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How to break in new 2018 Tundra?

Discussion in '2.5 Gen Tundras (2014-2021)' started by tundrathr0w, Jun 12, 2018.

  1. Jun 12, 2018 at 10:12 PM
    #1
    tundrathr0w

    tundrathr0w [OP] New Member

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    I just bought a new 2018 Tundra. How to break it in?

    I've read the manual, and I've also read lots of conflicting information on this forum and outside of it.

    What say you?
     
    Mountun Goat likes this.
  2. Jun 12, 2018 at 10:18 PM
    #2
    Marty McFly

    Marty McFly Nobody calls me chicken!! Except when off roading

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    Use a crowbar and jimmy the door open :D
    Just joking, drive it like you stole it :yes:

    Seriously, I have a rule we always take a trip to Vegas when we get a new car to break it in :thumbsup:
     
    rodm1, Hbjeff, Sunnier and 3 others like this.
  3. Jun 12, 2018 at 10:39 PM
    #3
    Baja Mike

    Baja Mike Baja Aficionado

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    Just drive it. Don’t tow anything until you have 500 miles on it so the rear differential gears can break in. That’s really about it.
     
  4. Jun 12, 2018 at 11:36 PM
    #4
    TXRailRoadBandit73

    TXRailRoadBandit73 YOTAS,RAILROADER,RÖKnRÖLLN',BEER,MAX/GEMMA

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  5. Jun 12, 2018 at 11:36 PM
    #5
    TXRailRoadBandit73

    TXRailRoadBandit73 YOTAS,RAILROADER,RÖKnRÖLLN',BEER,MAX/GEMMA

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    Welcome from Texas
     
  6. Jun 13, 2018 at 12:20 AM
    #6
    NCinCO

    NCinCO Is it Friday yet?

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    X3 ^^^ and welcome from Colorado
     
  7. Jun 13, 2018 at 2:35 AM
    #7
    ARES

    ARES ARES Fabrications

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    The motor is pretty much broke in. Toyota runs the engines through a firing bench and then they are hooked up to electric motors that run through a 5 hour alternating rpm range. Its the differential and transmission that actually require the break in.
     
    rodm1, Metro14536, Max Power and 2 others like this.
  8. Jun 13, 2018 at 4:46 AM
    #8
    5.7TRDProm

    5.7TRDProm What's bothering you?

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    well damn... I'll be the first to admit the oops since I towed with mines the next day after I got the truck. Open trailer with 3 dirtbikes and 2 atv's, cooler and all that outdoor accessories. Then I went to Vegas the day after, without the trailer and toys lol.
     
  9. Jun 13, 2018 at 4:50 AM
    #9
    offsetplayer2

    offsetplayer2 New Member

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    You're not alone on this. Plenty of people, myself included, have done this with little to no issues. Just use some common sense though and be easy with it. You'll get all sorts of answers with this question now a days. I did the same with the Tundra. Picked it up on Friday, drove it home to a total of about 85 miles. Sat morning I hooked up the travel trailer and drove it a good 100 miles to our camp location.

    Edit: The biggest thing I can agree on with people though is go through the different RPM ranges and drive at different speeds for a while. I don't know much about the Tundras, but the current Tacomas are bad for learning the drivers habit so if you drive like an ol grandpa and ease around everywhere, the truck learns your habits and sets the tune to that style of driving resulting in tons of people complaining about early shifts and lack of power later on down the line. Hopefully these tundras aren't like that.
     
    5.7TRDProm[QUOTED] likes this.
  10. Jun 13, 2018 at 4:59 AM
    #10
    5.7TRDProm

    5.7TRDProm What's bothering you?

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    Phew! Good to hear I'm not alone haha. Yeah forsure I took it easy towing, was a bit more concerned going uphill, but I didn't have to sweat much about it. Also my brother had took some of the items to load into his truck so not everything was all weighted down on mines.

    Oh tacoma's... those things are just a crappy feel driving them period (the newer gen that is) . Before I got this Tundra I wanted a 4runner, but knowing that I will be needing a vehicle to tow and offroading I am glad I got to drive a friend's tacoma hooked onto a uhaul with 3 sportbikes heading out for a trackday and man that thing just lacks power from the the start. I felt so bad for the motor and transmission, I cringed every time the rpm skyjacked up high and screamed. That was when I crossed out the 4runner and went for the Tundra instead. I'll leave those vehicles for the overland lords.
     
