Dino to synthetic engine break in changeover

[Colt]

I know many new cars come with synthetic oil.
No breakin necessary.
I'm wondering if the wife's new Corolla can make the switch at around 5000 miles.
I believe it can but want reassurance from you guys.

I'm going to have the dealer change the oil at 1500 miles.It's free!
Then I'll go to synthetic at around 5000 miles.
Sound good?

 

[KW]

Sounds like a good plan of attack to me.

 

[Colt]

quote:

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Originally posted by KW:
Sounds like a good plan of attack to me.

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Thanks!!!

 

[Alan]

I owned a 99 Corolla which had pretty much the same exact motor yours does.

I ran the factory fill (nicely varying the engine load)until 3K then went to M1 5W30.It never burned at all

even during 10K intervals.Nothing.

I currently own an 02 Sienna where I changed the factory fill at 1,230 miles with less positive results

.It burns 1qt every 5K with M1 5W30.In hindsight I wish I would of left the factory fill in until 3K.

Currently I am running Havoline 5W30 and with 1K into the interval it hasn't consumed oil.
I did change the original factory PCV valve(which I cleaned about 3 times)at the start of this interval so maybe that cured the consumption.

I do plan to got back to M1 5W30 or M1 10W30 if the minor consumption stops.

 

[Colt]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Alan:
I owned a 99 Corolla which had pretty much the same exact motor yours does.

I ran the factory fill (nicely varying the engine load)until 3K then went to M1 5W30.It never burned at all

even during 10K intervals.Nothing.

I currently own an 02 Sienna where I changed the factory fill at 1,230 miles with less positive results

.It burns 1qt every 5K with M1 5W30.In hindsight I wish I would of left the factory fill in until 3K.

Currently I am running Havoline 5W30 and with 1K into the interval it hasn't consumed oil.
I did change the original factory PCV valve(which I cleaned about 3 times)at the start of this interval so maybe that cured the consumption.

I do plan to got back to M1 5W30 or M1 10W30 if the minor consumption stops.

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Thanks for your imput.
Any thought I had about going to M1 at 1500 miles is gone now.

 

[drm7]

I ran my 03 Mazda MPV and 03 Mazda B4000 to 5000 miles on dino then switched to M1 5w30 w/5000 mile OCI and neither vehicle uses a drop of oil in the 5000 miles. Seems like a good plan to me.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

From what I've read here, driving habits dictate breaking-in length. Give your gas pedal a variety of feels without stressing it out & break-in will occur more rapidly. Be a new car driver that only gives the gas pedal the same identical 1/3rd compression 24-7... it's going to take longer.

With all this talk about how Japanese car engines are superior to American.... well then why is my GM engine parts have micro-specked tolerances & need no break-in special oils... ie... synthetics being used in many new GMs driven out the factory.

One would think the so-called superior Japanese engines would follow suit.... or lead the way in cutting edge technology.

 

[Colt]

quote:

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Originally posted by Triple_Se7en:
From what I've read here, driving habits dictate breaking-in length. Give your gas pedal a variety of feels without stressing it out & break-in will occur more rapidly. Be a new car driver that only gives the gas pedal the same identical 1/3rd compression 24-7... it's going to take longer.

With all this talk about how Japanese car engines are superior to American.... well then why is my GM engine parts have micro-specked tolerances & need no break-in special oils... ie... synthetics being used in many new GMs driven out the factory.

One would think the so-called superior Japanese engines would follow suit.... or lead the way in cutting edge technology.

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I guess the Japs have a good thing going and why change it when it comes to using synthetics from the factory.
I do believe that Japanese 4 cyls are far superior over American 4 cyls.
I do like the 3.8L 6 cyl that's in my Grand Prix though.
Great engine.Smooth with some nice power.

 

[Cyprs]

As in the Nissan thread Colt, 6000 to 9000 miles should seat that engine in for syn oil, if rings are chrome then be sure to work them a little once you get a few K miles on it.

Cyprs

 

[Colt]

quote:

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Originally posted by Cyprs:
As in the Nissan thread Colt, 6000 to 9000 miles should seat that engine in for syn oil, if rings are chrome then be sure to work them a little once you get a few K miles on it.

Cyprs

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Thanks,Cypes.
I guess I can go a 1000 or so more miles to play it safe.

