When do we change oil on an xb? 3,000 or 4,000 miles?

 

service manual says 5000 miles if you live on a gravel/dirt road, use a car top cargo carrier, or take frequent trips under five miles in temperatures below freezing. 7500 miles otherwise.

There really is no "break-in" period for the engines, all toyota engines from all lines are run at the time of build for several hours to do this for you (the average consumer drives the cars like they stole them typically within the first 100 miles =) )

Mike

 

I change mine at 2,780 and I ask for Syntetic and they did it at no charge. Castrol by the way. :D

 

What Scion/Toyota "requires" is that you change your oil and filter every 5000 or 7500 miles depending on driving conditions. What most people "do" and what I reccomend is to check your oil level at least once a week if not more and while doing that inspect the quality of it. Smell the dipstick ( do you smell a burning or gasoline smell?)and rub some between your fingertips(Do you feel any particulate matter?). After a while of doing this you will be much more aware of any small (but maybe important)changes in your vehicles condition.Some of you may think this is overkill but to me it is much better to be safe than sorry. :D

As far as Toyota "Breaking" engines in? I would still take it easy with your vehicle for the first 500 miles or so. Again, may be overkill but......Also make sure to vary your speeds on long trips to let the engine run at different RPMs. One last note, be carefull how soon you switch to synthetic oils if you plan to do so. A few mechanics I have spoken with say they may be TOO slick and until the engine has some deposits in it could not allow the valves to seat properly.

 

What most people do is nothing of the sort. In fact most of my peer group changes the oil every 3000 miles regardless.

As to synthetic oils. Those mechanics you spoke with aren't lubricant engineers. They are either old school, from when synthetics first came out (when engines weren't run at the factory to break them in and seat the valves/scrub the cylinder walls, etc) or their instructors were old school and taught like that.

The original poster asked when he should change the oil. I added in the part about break in as "old school" once again, recommended an oil change soon after getting the vehicles, as in around 500 miles, to clear out the metal fragents that were now a part of the circulating oil system.

http://www.mobil1.com/why/myths.jsp

http://www.toyotapartsandservice.com/smg/guides.php?

Would answer the questions if you need another proof source. Maybe you need to read some more before replying. Better safe than sorry :D