nyc11370

My new GX has 1,200 miles, I took it to the dealer
The SA told me the first oil change should be 5,000 miles because it is a special oil for break-in. 1,000 miles is too soon.
Right?

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iTrader: (2)

??? I've never heard that before. I've always lived by the rule to change the oil and filter after 1,000 miles. Use dino oil (unless car came with otherwise) untill you hit 3,000 miles and then change again. And then follow manufacturer's recommendations. Usually I don't switch to synthetic until 7500-10k miles. I don't think you can hurt anything by changing your oil too frequently, besides your wallet that is...

Anyone else hear about some special "break-in" oil?

VGR

Your GX470 owners manual tells you Genuine Toyota 5W-30 Motor Oil was used as the factory fill oil. You can get this oil at Toyota dealers in 1 quart bottles for anywhere between $1.50 and
$2.50 a quart and change your oil with it at any time. Lexus dealers can also get this oil, but they will charge twice as much.

yoji6365

This has the makings of another long endless never ending thread.

Maybe someone can explain to me what the purpose of the break in period is.

Im guessing its giving the engine time to get normal and discard some stuff (metal shavings, burn off) early.
Then changing the oil will get rid of it.

But Ive never heard of a special oil for breaking in.

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iTrader: (2)

Break in period is mostly so that the metal parts can be seated correctly. There will be some imperfections in the castings that will get smoothed out as the metal parts conform to each other. The first 1k miles is most important. Traditional logic states dino oil is good for this process since it allows better seating. Synthetics are too "slippery" not allowing proper seating. This goes for all the moving parts in an engine. The logic in changing after the 1000 miles is to remove the metal shavings and manufacturing oils that will be carried out by the motor oil.

Makes sense to me. Manufacturing tolerances may have improved to the point where this is less important. Some cars come with synthetic in the crank from the factory (MB, Corvette). But not Toyotas, so I still go with the above timetable.

Genuine Toyota motor oil? Don't know if there are special break-in additives in that, but sounds like regular dino oil to me. The only fluid you NEED from Toyota is Type-IV ATF if you drain and fill your tranny. But that's it.

kreativ

Honda uses one. As for Toyota/Lexus, last time I checked into it, they didn't.

nyc11370

The dealer said no need to change until 5,000 even after I told them I will pay for it.

I am not starting a frame war here. Please explain why you think the dealer BS. Either the dealer did not want to take my quick cash or Lexus want to fix the engines under warranty due to inproper break-in? or people are too chicken to follow the Lexus maintenance schedule?

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iTrader: (2)

Read my reply 3 posts up. That's the reason why. I've followed that schedule for all my cars from an MB S to my SC3. Works well for me. And I'll continue to do it on my cars unless there is some special break-in oil I don't know about. Maybe they do use one, then by all means follow their recommendations.

nyc11370

I called up a few dealers in NY, CA and TX. They all told me no need to change oil below 5,000. So this is offical, it is printed in the user manual too. I will stick with the 5,000 interval. No need to chicken. Today's technology is far better than 10-15 years ago.

parula

My manual has 5000 for first service.