 

[JohnBrowning]

Alan, Your oil consuption has nothing to do with changeing your factory fill at 1230 miles!!! Toyota does not have any lame policy of reqireing/recomeding you to leave the oil in for any predetermined length of time! They are not like Honda and their 5000 mile factory fill break in oil!! Toyota does not use any special break in oil like we see from Honda!

1 quart of oil every 5000 miles for a V6 minivan is well below the industry norm for oil consuption! Break in style, engine design, driveing cycle and oil design are the key things that determine oil consuption! Just so you know most companys use 1 quart per 1000 miles as the established normal oil consuption norm!

It is actualy a better practice to change the initial fill out before 1000 miles. If you read the book titled "Drive it Forever" the engineer/author cites that most accelerated wear has finished by 600-1000 miles. Most remanufactured engines like AC/Delco want the first oil changed out at 500 miles to maintain their warranty. Their is nothing magical about haveing excessive wear metals floating around in the oil! Now with this said if this 1.8 is anything like some of the other UOA we have seen from Toyota's under break-in their really is not that much accelerated wear takeing place.

Alan, Have you checked your PCV system? This can cause an increase in oil consuption. Useing an oil that is too thin reguardless of manufactures recomendation will increase consuption. Useing an OCI that does match the oil and driveing cycle can increase consuption as well. Sticking rings, glazeing and gelling can also casue an increase in consuption. Finaly some engines just use more oil then other engines even if they are the exact same type and model.

Ken4's Toyota dealership in Singapore required a 1000KM oil change initialy to maintain the warranty! So you are not going to hurt your car buy changeing the oil out sooner then the 5000-7500 mile OCI recomended in the book! Second synthetic oil will not hurt it one bit!! Third if you should decide to leave the oil in longer I am preety sure you will not hurt it but it does slightly increase the chances of forign matter embedding in the bearings.

 

[Colt]

quote:

---

Originally posted by JohnBrowning:
Alan, Your oil consuption has nothing to do with changeing your factory fill at 1230 miles!!! Toyota does not have any lame policy of reqireing/recomeding you to leave the oil in for any predetermined length of time! They are not like Honda and their 5000 mile factory fill break in oil!! Toyota does not use any special break in oil like we see from Honda!

1 quart of oil every 5000 miles for a V6 minivan is well below the industry norm for oil consuption! Break in style, engine design, driveing cycle and oil design are the key things that determine oil consuption! Just so you know most companys use 1 quart per 1000 miles as the established normal oil consuption norm!

It is actualy a better practice to change the initial fill out before 1000 miles. If you read the book titled "Drive it Forever" the engineer/author cites that most accelerated wear has finished by 600-1000 miles. Most remanufactured engines like AC/Delco want the first oil changed out at 500 miles to maintain their warranty. Their is nothing magical about haveing excessive wear metals floating around in the oil! Now with this said if this 1.8 is anything like some of the other UOA we have seen from Toyota's under break-in their really is not that much accelerated wear takeing place.

Alan, Have you checked your PCV system? This can cause an increase in oil consuption. Useing an oil that is too thin reguardless of manufactures recomendation will increase consuption. Useing an OCI that does match the oil and driveing cycle can increase consuption as well. Sticking rings, glazeing and gelling can also casue an increase in consuption. Finaly some engines just use more oil then other engines even if they are the exact same type and model.

Ken4's Toyota dealership in Singapore required a 1000KM oil change initialy to maintain the warranty! So you are not going to hurt your car buy changeing the oil out sooner then the 5000-7500 mile OCI recomended in the book! Second synthetic oil will not hurt it one bit!! Third if you should decide to leave the oil in longer I am preety sure you will not hurt it but it does slightly increase the chances of forign matter embedding in the bearings.

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Wow,John.
Now I don't know when to changeover to Mobil 1.
1000 miles or 6000 miles.

 

[JohnnyO]

Just do the second change with synthetic. That's what I do. Just did an oil change on my new Sport Trac over the weekend. 3000 miles, I put in Havoline. Thing is, the dealer gave me coupons for the first four oil changes free, so they're taking all my fun away. It'll go there at 5, 10, 15, and 20k. I assume they'll put in Motorcraft blend and I'm okay with that.

