1. Welcome to 4Runners.com!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all 4Runner discussion topics
    • Transfer over your build thread from a different forum to this one
    • Communicate privately with other 4Runner owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Breaking in new engine and drivetrain?

Discussion in '5th Gen 4Runners (2010-2024)' started by Run4runnerRun, Feb 3, 2021.

  1. Feb 3, 2021 at 10:51 PM
    #1
    Run4runnerRun

    Run4runnerRun [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 16, 2021
    Member:
    #19163
    Messages:
    2
    Gender:
    Male
    About to buy a 2021 Off-road.

    Anything to do in the first few thousand miles? Ie drive partially in 4wD, use 4WD-L for a certain number of miles etc..

    I’m going 4 runner becuase I want a car that will last and last. (With maintenance of course)

    I wanna break it in the “right way”. I will be buying in another state so it will have a long drive home, one on which I can help it settle in nicely. Highway miles etc, but if I’m gonna drive 1000 miles, mind as well put them to good use.
     
    Thatbassguy likes this.
  2. Feb 3, 2021 at 11:02 PM
    #2
    thirdyota

    thirdyota shouldn't be trusted

    Joined:
    Mar 22, 2017
    Member:
    #3748
    Messages:
    507
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Brian
    Cincinnati, OH
    Vehicle:
    2017 T4R TRD Off Road Premium
    Toyota's recommended break in procedure can be found in the owners manual. I'd suggest finding that section in the manual and reading it before you drive your new 4Runner home.

    Congratulations on the new ride!
     
    DRobs, Thatbassguy and koukimonster like this.
  3. Feb 4, 2021 at 12:38 AM
    #3
    jimmycapo

    jimmycapo New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2021
    Member:
    #19551
    Messages:
    2
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2021 TRD PRO (white)
    Immediately take it to the rugged most location and haul ass lol j/k but you def will want to lol
    Just got my 2021 Pro, thing is a beast first couple hundred I just took at easy cruisin. Almost to 1000 miles prolly Gunna get crazy soon good luck brother your gunna love the truck !
     
    Thatbassguy likes this.
  4. Feb 4, 2021 at 2:03 AM
    #4
    ElectroBoy

    ElectroBoy Ad astra

    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2020
    Member:
    #15823
    Messages:
    1,939
    Gender:
    Male
    Bay Area, CA
    Vehicle:
    2018 ORP
    The break-in advice pertains mainly to the engine, to drive it somewhat gently, with varying engine speeds, for something like the first 500 miles. So avoid putting it on cruise control at 80 MPH on the highway for hours at a time. Get off the highway every couple of hours, drive around the town to get gas, stop and go, take a bathroom break. Ease back into the highway and drive on, vary your speed. Some folks like to change the oil after the first 1000 miles. Some change it at 3000 or 5000. It’s advisable to learn to do it yourself, too many dealer horror stories.

    Drive train advice is to exercise the 4WD every month. Drive for about 10 miles in 4HI on a straight section, gentle turns only. I don’t do this all at once. I’ll pop it into 4HI for a few miles on straight sections of road. And around town for a few straight blocks at a time, several times a day. Then once in a while get it into 4LO in a parking lot. But if you’re in snow country or on dirt roads frequently, put it in 4HI and drive!
     
    Last edited: Feb 5, 2021
  5. Feb 5, 2021 at 8:23 AM
    #5
    koukimonster

    koukimonster DYNO4

    Joined:
    Aug 4, 2020
    Member:
    #15907
    Messages:
    839
    Appalachia
    Vehicle:
    Midnight Venture
    Bigger A/T LT Tires, Slight Lift, Sliders, Rack, Lights, etc.
    ^ This.
     
    Thatbassguy likes this.
  6. Feb 5, 2021 at 3:40 PM
    #6
    Thatbassguy

    Thatbassguy New member? Really??

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2019
    Member:
    #9314
    Messages:
    12,420
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    James
    S/E Wisconsin
    Vehicle:
    2019 TRDORP, KDSS, MGM
    RSG sliders, Yakima offgrid basket, Pro-Comp wheels, SOS Streamline bumper and skids, Warn VR EVO10S winch + Ultimate Sidewinder, Bilstein 6112 + 5100 + rear lift coils, Rigid Dually SS ditch lights w/Caliraised brackets and OEM style dash switch
    Here's what the 2019 manual says. I imagine it's the same for '21.

    sketch-1612568399997.jpg
     
  7. Feb 5, 2021 at 7:29 PM
    #7
    redneckj

    redneckj New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2019
    Member:
    #8470
    Messages:
    115
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2018 TRD Off Road 4Runner
    working on it
    Drive it. Enjoy it. Change the oil according to your manual. Shampoo, rinse, repeat.
     
