Running in a new car...

[johno251 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close johno251]

Hi all my first post on here so thought I would get some advice. I pick up my new GXL auto Diesel 150 in a few days and I was wondering if anyone has any tips on running it in properly. I have heard there are some things you can do driving wise to help the motor. Or maybe not. Could be a myth.... Any help would be appreciated. Also I am looking at getting a bull bar for it and trying to decide on a colour coded or a Black bar. I went for a graphite Prado so im sure either will look great!! If anyone has any pics post up some pics. Cheers

Anyways thanks for your help!!!

[cbm8880 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close cbm8880]

Hi Johno,

Well done on the new prado! I hope you'll have a lot of fun.

Modern cars don't need to be run in like those of yesteryear, in part because the tolerances in part dimensions are much finer and modern oils are kinder to your engine. Having said that I'm a bit old school and if only to make myself feel better i did the following :

Drive it gently for a while at a range of speeds and revs
Don't tow for the first ?800km (check the manual)
Give it the odd hard acceleration the full way through the rev range
Change your oil and filter at the first service

So really it's a bit like you would drive it normally anyway.

There will be a lot of Monday morning quarterbacks, as well as a few well informed mechanics on here, so pick the advice that you feel is best and run with it. :-)

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

I tend to agree, just drive it normally, don't thrash it but don't baby it either.

I heard that you shouldn't tow for the first xxx Kim's but when I bought mine the salesman helped me hook up my 1.5 tonne trailer with only 2k on the clock and I then drove the 250k home. Nearly 70 thou later it's still going perfect.

Cheers Andrew

[gspy4u Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close gspy4u]

Just make sure it's warmed up before you drive it hard. Don't baby it but don't thrash it either just drive it sensibly. Most important thing I reckon is don't keep it at the same revs for long periods of time, vary your speed, change up or down a gear to change the revs. Have always done this and have always had good strong motors. 177,000k's no smoke, heaps of power and no problems on current beastie.

Most modern motors are bench run anyway from the manufacturer as there are so small tolerances. So as long as it's at operating temp all's good.

[dreamon Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dreamon]

I have a graphite with colour coded ARB bar which I think looks cool

[johno251 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close johno251]

Thanks all! Sounds like your all on the same page. I won't be towing for a while so that won't be an issue. Anyone got any advice or preferences on bull bars. Black or graphite and also brands?? I have looked at arb and also iron man...
Thanks again!!

[johno251 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close johno251]

I have a graphite with colour coded ARB bar which I think looks cool

Have you got any pics mate??

[sweetpea Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close sweetpea]

Lots of Bullbar pics here http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...ictures-thread

Good luck choosing.

S.

[SuperDavid Member Find all posts View Profile Close SuperDavid]

I've got a new graphite 150 aswell and I've also been looking at bullbars and other things.

The arb seems to look the best but the price is alot higher than everyone else. $2166 fitted, then $220 for colour coding and then I think it was $150 to have fog lights in the bull bar.

Opposite lock in wangara do a bullbar for $1499 + $315 fitted. I think colour coding is the same price $220 and I think a similar price to keep the fog lights.

Perth 4x4 in balcatta only fit ARB bullbars and they are actually cheaper than ARB themselves! $2070 fitted + $220 colour coding.

I did send an email to TJM in oconnor but they havn't gotten back to me. I suppose I could call them. I'm sure as hell not driving out there, since I'm north of the river. Even if they do come up with a good price, can I be bothered having someone follow me out there and drive me back all the way from oconnor when I'm north of the river. If you are north of the river TJM isn't much of an option.

At the end of the day I'm leaning towards Opposite lock, they were cheaper than anywhere else for toughdog suspension and dual batteries. If they can beat everyone else on a snorkel I think I'll go through with it.

I was worried about quality of bullbars and the look and all that stuff, but the more I look at the different bullbars the more I think it doesn't matter. So long as I can take out a kangaroo and not get stranded somewhere, I guess thats all I need. Most of the brand name bullbars I've seen arent completly ugly, so its hard to go wrong with the actual look of it.

[SuperDavid Member Find all posts View Profile Close SuperDavid]

double post

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

Drive it like you stole it*

* Only after it has warmed up

[stevep84 Find all posts View Profile Close stevep84]

Super David I don't know if this will help with your decision or not but here is what a black OL bar looks like with a Safari Snorkel on a Blue Storm prado.



As for the running in I agree with the other guys.

[SWR Banned Find all posts View Profile Close SWR]

Gday guys

I seen the header "Running in a new car.." and couldn't help myself!!

This is how i see how you run-in-a-new-car! .....Lol

Click Here!

Cheers

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Gday guys

I seen the header "Running in a new car.." and couldn't help myself!!

This is how i see how you run-in-a-new-car! .....Lol

Click Here!

Cheers

10 outa 10 for that one

Cheers Andrew

[shodown Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close shodown]

The arb seems to look the best but the price is alot higher than everyone else. $2166 fitted, then $220 for colour coding and then I think it was $150 to have fog lights in the bull bar.

Opposite lock in wangara do a bullbar for $1499 + $315 fitted. I think colour coding is the same price $220 and I think a similar price to keep the fog lights.

Perth 4x4 in balcatta only fit ARB bullbars and they are actually cheaper than ARB themselves! $2070 fitted + $220 colour coding.

Thanks for the pricing - I am looking to changeover bars eventually - my 150 GX came with an ARB non-winch.

here is what a black OL bar looks like with a Safari Snorkel on a Blue Storm prado.

That looks very close to an ARB bar...