New 150's GXL Diesel Prado on Order.....

[rob_macca67 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close rob_macca67]

Hey Guys......

After selling my '99 GXL 105's Cruiser a few months ago, I've finally taken the plunge and ordered a new White GXL TD 150's Auto Prado..... This will be my 1st NEW Diesel 4WD and I want to keep this long term.... so I want to run it in properly and do all the right things that will give many years trouble free motoring.....
I spoken to a few who reckon go on a few long drives loaded up as this will help in its overall performance, etc....

What's peoples thoughts / comments on this.....???

Any good advice will be appreciated

rob

[William Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close William]

Re: New 150's GXL Diesel Prado on Order.....

I've always been told to:
1) Don't floor it
2) Don't drive faster than 80km/h for the first 1000kms
3) Don't go on long drives during the break-in period

I'm not a mechanic/engineer/expert but I've owned my fair share of cars and have never had problems with them using these break-in guidelines.

Some people don't believe in breaking in the engine. Some say the factory breaks the engines in before its shipped. Some say flooring it "opens the bores" resulting in better future performance. People say a lot of things. True or not, there's no harm in treating your car with some TLC during the break-in period as you are looking to keep it long term. Better safe than sorry.

Cheers

[rob31.00 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close rob31.00]

Re: New 150's GXL Diesel Prado on Order.....

G'day Rob,
I received my 150 GXL TD Auto just over a week ago and am at the 650 km mark in the 1000 km break in period.

My thoughts are to read and follow the guidelines that Toyota put down in the manual, follow that and you have met the design engineer's recommendations.

From the manual, I recall the following (bit rough am away from home for work purposes):
1. First 300km avoid sudden braking
2. First 800km don't tow
3. First 1000km avoid maintaining constant speeds for long periods, avoid sudden acceleration, avoid high speeds and avoid high revving in gear (if in manual or manual select in auto).

So I've already gone off up the highway for a 500k return trip, didn't use cruise control and just cycled speed between 90km/h to 120km/h.

Why am I rushing the run in period? I am an avid water skier/camper and want the car ready for towing the boat/camper, so I am trying to clock up the 800k ASAP.

Like yourself this is the car I intend to keep for 10+ years and want to get it right...

I have also been researching other stuff for keeping the motor in tip top condition, some things I intend to do are:
1. Changing the oil + filter at 1000k.
2. Dumping the oil at the 5000k mark (and thereafter every 5000k after the 10, 20, 30,000km... services)
3. Some sort of fuel additive every third or fourth tank of fuel (researching so far and I like the sound of Fueltreat BC-250 as Nissan recommended it for their CRD)

Hope this helps.

Rob

[Geoffy Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Geoffy]

Re: New 150's GXL Diesel Prado on Order.....

I couldn't say with any certainty with a Diesel, but having owned many high performance V8's there is some truth to the "give it heaps" run in theory, in particular in relation to the engines power output. That said, there is no free lunch, and whilst a hard run in period will often produce a more powerful engine (in Hi-Po Petrol Engines at least) there are downsides like greater oil consumption and accelerated wear.

Considering the meagre output of these engines (after all even a 10% increase would equate to only a handful of kw's) I chose the softly softly approach as recommended by Toyota.

[rob_macca67 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close rob_macca67]

Re: New 150's GXL Diesel Prado on Order.....

Its interesting.... In the past I've bought cars (Diesel 4wd's) that have had high kms in a short amount of time... but they seem to out perform other 4wds of the same make with lower kms on them...... I guess the safe bet is to follow the manual, but it always makes me wonder about taking it on a long drive somewhere loaded up..... :|

rob

[rob_macca67 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close rob_macca67]

Re: New 150's GXL Diesel Prado on Order.....

Guys.....

I believe the Oil change intervals for the D4D are 10k between changes...... Just curious as to whether people still change their oils every 5k. I'm a bit incline to change mine (when it arrives ) every 5k as I'm a bit concern that the majority of the kms travelled by the wife will be to drop kids off / shopping, etc which I'm told is not the best conditions for oil longevity. I'm hoping to get out every few months to give it a bit of a H'way run, but this will depend on me having the time also....

Just curious as to what other owners do in this area..... as I might be way off in my thinking ???

[Riv39 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Riv39]

Re: New 150's GXL Diesel Prado on Order.....

Every 5k for me, always have done on all my vehicles irraspective of size type etc.

[rob31.00 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close rob31.00]

Re: New 150's GXL Diesel Prado on Order.....

G'day,
After changing the oil for the first time (just hit 1000km) and seeing how easy it was compared to my 95 series prado I'll definitely be changing oil at the 5K mark following every toyota service.

