[WhalerXDM]

Some people like to get their oil changed at 1,000 miles. It's debatable whether it is necessary with modern engines but it doesn't hurt. I will probably do it. "Do not drive continuously in low gears" may not apply to your hybrid. Since the ICE models have an 8-speed transmission, you can slide the shifter to the left to put it in a manual shift mode, which would keep the tranny in a lower gear and allow the engine to rev higher. Not sure if the hybrids have that feature since they are eCVT. Just leave the shifter in the customary position and it won't be an issue. Sudden stops are not recommended; this allows the brakes to bed properly. They want you to vary the speed of the vehicle somewhat because maintaining a constant speed can (in theory) cause the mating surfaces in the engine, transmission, and elsewhere to break in for that specific speed instead of breaking in for more general use. Overall, just don't abuse the car for the first 1,000 miles and you'll be fine. After that, abuse away !! 😁

 

[WhalerXDM]

So, here is a related question.... how many here know what an A&P is ?
Does this website have a long list of acronyms that anyone owning a Rav4 should memorize?
What are the acronym rules?
Yeah a little tongue in cheek, but even google did not satisfy my look up

Well, A&P used to be a grocery store. Not sure if it still is. Surely that's what was meant, right? If not, I'm as lost as you are. 😁 Only difference is, I just ignored it.

 

[WhalerXDM]

I’m no expert, but IMHO it just means drive sensibly for the first little while.

Yep, and I cannot imagine any new RAV4 owner driving in any manner other than "sensibly". The RAV4 epitomizes "sensible."

 

[WhalerXDM]

Not saying this is wrong, but the guy does come across as if he's trying to sell you snake oil...

Except I don't think he is trying to sell or promote anything, is he? He is a little dramatic so I can see why he might come across that way.

 

[WhalerXDM]

Yeah it's probably more of a cultural difference, that style of presentation seems more expected over that side of the pond! Here it would raise instant suspicion.

Also what chuckles said.

Yep. In the U.S. marketing makes all the difference (unfortunately). I try to stay away from the companies that appear to be the most successful at what they do and try to find the ones that are actually the best at what they do. That usually means staying away from the ones that advertise the most.

 

[WhalerXDM]

I been buying cars(trucks) since 1968. Back in the day brake in was important to some people. If you got 60-100'000 miles before overhaul you was lucky. This was the days of leaded gas. Unleaded gas changed all that. I started an auto parts store in 1973. We had $9000 worth of exhaust. I was in business for 35 years. When unleaded gas came out it killed the exhaust business. Inventory went to about $1000. Engine parts sales was massive back in the 70's,80's and 90's. Now it's a thing of the past mostly. It's not uncommon to get 250-400'000 miles now from some makes if properly maintained. To me brake-in period of modern engines are a thing of the past. Maintenance is very important. Change your oil and filter immediately even if you buy new or used and never go over 5000 miles or 6 months before oil and filter changes. And drive a new vehicle normal as soon as you get it. Remember NO breaking in needed on new vehicles.

The banning of leaded gas may have been good for exhaust systems but it was detrimental to virtually every other function of the engine since lead is very effective both as a lubricant and for knock prevention. It took the automotive industry nearly 40 years to recover and bring compression ratios up to where they were with leaded gas. I'm not saying the banning of leaded gas was a bad thing. But it certainly did not contribute to making engines more reliable. To the contrary, in fact. That ban (which was necessary) combined with the overly aggressive pollution controls in the early 1970s (too much too soon) resulted in some of the biggest pieces of junk in automotive history.

 

[WhalerXDM]

Not sure banning leaded gas was "overly aggressive" from a human health perspective. We do have a nasty habit of poisoning ourselves.

https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2118631119#:~:text=Over%2043%25%20of%20the%20US,population%20for%20the%20foreseeable%20future

.

I specifically said the banning of leaded gas was necessary. I mentioned pollution controls that were overly aggressive, in the sense of "too fast too soon."

 

[WhalerXDM]

Wouldn’t the owners manual tell us to change the oil if necessary at 1000 miles?

Nobody is saying it is "necessary." Just saying it's better to do so. Plus, in the U.S., Toyota would be penalized by the EPA if they suggested making the extra oil change. Same thing applies to making 5,000 mile oil changes instead of the 10,000 miles oil changes specified in the owners manual.