New RAV4 Immediate 2000 Mile Trip

[tebtengri]

I'm getting a RAV4 LE at the beginning of August and will immediately have to drive it from NC to ND. I'll have one day in NC after taking delivery that I'll be visiting family and plan to tool around neighborhoods and a few highways for probably 3-4 hours to try and hit 100 miles with speeds between 25-55. Next day, on leaving, I'll probably take state highways and some US highways.

Knoxville TN will be right around 500 miles and I plan on getting an oil change. I've already ordered Toyota 0W-16 and filters in case dealers or lube centers are out of stock.


Given I'll have to cross some mountains at some point, I'm wondering if a 1000 mile or 1500 mile change would be warranted, or should I just push into ND and change it on arrival?

I'm avoiding West Virginia and taking I40 to avoid the steeper mountains on I77 and US35.

Any tips? Changes you'd recommend? Different oil? 0W20 instead? Drive it in reverse?

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Not necessary.

Also, highway miles are easier on cars than local city driving

 

[tvaughn]

Frankly, I would just change it when you get home, vary the rpms a bit here and there, and send it. The car will last super long no matter what.

 

[tebtengri]

Frankly, I would just change it when you get home, vary the rpms a bit here and there, and send it. The car will last super long no matter what.

Being my first new car ever I'm probably overthinking this and wanting to baby her.

 

[tvaughn]

Being my first new car ever I'm probably overthinking this and wanting to baby her.

Probably, 99% of Toyotas don't get an early break-in oil change, and they still last an eternity. Engines like to vary RPMs when breaking in, and they even say this in the manual, so I wouldn't worry about hilly terrain—just don't go extended full throttle or redline for the first 1k miles or so.

 

[ecotourist]

I did the same with my brand new Solara. All I did was check the oil, check the tire pressure and then consciously vary the speed periodically for the first 500 km or so. I used the cruise control but sped up or slowed down a little every half hour or so.

Some steep mountains would be good.

 

[thunderfog]

Some steep mountains would be good.

I agree with this. I like building cylinder pressure to seat the rings without revving the engine hard during break-in. Just my way, as there are many other ways. The WV mountains are awesome to drive through, by the way!

 

[barkingspider]

Change the oil when you get to ND

 

[userfriendly]

I like your original plan, but I can’t think of any real mountains between NC and ND.

 

[daves87rs]

Wait until ND

 

[Patman]

I like the idea of the 500 mile oil change. Many will say it’s unnecessary but I feel like it’s always a good idea to get rid of those break in wear metals that are at their highest point on a new engine. For the first 500 miles don’t use the cruise control! You want to vary your speed, rpm and load a LOT during that time period. If you can, get off the interstate for a while and take some roads that have stop signs or stop lights. If that’s not possible then try to coast often and then speed back up. You want to avoid long periods of time where the engine is at the same rpm basically.

 

[Passport1]

It's a Toyota. Got all the break-in necessary from being loaded onto and off the transport truck.

 

[Egg_Head]

Don't know where you are starting your journey in NC, but I-40 east of Asheville near Black Mountain has a 5% grade for about a mile. I-26 below Hendersonville has a 6% grade near Saluda. Years ago I remember reading an article in Hot Rod Magazine where they were doing performance testing for spark plugs and air filters on a Ford truck driving up the Black Mountain grade. If you had a M5, I'd be concerned about break-in procedure. If it really bothers you do the change in Knoxville, but stop in the Buc-ees in Sevierville first.

 

[SC Maintenance]

This is the break in recommendation from my 2019 Dynamic Force 2.5. I did first oil change at 2000 miles. I would be willing to bet 99.9% of owners don't change the oil until the factory recommended 10K miles, and there are lots of used ones of these already at 200,000 miles.

I would wait, but if 500 miles makes you happy I suppose go ahead. After that I wouldn't worry much - the majority of break in wear components likely will be done at 500 miles.


■Breaking in your new Toyota To extend the life of the vehicle, observing the following precautions is recommended:

●For the first 200 miles (300 km): Avoid sudden stops.
●For the first 500 miles (800 km): Do not tow a trailer.
●For the first 600 miles (1000 km):
• Do not drive at extremely high speeds.
• Avoid sudden acceleration
• Do not drive continuously in low gears.
• Do not drive at a constant speed for extended periods.

 

[IveBeenRued]

The dynamic force 2.5 is known for very high wear metals from the factory. Always good to drop the factory oil early.

Here are some pics showing the typical manufacturing debris.

Break in oil change w/pics

www.rav4world.com

 

[JavierH19]

I'd leave the factory fill in to help with break in then. Also why already order 0w-16 when you get toyota care with new ones which is 2 free oil changes I believe and can just buy 0w-16 at retailers for less or use 0w-20 which no dealer will fuss over if you do.

 

[ka9mnx]

I took the wife's brand new '05 Ranger with 1.2k miles on it to Texas from South Carolina. Driving from 60 to 80 mph didn't seem to bother it at all. Still own the truck but now it's mine.

EDIT: This was with factory fill oil (5w-20-yuck)

 

[eljefino]

You're overthinking this.

Wife's Prius came "new" with 123 miles on it as a dealer trade. You know whomever buzzed that car up to my dealer didn't vary RPMs, though the car may have. It has 100k now and burns no oil. I did the first OCI at 4300 miles and there wasn't any glitter or drama.

I'd feel fine hitting the mountains after a couple hundred miles. Maybe stay in the right lane with the trucks if it helps you feel better.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

Change your oil at the end of the trip (2k). I went thru three different major mountain sets in the NE, right after I purchased our 2004 Chevy Colorado 3.5 five cylinder. We traveled about 2,250 miles in those two weeks.

The 20 year-old Chevy is doing great today .... 20 years later and not even the valve cover gasket has been replaced and it only uses a half-quart of oil in 3k use.

It's never had a boutique oil and no upper-tier oil filters..... mostly Fram or AC Delco. My entire goal on that trip was to try keeping the RPMs under 4 when climbing and not to exceed 80-85MPH when passing someone.

Your engine will do great and probably last beyond 250k. Your engine is digitally, robotically built mostly. Engines today don't produce all kinds of shedded metals of yesteryear's engines. What's shed is small and minimal. So don't sweat not getting the oil changed until you get back.

 

[BAJA_05]

I'd leave the factory fill in to help with break in then. Also why already order 0w-16 when you get toyota care with new ones which is 2 free oil changes I believe and can just buy 0w-16 at retailers for less or use 0w-20 which no dealer will fuss over if you do.

The Toyota Care that comes with a new Toyota purchase is at the 10K and 20K intervals for there oil changes. It will be on his dime if he decides to change sooner -- which is probably why he purchased more 0W16. Toyota Care does cover 5K tire rotation for the first two years up to 20K. I am a 2023 Rav4 Hybrid owner from new.