Miles To Break-In an xB (automatic)

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Jan 8, 2006 | 05:50 AM

#21

bB2NER

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Music City Scions
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From: West TN - Land of twisty roads

I have to jack up the car a bit to get to it. Yeah, it's just off center to the pass side though.

Jan 8, 2006 | 02:33 PM

#22

ScionPsyche

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From: Bellevue, WA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Max

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScionPsyche

Just what does the oil filter on these cars do? The Toyota oil filter allows visible metal flakes in the oil to just pass through? What do they use for filter media - chicken wire?

It is widely published that Toyota makes some of the best filters around. I am staying with them for the life of the vehicle, and yes, I change my own oil.

[

I was trying to be funny - I only use Toyota filters. I just found it amazing that someone actually had pieces of metal come out in their oil - my first oil change was a little brownish at 3,000 miles, but no metal. I think there is something seriously wrong with any car that has visible metal in the oil.

Jan 8, 2006 | 03:29 PM

#23

xActly

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From: Northern Connecticut

Quote:

Originally Posted by vintage42

Quote:

Originally Posted by xActly

Quote:

Originally Posted by vintage42

That is a problem and you should make an issue with the dealer. There could be trouble down the road.

No that is not a problem. That is normal during break-in and that is why it was good that I changed the oil at 1000 miles. Subsequent oil changes (every 2000 miles) have shown no abnormalities in the amount of engine wear.

Modern engines are closely machined and need minimal break in. Break in wear should consist of polishing the mating surfaces, which produces microscopic wear particles trapped by the filter. Production of flakes of metal indicates a problem that is more than break-in. The reason that flakes of metal are not trapped by the filter is that they are too heavy to circulate with the oil. The question is where they came from. To be safe, I would document the flakes with the dealer, in case something happened after the warranty was up.

Maybe I should have been more specific...when I say "metal flakes", I'm not saying that there are snowflake-size pieces of metal, though I can see how some would take it that way. Sorry for being vague. They were small enough so that I couldn't see them until the sun caught them...tiny little specks of reflection at the bottom of the oil pan. Normal for initial ring-seat & lifter/rocker/cam polish.

Jan 8, 2006 | 11:16 PM

#24

SciontCya

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From: six-two-six

This is the kind of thread that makes me cringe.
I can't even believe some of the BS posted here.
Engines are NOT run 400-600 miles each - nonsense.
Engines DO need to be broken in.
Most of the wear comes in the first few hundred miles.
Don't switch to synth for at least 500 miles - 1k is better, I think.
I strongly suggest using Toyota filters.
Even though they say you can go 5k, 7.5k, and 15k on these new oils, I still do it every 2-3k.

When you look at oil removed during the first break-in change, under a microscope, you can and should see small metal shavings. That's desired for proper mating of hard parts.

Scott