Breaking in Toyota 2.0 engine (2024 Corolla Cross)

[Owen Lucas]

Helping a family member buy a new Corolla Cross. The model and color combo they want is over 200 miles away.

I understand there are 2 schools of thought when it comes to breaking in an engine:

1. Modern engines do not require a break in

2. All engines require break in which can be accomplished by periodic jack rabbit starts and working the engine hard for the first few hundred miles. Is this true? Can anyone provide instructions on how to break in an engine, especially if you have a 200 mile drive from the dealership?

We also plan on having the first oil change before 1000 miles and then another after 2000 miles.

 

[supton]

Can anyone provide instructions on how to break in an engine, especially if you have a 200 mile drive from the dealership?

Step 1: put key into ignition
Step 2: start
Step 3: drive home

It’s already been started a number of times and driven. This might be the first long drive, but its already had some run time.

Manual probably says to not use cruise, but that might actually be good, the cvt will simple “downshift” as the terrain changes and rpm won’t be that constant.

In lieu of the manual stating otherwise, I am of the opinion that break in is not required. Not on plain jane cars that normally “never” see full throttle nor get driven hard.

See if you can get the manual online and see what it says.

 

[TomYoung]

Helping a family member buy a new Corolla Cross. The model and color combo they want is over 200 miles away.

I understand there are 2 schools of thought when it comes to breaking in an engine:

1. Modern engines do not require a break in

2. All engines require break in which can be accomplished by periodic jack rabbit starts and working the engine hard for the first few hundred miles. Is this true? Can anyone provide instructions on how to break in an engine, especially if you have a 200 mile drive from the dealership?

We also plan on having the first oil change before 1000 miles and then another after 2000 miles.

Pt. 1. Essentially true, but common sense suggests being gentle on a brand new engine.

Pt. 2. Please forget this idea. It's completely wrong, will do nothing, and would be the best way to look for damage in the new car. a 200 mile drive is nothing and should be taken normally and without fear.

I agree with an early oil change, but maybe once at a 1,000 miles and then every 5K thereafter. Even that single early oil change is probably not necessary.

I think that it is funny that on a car like this, the closest you can get to a sure thing in terms of reliability, you are still rolling out ancient ideas that were never correct.

 

[Hermann]

First warm engine up by operating it till fully warm. find a country road with a long hill with higher speeds. At the bottom of the hill give it 3/4 throttle for 10 sec or so. Go to top of hill, turn around and do it 5 more times. Your engine will be broken in., The downhill part is important as it introduces a pressure opposite of the pressure exerted on engine parts during the climb. My last 4 vehicles have been broken in this way. None have been oil users, and all had plenty of pep.

Good luck with the Corolla Cross.

 

[Leo99]

I'm in the school of just drive it and change the oil every 5,000 or 10,000 miles and it will be fine for 300,000 miles. No need to do anything fancy.

 

[hrv]

Helping a family member buy a new Corolla Cross. The model and color combo they want is over 200 miles away.

I understand there are 2 schools of thought when it comes to breaking in an engine:

1. Modern engines do not require a break in

2. All engines require break in which can be accomplished by periodic jack rabbit starts and working the engine hard for the first few hundred miles. Is this true? Can anyone provide instructions on how to break in an engine, especially if you have a 200 mile drive from the dealership?

We also plan on having the first oil change before 1000 miles and then another after 2000 miles.

Just drive it and dont overthink it....you will be fine..

 

[Owen Lucas]

See if you can get the manual online and see what it says.

I searched the digital manual online and here's what I found:

Page 144:

I guess I could have avoided the whole thread by looking up the manual.

But who really does this procedure anyway? Maybe it doesn't matter as much.

Looks like the only point that applies to us would be driving at constant speeds, so we will avoid cruise control, maybe some traffic would be helpful in this case.

 

[twX]

Here's a procedure for engine break-in from Mahle, one of the major players in engine R&D. It's geared towards engine builds for motorsports, but I'd use a similar procedure for a street engine.

Basically, avoid high load and rpm until the engine is fully warm, and also avoid prolonged idling. Once the engine is warm, progressively increase load to 100% and rpm to 75% of redline while doing some engine braking in between pulls.

I wouldn't bother doing more than one early oil change. However, I would install a high efficiency oil filter to help deal with the higher wear metals during break-in.

