I have a 2025 RAV4 LE gas model. Some people say you should change the oil at 1000 km (about 600 miles) during the break-in period to clear out metal shavings or debris from the engine. Is this a must-do, or is it just something people say with no real reason behind it?
Just stick to what the manual says. They know best.
Back in the day, early oil changes were more needed. Now, engines are made much better, so it’s not as big a deal. Do it if you want—it won’t hurt, just costs a bit of time and money. This topic always gets brought up here!
I wouldn’t bother. Engines these days are built well. Just follow what Toyota recommends. They know their engines better than anyone here.
Go with what the manual says.
Huxley said:
Go with what the manual says.
Thanks for the advice. That’s why I mentioned the ‘old wives’ tale’ in my post!
It doesn’t hurt. I did mine at 1000 miles.
I changed my 2023 RAV4 oil at 800 miles, then every 3k miles a few times. Now, I’ll stick to 5k miles. The first change had a lot of glitter in the oil, much less after that. I’d recommend doing an oil change at 500-1000 miles during break-in. Just my two cents.
@Nuri
Just a heads-up, $0.02 means two cents, but .02 cents is way less!
@Nuri
If debris is in the oil pan, it’s too heavy to go through the oil filter. Changing the oil early wouldn’t really make a difference.
silikmed said:
@Nuri
If debris is in the oil pan, it’s too heavy to go through the oil filter. Changing the oil early wouldn’t really make a difference.
That’s like saying you don’t need a respirator when grinding lead because the particles drop to the ground. Not how it works.
@Nuri
You should really look into how oil moves around an engine.
I did my first change at 6 months/4k miles. Now I change every 6k, no problems so far.
Teegan said:
I did my first change at 6 months/4k miles. Now I change every 6k, no problems so far.
Same here! My first was at 2500 miles, then 5k intervals. Maybe it’s overkill, but it gives me peace of mind.
This is definitely a solid approach.
Why not? It’s a good way to learn more about your car. Makes for a productive Saturday too.
It’s probably not a must, but I’ll be doing it at 1000 km for peace of mind. My 2025 RAV4 is on the way.
It’s a cheap DIY job, around $35-$40. I did mine at 800 miles and follow 5k intervals now. It’s an extra oil change a year for me and saves me time compared to dealer visits.
Changing oil more often keeps engines running longer. My 2022 RAV4 LE AWD has 34k km, and I’ve done 8 changes, around 4250 km apart. Oil is cheap compared to engines!
LandCruiserLover said:
Changing oil more often keeps engines running longer. My 2022 RAV4 LE AWD has 34k km, and I’ve done 8 changes, around 4250 km apart. Oil is cheap compared to engines!
That’s just wasting oil.