me like for instance the vvti engines learn the way u drive. So he said he tells people drive it exactly how u would the second u leave the lot.

 

The computer can re learn a new driving style if you simply unplug the battery, then re connect and drive.

 

My manual read dont put the engine under heavy load ( full throttle ) or tow for the first 500 miles.

 

Babying your new engine does nothing for the engine. If anything it keeps the rings from properly seating. The key factor for the first 500 miles is to not drive at a long constant speed (think cruise control on a long road trip), vary the speed constantly with acceleration and deceleration using the engine to brake.

The cams and crank are for the most part pre-broke in from the factory, proper ring seating is the major reason for a break in period as well as just minor deburring and flushing of the engine.

If anything is going to go wrong its usually quite early in the process. After 500 miles your fine driving like normal but I would still avoid heavy towing for a while longer.


By contrast my race engines on my motorcycles are broken in with a couple low throttle pulls on a dyno and then once warm and the basic brake in is complete a half dozen full throttle full load pulls all the way to the rev limiter. That being said, those engines are only expected to last me a year and a few thousand miles before being rebuilt so..

 

I just drove mine normally. I didn't do any heavy towing or hauling but only because I didn't have a reason to.

 

I say drive it like you stole it. No need to break anything in.

 

I'm breaking in mine just by varying the speed (not taking too much highway). Every once in a while I get on it a little bit for a short burst.

Couldn't find anything in the manual other than this:
■

Break-in schedule

If your vehicle is new or equipped with any new power train components

(such as an engine, transmission, differential or wheel bearing), Toyota recommends

that you do not tow a trailer until the vehicle has been driven for

over 500 miles (800 km).

After the vehicle has been driven for over 500 miles (800 km), you can start

towing. However, for the next 500 miles (800 km), drive the vehicle at a

speed of less than 50 mph (80 km/h) when towing a trailer, and avoid full

throttle acceleration.



Here's the 2012 manual in pdf, i just did a search for 'break'.
http://www.toyota.com/owners/web/pa...neportlet_javax.portlet.action=processRequest

 

I drove mine like a grandma till about 1500 miles, then I started getting on it till about 2500miles, now I consider it broken in.

We did this same thing with my wife's 2000 Civic Si. Still on stock motor (and clutch, which she learned to drive stick on) and it has 185,000 miles, no issues, compression is still killer on it.

 

Listen these trucks are not equipped with a race ready motor. If it were than there is a proper break in method. Its a Toyota drive it the way you drive. no need to baby it. Hell if anything goes wrong its under warranty. They are broken in at the factory.
Just my two cents.

 

I took it easy on mine and just drove it like normal. Did my first oil change at about 1K to try and get rid of the metal shavings from the new engine components.

 

Drove it pretty hard for the break-in...I've got 1100km on it now and I'm changing the oil early just being preventative. I like to break my new engines/vehicles in hard to seat everything properly.

 

well, the dealer i purchased from drove my vehicle 200 mi. (had to swap w/ another dealer), before changing hands to me.. so, hopefully they didn't screw anything up since then i've been kinda babying it, no hard accel, just some moderate accel here an there, ...light/mod braking, also a good deal of hwy mi. too (includes commute back/forth to work)

 

You drive less than 2,000 miles a year? You must not do anything during the week!

 

My dealer put a sticker in the windshield stating 5000 miles before my first oil change now that's a break in.

 

did we really need a detailed description of the boat

LOL

 

just be glad I didn't start describing my last fishing outing in it,...with pictures! HA!
Side note: have not tried it yet, but it looks like the tailgate cam will show me exactly how far to back up to the trailer coupling!!! With my previous truck, the Nissan 2000 Frontier 4x4 [more 'extra info' LOL]...I had to get out and back in the driver's seat several times, walking back to see the hitch ball/ trailer coupling alignment!

 

Just drive it normal. I advise not to tow or do any real off roading with it for the first 500 miles. These new engines are pretty much broken in from the factory

 

I've seen multiple people state they change the oil right after they take it off the lot. Is there any real reasoning behind this? Or just something people like to do. I could see changing the oil after the initial 500-1000 mile "break in" Is that more what you're referring to?