  8. Feb 5, 2021 at 8:17 PM
    #8
    gunsnob

    gunsnob New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 29, 2019
    Member:
    #9708
    Messages:
    1,288
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Vince
    Vehicle:
    2019 4Runner TRD ORP
    Kings Shocks, SPC UCA’s, Method MR702 rims, Toyo AT III’s in 285/70/17, Gobi Roof Rack, various Baja Designs lights.
    Well, I just drove it and didn't worry about anything. I am still driving it today with zero issues.
     
    408Gunner, mrmike7189 and Thatbassguy like this.
  9. Feb 6, 2021 at 5:01 AM
    #9
    auspilot

    auspilot Old Member

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2020
    Member:
    #18236
    Messages:
    139
    Gender:
    Male
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2020 TRD OR
    Dobs IMS, lots of small stuff
    I wish the manual was a little more specific. When I was driving my new 4Runner I wondered what is an "extremely high speed"? Is it 80mph on the highway? Because that could happen every day. Or would it have to be over 100mph? And how long is an "extended period"? Did I push it by driving home with the new truck on the highway for 1 hour? Is 4 hours extended? Some actual numbers would be helpful.
     
  10. Feb 6, 2021 at 12:02 PM
    #10
    Starr

    Starr Life Off the Road, off the Grid

    Joined:
    Mar 15, 2020
    Member:
    #13542
    Messages:
    253
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jonathan
    SouthEast Maui
    Vehicle:
    Tacoma 3rd Gen 2017 quicksand TRD OR, T4R 5th Gen TRD ORP silver , Tundra 2000 TRD OR silver, Deere 5300 4wd, Wrangler 1994 ARB air lockers, 1998 BMW R100RTL.
    KDSS, Baja Sport amber fogs, PRO Black wheels, BFG KO2's
    Drive it smoothly, moderately and use everything available regularly. As it breaks in, gradually push it harder for short periods. Let it warm up a bit when you start it, do maintenance and it will be your friend.
     
    a47chuck and Thatbassguy like this.
  11. Sep 28, 2021 at 3:44 AM
    #11
    ecoterragaia

    ecoterragaia New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2021
    Member:
    #22484
    Messages:
    278
    Gender:
    Male
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2021 SR5 4WD
    I am wondering the same thing. I just picked mine up on Saturday and my wife and I are planning a short weekend trip this weekend and the truck only has 120 miles on it. There will be about an hour of highway driving involved and I'm a little worried that it will exceed the recommended "constant speed for extended periods". I guess I'll plan to vary speeds a bit and take a few breaks.
     
  12. Sep 28, 2021 at 5:05 AM
    #12
    4R21

    4R21 New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2021
    Member:
    #22947
    Messages:
    1,106
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    AK
    Land of Cheese
    Don't pet the monster :D Ya its crazy ! You drive it like you are walking on eggs shells :hattip:
     
  13. Sep 28, 2021 at 5:50 AM
    #13
    ecoterragaia

    ecoterragaia New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2021
    Member:
    #22484
    Messages:
    278
    Gender:
    Male
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2021 SR5 4WD
    I like to keep all of my vehicles until I have to take it behind the barn and shoot it. I just want to make sure it lasts as long as possible while putting the least amount of money into repairs. If a trivial thing like properly breaking it in helps me get to 300,000+ miles, then I'd like to make sure I'm doing it right.
     
  14. Sep 28, 2021 at 6:30 AM
    #14
    whippersnapper02

    whippersnapper02 New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2019
    Member:
    #8982
    Messages:
    2,044
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Christian
    Vehicle:
    2019 4Runner TRD Offroad Premium
    Just drive normal.
     
    danielmiao, LA260 and jmkulbeth like this.
  15. Sep 28, 2021 at 10:52 AM
    #15
    LandCruiser

    LandCruiser I have Toyotas

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2021
    Member:
    #20965
    Messages:
    1,526
    Gender:
    Male
    East Bay Area
    Vehicle:
    5th Gen OG TE
    I took delivery of mine with more than 600 miles on the clock already, so I have no idea how it was driven during that time.
     
  16. Sep 28, 2021 at 11:00 AM
    #16
    JustATallDude

    JustATallDude New Member+

    Joined:
    Apr 28, 2020
    Member:
    #14030
    Messages:
    230
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2019 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro
    Gibson Single Exit Exhaust - Magnuson Supercharger - Sprint Booster - GTR Ultra2 Highs - Evil Headlights w/ Morimoto LED - Anzo Black Smoked Tail Lights - LED Interior Lights - A-Pillar Phone Mount Mod - CTH Side Mirrors - Eibach TRD Pro-Lift Springs - Falken Wildpeak A/T3s 285/70/17 - FSW F246 17x8.5 - Lasfit LED Turn Signals - DDI Seat Jackers - Apex Overland Front Recovery Points - Big Red's Turn Signal Mod and AMD Mod - R4T Blackout Turn Signals - BlackVue DR590 Dashcam and more to come...
    When I got mine with 6 miles on it, I signed the paperwork and went on a 5ish hour road trip to CT for a wedding. It's doing fine
     

Products Discussed in

To Top