Otez

Hi All,

Just picked up a new 2009 RX 350 (Chrystal White, Premium Package) last week. Based on comments regarding the soft paint and a previous thread, I had a clear bra put on immediately. These forums had been very useful in researching the RX.

I currently have logged about 150 miles. The owner's manual suggests not driving at 'extremely high speeds' for the first 1000 miles and also not to drive at a constant speed during this period. I am going on holidays in a couple days and would like to take the RX. Are highway speeds considered 'extremely high speed'? I don't plan on using the cruise control yet so hopefully the 'constant speed' issue will not be a concern. Am I better off slowly breaking in the engine for the first 1000 miles? (My trip will be approximately 800 miles)

Any comments / opinions appreciated.

arnieosp

iTrader: (1)

Just drive it like you normally would. There is nothing extreme about highway speed, unless you live in Germany.

biff44

you do not want to drive at very high speed for long periods of time, like a 2 hour trip at 70. Vary your speed.

However, the reverse is true also--you do not want to baby the engine. You need to abuse it a little so that the rings seat properly. A good way to insure that is every once in a while, while you are driving uphill, you want to floor the engine. The excess pressure in the cylinder will force the rings to seat properly. You do not have to floor it for long, a few seconds, and you do not have to be going fast--you just need the cylinder pressure. If you do not do this, you might end up with an oil-burner.

The G Man

I always break in my car according to rpm, not speed. For the 1st 800 miles or so, try to keep it under 3500 RPM, no jack rabbit start, vary your RPM. No hard braking the 1st 500 miles unless you have to. Do your 1st oil change early at 2500 miles.

xfirechief

I concure with all the statements made but I have another question about the break-in period. Lexus changes your oil & filter at 5K at no charge.

Is that soon enough?
I was thinking of changing it myself at 3K. But to go on, I didn't change it on the '04 RX at 3K & never had a oil issue in the 87K miles we had it so it seems it isn't really needed at 3K.

PS - I did use synthetic lubes after about 8K in the engine & completely changed everything to synthetics at about 45K. Never a problem with anything in the drivetrain.

The G Man

I did my 1st free oil change from Lexus at 3000 miles, they didnt really care. Some old schooler say change it at 1000 miles to get the metal shavings out, but most people say that is not needed in modern day engines. Lexus say 1st oil change at 5000 miles, so I simply split the difference between the old school and Lexus and do my 1st oil change at 2500 miles.

biff44

Changing the oil right after you get the car is a soothing thing for the psyche! And AS LONG AS YOU DO NOT PUT SYNTHETIC IN RIGHT AWAY, do it if it makes you feel good.

I would not put any synthetic oil in until at least 3500 miles though. You want the added friction to help everything seat properly at first.

salimshah

No absolute right or wrong answer.

Modern engines + machines are built to high tolerance and metals are different too, so break in is desired but not essential.

Note there is more to the machine then engine. GMan's comment is applicable to engine (rpm based) but trans, wheels, shafts, braking all need some time to loosen up etc.

Also the 1000miles is not a step function where you change your driving habits abruptly. I have used it as a gradual point after which I need not pay attention to the self imposed limitations.

By the way the best place to get those break in miles is on city streets (not on highways).

Lexus has changed the filter, but the all-in-one is a pain to remove the first time. In fact all factory tightened things are hard to undo (I think they are tightened to spec, but there is a coating applied on top).

Enjoy
Salim