  11. Jun 13, 2018 at 5:04 AM
    #11
    offsetplayer2

    offsetplayer2 New Member

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    I'll make one more comment about the Tacoma before I get a little too off topic here but I wanted to agree a little with you. I've had my share of Tacomas including the second gen, which has the 4.0 as well as the 3rd gen with the 3.5 you must be talking about. The 2nd gen drove way better to be honest including when towing our first little popup camper we had. The 3rd gen does love to jump up in RPMS because that's where the power is made on those but it just sounds and feels so bad. Driving them empty or just off road, they're great. I love it for that, but for towing......naaa pass on them for the most part. These Tundras just go. I didn't even notice the trailer back there so much at all when I moved up to this.
     
  12. Nov 19, 2019 at 3:32 PM
    #12
    Long Duck Dink

    Long Duck Dink Nope

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    3/2" Readylift, TRD Dual Exhaust, TRD Sway Bar, Line-X Bedliner, ArmorFlex Tonneau, ESP 3 bin storage, Amp Power-Steps, Driver Side Grab Handle, Ronin Antenna, Window Tint, ClearBra. Coming Soon: 20" Method MR305NV. BF Goodrich KO2 275/60/20
    What about pure freeway miles after purchase? I have a 2019 1794 with 300 miles. I've been doing mostly city driving so lots of varying speeds, shifting, etc. I'm planning on going on about a 300 mile trip next week over Thanksgiving. Should I break it in more before I put 300 purely freeway miles on it?
     
  13. Nov 19, 2019 at 3:41 PM
    #13
    HidetownRed

    HidetownRed Buffalo Hunter

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    You should be fine! Let er rip.
     
  14. Nov 19, 2019 at 3:44 PM
    #14
    polox40

    polox40 New Member

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    I thought I read something about trying to avoid any sudden braking also for first 500 km
     
  15. Nov 20, 2019 at 12:49 PM
    #15
    Cpl_Punishment

    Cpl_Punishment Young men never die.

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    Is there a requirement to vary the speed for the first few hundred miles to break in the torque converter?
     
  16. Nov 20, 2019 at 12:55 PM
    #16
    easleycrawler

    easleycrawler TOYOTA ADDICT- SSEM #78

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    Where is ole @Elkhuntr when you need him. He'd tell you exactly how to break it in.

    Nevermind, you are the wrong elk hunter.
     
    Last edited: Nov 20, 2019
  17. Nov 20, 2019 at 12:59 PM
    #17
    Max Power

    Max Power Groovy Member

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    The Tundra transmissions are nothing like the new Tacoma transmissions.
     
  18. Nov 20, 2019 at 1:00 PM
    #18
    Max Power

    Max Power Groovy Member

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    I think the Elk Hunter you have tagged here is a different guy than the original, legendary Elk Hunter. That said, what an unfortunate screen name the new guy picked.
     
    easleycrawler[QUOTED] likes this.
  19. Nov 20, 2019 at 1:03 PM
    #19
    easleycrawler

    easleycrawler TOYOTA ADDICT- SSEM #78

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    I do believe you are correct. If I remember correctly, the legend spelled his just like you did. I knew the mane didn't look right when I tagged it.
     
    Max Power[QUOTED] likes this.
  20. Nov 20, 2019 at 1:34 PM
    #20
    reelcracker

    reelcracker Just a squirrel trying to get a nut

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    I bought my new 2018 in Cincinnati and drove it home to Orlando. Cruise control the whole way in one day. 15 hour drive I forget how many miles it was but it was a lot.
     
  21. Nov 20, 2019 at 1:52 PM
    #21
    Stumpjumper

    Stumpjumper New Member

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    I took the long way home from work for 4 days. I had a date with the fish 5 days after buying. I ended up with 486 miles and said good enough. Technically you are supposed to stop every 1/2 hour or less and cool rear end when breaking in. Who is going to stop on the side of the road to let it cool.
     
    reelcracker and Cpl_Punishment like this.
  22. Nov 20, 2019 at 2:45 PM
    #22
    CO_Native

    CO_Native New Member

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    HA! Ditto, I bought the truck for the sole purpose of replacing my 4Runner on an upcoming trip. Didn't even have 10 miles on it before the trailer was hooked up. About 3500 now and no problems so far.


    :woot:

    No kidding? Never heard of stopping every 30 minutes. I know from my Jeep days, when they get regeared the 500 mile break-in period should be easy driving, but never heard of taking breaks at timed intervals.
     
  23. Nov 20, 2019 at 4:17 PM
    #23
    Mountun Goat

    Mountun Goat She baaaaaahd

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  24. Jul 6, 2020 at 7:50 PM
    #24
    Hartsy8

    Hartsy8 Resident Hockey Guy

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    I took the new truck on the highway and opened it up a bit to see what I was getting (you have to test the v8 right?!). Also do just a little bit of fairly aggressive accelerating for very short periods. Should be fine eh?
     

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