This will be the first brand new car I've ever bought. I've always bought used. Any tips on how to properly break in the car?

 

Drive it....

 

Drive normally, but avoid getting it unto high RPMs for 1000 miles. Don't drive at a constant speed for an extended period of time. Perhaps more importantly, be easy on the brakes for the first few hundred miles.

All this stuff is in the manual when you get it.

 

What Max said.


Also, be sure to change your oil after you hit the first 1000 mile mark.

You WILL see a few metal flakes. It's perfectly normal...and a good idea to remove them.

 

Changing the oil at 1000 miles is a waste of money or a waste of a free oil change from Scion. Engines are now engineered and machined to a greater degree than even a few years ago. Changing it at 1000? I just passed 1100 miles on my xB, and I'm going to wait till 3000. Did it on our Prius and have had no issues.

 

I want to make sure I'm reading this right. Don't drive at higher speeds for extended periods in time, as in, don't take it on any long highway trips.

If thats true, CRAP!! I was hoping to be able to use my box asap but I may have to stick w/ a rental. If I use a rental, it'll sit at home and get no miles.

I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place!

 

Don't drive at any speed for an extended period of time. If you gave to go on a trip, vary your speed and stop somewhat frequently. If you have a manual, switch between 4th and 5th on the highway. It's all about changing the RPMs

 

I know exactly how you feel. We bought my wife's xB two weeks before we took a trip (4 hours each way). I really wanted to take the xB for the extra room, but I know not to drive a brand new engine at a constant highway speed. So we drove my xA on that trip. It did great though. Also, we just took a trip out to Chicago (12 hours each way). For that trip, we did rent a car. I just didn't want the 1700 miles or the wear-n-tear on our new Scions.

 

moved...

 

1) acquire a crow bar or tire iron
2) wedge into door jamb
3) pry door open

or

1) smash window with crow bar or tire iron
2) unlock doors from inside

DRIVE AWAY!!!

 

the dealer told me that the engine already broken in, he also said that they run the engine for 600miles before they put it in the car. dont know if tat true. but yeah .

 

You're entitled to your opinion. Just so we're clear, though, the level of engineering going into engines is going to have to ELIMINATE metal surfaces touching each other if it's to affect the kind of change you're talking about.

The metal flakes in my 1000 mile old, easy-driven oil tell me that your opinion is highly misguided, but whatever.


Oh, and when 4 quarts & an oil filter cost a grand total of 10 bucks, it couldn't possibly be referred to as a 'waste of money'.

 

every 3,000 is a waste of money, IMO. Check your ownerts manual for the correct interval. I bet few people qualify as heavy use and most can go 5K to 7.5K between oil changes. ericsblu_xb is right. Your not running "break-in oil", they've been run and changed before they even got bolted into your car. If it was an issue, Toyota would have everyone coming in to make sure it gets done. Oh yeah, did I mention IMO...

 

Dealer recommended it.

I did it.

Metal flakes were there.

No opinions. Simple facts.

Done.

 

Smartass!!!! lol

 

I gotta be honest...thats what I thought too when I read the topic on this thread

 

I couldn't agree more. It's cheap insurance. The worst that can happen is you're out fifteen bucks for a filter and a gallon of oil. Fresh oil certainly isn't going to hurt.

Personally, I believe in even more frequent changes -- I just changed my oil at 450 miles, I'll do it again at 1000, then at 3000 and start the regular 3000-mile intervals. Better to be safe than sorry.

--mark

 

Cheap oil more often > expensive oil less often

 

my dealer told me nothing about an oil change at 1000 miles but they did tell me about a 1000 mile break in period, i used to work at a chevy dealer and the motors came pre-broken in and your first oil change was at 3700 miles but now i work at a subaru dealer and they recomend a break in period with an oil change at 1000 miles so i guess the smartest thing to do is to call toyota/scion and ask