Break-In for n00bs

[2010camaro2SS]

Hi,

I'm a self proclaimed n00b, so please don't blast me. I've never bought a new car, so I never had to worry about breaking the engine in. My head is spinning due to all the information I've read by searching the forum threads/posts and generic stuff on google.

Can we make a sticky with a tried/true/road tested LS3 break-in procedure?

So far I've been following the method described in the Camaro manual, however, I'm traveling from Austin -> Port Aransas this weekend (3 hour drive), and am worried about keeping the engine at a constant RPM for too long.

Will this hurt my motor (it only has 200 miles on it thus far)? Should I switch from 6th gear to 4th every so often just to break the monotony? What say you fine people?

[jpsuperman81]

There isn't a tried and true break in procedure. Break in will always be opinion and not fact. If you want fact closest thing you can do is read manual and follow it to a T. They build the cars they write the manual, other than that you will always get varied opinions.

[jpsuperman81]

I might also mention I have been varying rpm's and not going past 5k on the tach. But I also haven't been babying it, I have shifted many times at 5k and have been driving normal for the most part.

[Scott@Bjorn3D]

Do not use cruise control until you get about 1K miles on it. You can leave it in 5th on the highway just very your speeds from 55-65

[Edrock]

Break-in = semi-aggressive acceleration between 2nd and 4th gears. Keep it under 4500 rpms for 1500 miles (if possible), i.e., no red-lining. On your trip, just don't use cruise control and you'll be fine. On occassion, slack up on the speed, then lean into it back up to speed. You'll be fine.

[DDustiNN]

Yeah just let off the gas and speed it up again every now and then... People behind you might think you're crazy and don't know how to drive, but hey... at least you're the one that has the Camaro...

[Silver Ice Man]

Originally Posted by 2010camaro2SS

Hi,

I'm a self proclaimed n00b, so please don't blast me. I've never bought a new car, so I never had to worry about breaking the engine in. My head is spinning due to all the information I've read by searching the forum threads/posts and generic stuff on google.

Can we make a sticky with a tried/true/road tested LS3 break-in procedure?

So far I've been following the method described in the Camaro manual, however, I'm traveling from Austin -> Port Aransas this weekend (3 hour drive), and am worried about keeping the engine at a constant RPM for too long.

Will this hurt my motor (it only has 200 miles on it thus far)? Should I switch from 6th gear to 4th every so often just to break the monotony? What say you fine people?

I hear where you are coming from. and welcome to the family
I picked mine up at a dealer over 12 hours from where I live, it only had 100KMS on it when I picked it up.
The trip home was nerve racking, but here is what I did:
We picked up the camaro cruised around the city for a half hour or so to ensure she was good and warmed up.
Then out onto the highway we went, I didn't want a dog engine, so I was somewhat aggressive with her. Off any traffic lights on the highway I would take it up to 3800 RPMS untill we got to 100 KMS (60 miles)/Hour, then back off and let it cruise down the road, then after 20 minutes or so I would bring it down to around 50 - 60 KMS then open it up to about 130 -140 KMS never going over the 4000 RPMS that the manual says.
A 12 hour drive like this takes quite a while, every time we went in for fuel, I would stop for about a half hour or so, open the hood and let the engine cool right down. Maybe over kill for what we are supposed to do, but I really pamper my iron. Not to mention all the attention she would attract, man I nerver had to answer so many questions.
It was great in the corners at 130-140KMS but in the praries they are few and far between.
Once she was home, I gave her a good soapy bath, dried her off, and tucked her into the garage for the night. One of the best week ends of my life
Hope this helps, have fun with your new ride, be sure to get some pics up as well.

[2010camaro2SS]

Thanks for all the advice thus far, and for welcoming me into the family! This is the coolest purchase I think I'll ever make in my life!

[2010camaro2SS]

One more question. I've seen that it is advisable to change your oil after about 500 miles or so (to clean out all the metal shavings/fragments from the engine). It says in the book that the first oil change is at 25,000 miles? I'm flabbergasted. That can't be right, can it?

If not, I'm gonna go buy some Mobil 1 this weekend and do it after I come back from the road trip to the coast.

[PQ]

Originally Posted by 2010camaro2SS

One more question. I've seen that it is advisable to change your oil after about 500 miles or so (to clean out all the metal shavings/fragments from the engine). It says in the book that the first oil change is at 25,000 miles? I'm flabbergasted. That can't be right, can it?

If not, I'm gonna go buy some Mobil 1 this weekend and do it after I come back from the road trip to the coast.

Uhhhhh.... Ya. Don't wait 25,000 miles. This isn't a BMW 6 cylinder. And as far as your trip, just do like the guys said, keep away from cruise control. You don't need to be constantly thinking about the speed varying because you'll have to do that at times anyway. I took the 700 mile round trip to see Scott and Steph when my car only had a couple hundred miles on it and was concerned like you are. But you'll go through the speeds at different times whether you like it or not.

[Edrock]

Originally Posted by 2010camaro2SS

One more question. I've seen that it is advisable to change your oil after about 500 miles or so (to clean out all the metal shavings/fragments from the engine). It says in the book that the first oil change is at 25,000 miles? I'm flabbergasted. That can't be right, can it?

If not, I'm gonna go buy some Mobil 1 this weekend and do it after I come back from the road trip to the coast.

Good question. I have seen people say after 500 miles do the 1st oil change. Then I have seen some say to pull the dipstick and check every so often. When you see the oil starts to darken, take it in for 1st oil change. I asked my dealer and more than one person there said there is no need to do the 500 mile oil change on these new tech engines and just to wait until the first 5000 mile mark to perform the 1st change. I think I'm going to keep a close eye on the coloring of my oil and see how far I get before noticing a color change. If the color does not change and stays relatively light and clean, I'll definitely do the oil change at 5000 miles regardless. If it starts to darken before 5000, into the shop it goes. This is one of those topics where there is no hard, fast rule so just try to figure out which way makes the most sense to you and you are comfortable with. Good luck.

[GEN-IV]

Don't lug it, low RPM high load is the worst thing you can do to a new engine. Other than that, break-in according to what you decide is correct for you.

The 500 mile oil and filter change is a good preventative measure to get the junk out of the engine that the factory may have missed, and the inevitable early wear particles. Some engines will show more debris than others.

Is it necessary? No. Is 426 HP necessary? I change it at 500, at 1500, then 3000, 6000 etc. It's my baby!