Fluid Changes after break in period

tundrabrad · #1 (**permalink**) 10-09-2003, 01:09 AM

I will be changing oil in my new 4X2 V8 Tundra after 1000 mile break in. I am going synthetic. My question is about exchanging other fluids early in the vehicles life...is there any long term benefit to changing other lubricants early.

ATF, Rear diff (LSD), etc...I have read other threads about OEM fluids and aftermarket synthetics. Are synthetics a definite benefit in the transmission and rear end??

Now I have to read all those "which oil filter to use" threads...

Thanks,

Brad

Bradley · #2 (**permalink**) 10-09-2003, 02:05 AM

You may want to wait untill you have 8,000 to 10,000. mi on your Tundra. If you put in synthetic to soon it may take a longer time for the rings to seat. When I purchased a new Corvette the dealer informed me to make the first oil change when recomended in the owners maintence manual, they said the oil the factory had installed in the engine had special additives to help with the break in of the engine, I followed the owners manual with out any engine problems. Same with the Tundra.

george60 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-09-2003, 02:19 AM

TundraBrad...............................

For what it's worth, I did exactly the same thing on my first oil change on my 2003 Tundra. It seems everyone has a different opinion as to the correct time.
My only concern was whether the rings had seated or not (as was mentioned).
If it doesn't use oil then the only way check is to tear the engine down.
I guess I'll find out in about 100K+.

George60

KLS · #4 (**permalink**) 10-09-2003, 01:03 PM

Brad,
I think synthetic oils have more advantage in the transmission and differential than they do in the engine.

For the engine, I'd do one or two short interval oil changes with conventional oil before changing to synthetic. I want to be sure all the manufacturing debris and break-in particles are out of there. I'd do an oil change at 1000, another at 2500, then syn at 5000.

All the synthetic oil makers say that there is no need on a gasoline engine to wait for break-in. Engines are so well manufactured these days...a rebuild is a different story--need the full break-in procedure.

My understanding is that the only engines with a special break-in oil are Hondas. I thought that 'vettes had regular Mobil 1 from the factory. The story there is that there wasn't room under the hood for an oil cooler, and Mobil 1 could handle the heat better than a conventional oil. I know, Bradley was told otherwise by someone at his dealership, and might be correct, but we've seen lots of stories of errors and just plain B.S. from dealership folks. You should have seen the faces on the service writer and service manager at my dealership after they told me that the Tundra wasn't an interference engine, then I quoted to them the section and page of the maintenance manual that did say that these were interference engines....

Filters?...I don't think you can do better than the Toyota/Lexus 90915-20004, although sometimes they're hard to find. Just about any good quality name-brand aftermarket filter will work well. I kind'a like Purolator Pure One, but any of them, WIX/NAPA-Gold, Baldwin/Hastings, Purolator Premium, ACDelco, Bosch Premium will work well. I feel that Mobil 1 and K&N oil filters are overpriced. Some folks put on an oversized filter designed for older Fords, but I prefer to stick with the Toyota listing.

Ken

MGotcha · #5 (**permalink**) 10-10-2003, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KLS

Brad,
Filters?...I don't think you can do better than the Toyota/Lexus 90915-20004, although sometimes they're hard to find.
Ken

I picked up some Toyota 90915-YZZB5 filters from Carson Toyota. How do these differ from the 90915-20004 filters & are they OK to use??

tundrabrad · #6 (**permalink**) 10-11-2003, 04:46 PM

Well...I changed my oil and filter today at 1322 miles. I went to the local dealer and indeed he only had the B5 filters. THe parts guy seemed to have no idea there maybe different quality levels of Toyota filters available. He sent me to the Lexus dealer across the street who's service and parts department is of course, closed on Saturday

I went to Pep Boys and purchased the Purolator PL10241 Pure One filter and 7 quarts of Castrol GTX 5W-30 conventional oil per previous recommendations. I was pleasantly surprised to find the Purolator filter is painted Stratosphere Mica blue just like my truck!.

I drained the oil in my truck that already had a significantly dark amber color. Removing the original filter proved to be quite a trick as the filter wrench I purchased to fit the Purolator filter didn't fit the Toyota filter!

When I finally removed the filter...guess what filter came on the engine from the factory??? A 90915-20004! Yes, the exact filter I can't get from a Toyota dealer...go figure...

And yes, it is quite difficult to read the oil level on the dipstick with new oil - you need just the right angle in the sun to see the level.

Brad