 

[Owen Lucas]

Here's a procedure for engine break-in from Mahle, one of the major players in engine R&D. It's geared towards engine builds for motorsports, but I'd use a similar procedure for a street engine.

Basically, avoid high load and rpm until the engine is fully warm, and also avoid prolonged idling. Once the engine is warm, progressively increase load to 100% and rpm to 75% of redline while doing some engine braking in between pulls.

I wouldn't bother doing more than one early oil change. However, I would install a high efficiency oil filter to help deal with the higher wear metals during break-in.

View attachment 207674

Is this supposed to focus on piston rings seating into the cylinder walls or other friction components breaking in?

 

[twX]

Is this supposed to focus on piston rings seating into the cylinder walls or other friction components breaking in?

It's a guide for breaking in engines that use Mahle pistons and rings, so that's what it's focused on. Seating the rings seems to be the most important part of engine break-in, so I wouldn't worry about anything else.

 

[JavierH19]

Cinder block the pedal. If it blows it blows and if it lives it'll do 400k easy.

 

[eljefino]

My wife's new 19 prius was a dealer trade, it showed up with 123 miles on it, presumably driven on the highway by someone who could care less. It's at 90k and burns no oil.

The control group, my 21, had one mile. It's also happy.

 

[vpr5703]

I followed the manual on my CX-50. Through the 170 mile drive home I occasionally stuck the transmission in manual mode and periodically dropped down a gear or two and did some mild acceleration pulls (50% or so) and then coasted back down to the speed limit. Not being hard or aggressive, just changing the speed to avoid sitting at one spot for too long. Figured Mazda knows their equipment best, so there's no reason not to follow their directions.

 

[Al]

I have redlined my last 3 vehicles coming back from the dealer. None use any measurable oil.

 

[ATex7239]

Anecdotal: Years ago I was regularly working as a vendor at an auto manufacturing plant. While walking around the facility I noticed that periodically one the vehicles would be taken straight off the line outside for a 0-60/60-0 test. At least that is what it looked like. WOT from full stop then an immediate hard brake to full stop. I witnessed this event over many months and many vehicles.

I’m not sure if there was an issue, it was a spot check or what. However it was one of the contributing factors that made me realize how much I was probably overthinking break in/break in oil changes on modern vehicles.

I run the intended interval and just drive like normal from day one.

 

[Bryanccfshr]

The first start was at the end of the manufacturing line amd it is run up for pre delivery inspection ran up to full op tem0 and check for manufacturing discrepancies and leaks. transporters driving it to load and unload, then the porters at the dealership drive it to do pre delivery.
I drive my new vehicles fairly gentle but much like normal, more so to familiarize with the controls and handling characteristics and not so much for engine break in. Never had an oil user

 

[SOUNDMAN5000]

Just don't pull away from the dealer, hop on the Interstate, set your cruise control at 65 mph and drive 200 miles.
Search your owners guide under Break-In procedure and do what it says but on everything I own from a car to a Harley...

NO constant speeds be it fast or slow, no lugging the engine, no high rpm's but I roll on the power and off be it smooth as I want the rings to seat proper under load. If you drive too easy on cars of old the rings may not seat proper. I do go very easy on the breaks the 1st 100 miles or so.
I do early oil changes the 1st time on everything but most or many folks don't.

 

[JHZR2]

I’ve always been a fan of being gentle on the engine for the first 500-1000 miles. Take it easy, sometimes when everything is full warm doing a bit more aggressive, but not wot or anything like that. IMO coasting and letting there be a vacuum in the system is good too.

Let everything wear in on itself in various conditions that one doesn’t see on an initial engine start in a factory. Let everything go through a number of thermal and reasonable load cycles, then start putting it to greater use.

 

[odie]

Light braking ( if possible ) and different speeds ( mixed ) for about 700 miles .

 

[Bill7]

Step 1: put key into ignition
Step 2: start
Step 3: drive home

It’s already been started a number of times and driven. This might be the first long drive, but its already had some run time.

Manual probably says to not use cruise, but that might actually be good, the cvt will simple “downshift” as the terrain changes and rpm won’t be that constant.

In lieu of the manual stating otherwise, I am of the opinion that break in is not required. Not on plain jane cars that normally “never” see full throttle nor get driven hard.

See if you can get the manual online and see what it says.

Step 1: Drain out 0W-8 oil.
Step 2: Add 5W-30 oil.
Step 3: drive home.