FYI in the old prado I had to remove the bash guard to get to the sump plug, now with the 150 there is a plate in the bash guard that comes away with just two bolts!!!

Now something that use to take 2 stubbies to do now only takes me half a stubby!

Rob

[rob_macca67 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close rob_macca67]

Re: New 150's GXL Diesel Prado on Order.....

I gather its just a straight oil change without a filter ???

[tassie tiger Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close tassie tiger]

Re: New 150's GXL Diesel Prado on Order.....

Just drive it normally. You needed to do this stuff to HQ holdens not modern engines where the tolerances are incredible and there is no running in needed.

[rob31.00 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close rob31.00]

Re: New 150's GXL Diesel Prado on Order.....

Hi Rob Mc

Yeah, I figure the oil filter is good to go for the full 10,000 unless you're in the extreme environments (i.e. dusty roads towing 2 or 3 tonnes) for the entire 10,000

rob

[William Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close William]

Re: New 150's GXL Diesel Prado on Order.....

Guys.....

I believe the Oil change intervals for the D4D are 10k between changes...... Just curious as to whether people still change their oils every 5k. I'm a bit incline to change mine (when it arrives ) every 5k as I'm a bit concern that the majority of the kms travelled by the wife will be to drop kids off / shopping, etc which I'm told is not the best conditions for oil longevity. I'm hoping to get out every few months to give it a bit of a H'way run, but this will depend on me having the time also....

Just curious as to what other owners do in this area..... as I might be way off in my thinking ???

I'm with Riv39 on this, I also do 5k interval oil changes on any car I've owned. It's easy and cheap as chips to do.

Oh and if you ever take your car to a toyota service dept, make sure you watch them do the work as I've once experienced some dodgy worksmanship in the past. Basically, the mechanic used an air compressor to blow off dirt off the air filter, then billed me for a "new" air filter. What a clown, he even tried to convince me that its new. Never been there since.

Cheers

[rob_macca67 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close rob_macca67]

Re: New 150's GXL Diesel Prado on Order.....

Thanks William....

What's peoples thoughts on using the "SAME" grade of oil as per the Manual for this intermediate 5k oil change, but obviously using a different BRAND of oil than what Toyota would be using for the regular oil changes/services ???

I know each BRAND of oil manufacturers use their various additives in their oils, but the overall GRADE should be to the same specs as per in the Toyota Manual.....

What's peoples take on this.... as I really don't want to have to buy my OIL from Toyota to do my 5k intermediate service.....

cheers....

rob

3weeks and counting

[Riv39 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Riv39]

Re: New 150's GXL Diesel Prado on Order.....

Guys.....

I believe the Oil change intervals for the D4D are 10k between changes...... Just curious as to whether people still change their oils every 5k. I'm a bit incline to change mine (when it arrives ) every 5k as I'm a bit concern that the majority of the kms travelled by the wife will be to drop kids off / shopping, etc which I'm told is not the best conditions for oil longevity. I'm hoping to get out every few months to give it a bit of a H'way run, but this will depend on me having the time also....

Just curious as to what other owners do in this area..... as I might be way off in my thinking ???

I'm with Riv39 on this, I also do 5k interval oil changes on any car I've owned. It's easy and cheap as chips to do.

Oh and if you ever take your car to a toyota service dept, make sure you watch them do the work as I've once experienced some dodgy worksmanship in the past. Basically, the mechanic used an air compressor to blow off dirt off the air filter, then billed me for a "new" air filter. What a clown, he even tried to convince me that its new. Never been there since.

Cheers

I drive around the corner and pop the bonnet and check the oil colour, it can be difficult to tell as it turns black again pretty quick but normally it is obvious if its been changed. The oil filter is a little harder to check unless you can mark it and check later though they will probably deny everything even if you catch them out.

[Riv39 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Riv39]

Re: New 150's GXL Diesel Prado on Order.....

Thanks William....

What's peoples thoughts on using the "SAME" grade of oil as per the Manual for this intermediate 5k oil change, but obviously using a different BRAND of oil than what Toyota would be using for the regular oil changes/services ???

I know each BRAND of oil manufacturers use their various additives in their oils, but the overall GRADE should be to the same specs as per in the Toyota Manual.....

What's peoples take on this.... as I really don't want to have to buy my OIL from Toyota to do my 5k intermediate service.....

cheers....

rob

3weeks and counting

Rob, i would use the same grade at least whilst under warranty because if something were to go wrong with the engine this issue may come up. One of the 120 series owners on this forum had an engine failure just out of warranty and I believe this aspect of his servicing was scrutinised by Toyota. There was a happy end to the story (which can be found here http://www.pradopoint.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=9920 but I think it shows that it pays to use the correct oil.