 

[TC]

Unless your manual states otherwise, switch to/from synthetic to your heart's content, at any time, as often as you want. See "Myths 4,5 & 6" below.

http://www.quakerstate.com/pages/carcare/whattoknow.asp

 

[JohnBrowning]

I have gone to synthetic as soon as 58 miles before and never had an issue. Mobil and most other major oil refiners say it does not matter. Some conserative blenders like Redline and Amsoil recommend something like 3000 or 6000 miles before switching! I think the most important thing to do is get the old oil out sometime between 500-1000 miles just in case! If you really wanted to be conservative you could always put a dino oil or blen in it! One big issue I have with this whole synthetic versus dino break-in deal is what is synthetic? If one company sells you a GIII oil as Synthetic and another company sells you a group III as a dino what did you just put in your car? In some cases like Mobil Clean 7500 it has a base stock that is 75% GIII and 25% PAO. It is sold as a blend but is more synthetic then some oils sold as 100% Synthetic! Then you have all the vechiles that come with synthetic as factory fill!

I really do not think it matters much I really do not! So when ever you change it I am sure you will be fine. Most Toyota's we see on here with UOA of factory fill really are rather uneventfull!! I prefer to have people do initial oil changes early and graduly build up to a full OCI. In this case it is costly to waste synthetic! Once I put Castrol 5W50 right after a rebuilt engines 20 minute run in! It never had any issues with oil consuption. So use what ever oil is going to fit with your style of break-in and oil change interval. I think you are preety safe after 500-1000 solid miles!

 

[jbas]

Probably myth(s). My brother-in-law just bought a Toyota Sequoia with 4.7L V8. Mechanics in Overland Park Dealership insist 18K miles minimum for first drink of synthetics for this engine, and seem to not think synthetics really necessary for long, long, life, anyway. Of course, JB right to point out what is a synthetic...Group III, PAOs?

 

[Alan]

Hi JB,

I know all in all 1qt over 5K isn't bad but I want zero consumption

!

I've checked the PCV constantly as it seems to gum up rather quickly(well at least the factory one did).This engine can be tough on oil if neglected.
I do plan to go back to M1 if the consumption tapers off.

Colt,

I would leave the factory fill in for at least 2.5k.Your not hurting anything nor causing any damage by doing so.

 

[GarrettSocling]

I agonized on what to do with my 05 Corolla too.

I changed the factory fill out at 2000 miles since I figured the majority of the breakin was done. I rode it pretty good during break-in, and drove to Boston (8hr one way) and back after 1000 miles.

I put 5W-30 SuperTech in and ran for about 2700 miles to flush out remaining wear particles and allow what wear that should occur to occur.

Finally I put Mobil1 5W-30 in at 4700 miles and am going to run that from here on out.

I think that pretty much no matter what you do to the engine, as long as the oil is changed, this 1.8L is going to last a couple hundred thousand miles. I hope, with synthetic and other goodies, that it will last me 10 or 15 years or a half-million miles.

G

 

[Colt]

quote:

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Originally posted by GarrettSocling:
I agonized on what to do with my 05 Corolla too.

I changed the factory fill out at 2000 miles since I figured the majority of the breakin was done. I rode it pretty good during break-in, and drove to Boston (8hr one way) and back after 1000 miles.

I put 5W-30 SuperTech in and ran for about 2700 miles to flush out remaining wear particles and allow what wear that should occur to occur.

Finally I put Mobil1 5W-30 in at 4700 miles and am going to run that from here on out.

I think that pretty much no matter what you do to the engine, as long as the oil is changed, this 1.8L is going to last a couple hundred thousand miles. I hope, with synthetic and other goodies, that it will last me 10 or 15 years or a half-million miles.

G

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Decisions,decisions...

At least at this point...

I think I'll go a similiar route as you did.
I'll change the oil at 2000-2500 miles with dino oil.

At 5000-6000 miles change to Mobil 1.The older Mobil 1 as I have about 15 bottles to use.
That should bring me into the winter to spring .
To me synthetic oil's most important benefit is quicker winter startup circulation.
Then I'll go to what I always do is change the sythetic oil in my cars twice a year in April-Nov.

Thanks to all for your replies.

 

[mechtech]

New car break in isn't what it used to be. Specs and tolerances are tighter, now. They come pretty well seated [rings] after those full throttle/load runs on the test bed. Sure, there is going to be more and better seating eventually, but it's a non-issue, pretty much.
The drivetrain, cam/followers , brakes, and any chains in the engine need a moderate break in, BTW.
Symthetic oil is great.