Break In Period?!?!?!

[SimC33]

Originally Posted by fbird777

I believe the engine is broken in before the engine is ever placed in the vehicle like others believe. The manual will still tell you to break the engine in for added insurance I believe.

This is true...My 135i's engine was broken in, dynoed, and track tested before I was given the car. I guess its smart that they break in the engine before they placed in the car due to people like me and others who will be doing it our own way and not letting us breaking, or worse, blowing the motor and bringing it back saying "Opps, can I have another one please?!" hahahaha

[lalometalik]

lets not get ahead of ourselves
that still remains to be the big question,
Factory Break-in vs DIY Break-in???
what aspects differentiate each one, and so forth...
who knows!

[SimC33]

Originally Posted by lalometalik

lets not get ahead of ourselves
that still remains to be the big question,
Factory Break-in vs DIY Break-in???
what aspects differentiates each one, and so forth...
who knows!

*(insert Cleavland's voice) "We need some official justification and clarification in here!!!"...haha

[radz28]

Originally Posted by headpunter

i am still of the inclination they break in the motor before installation

I thought I remember reading it was just for 'Vette engines. They would run all of them on propane for a few minutes to check that everything was okay and then send them to KY. I'm sure that's for sure on any hand-built engine but I think regular production engines just get assembled and sent on their way... I'd like to know though

Originally Posted by lalometalik

lets not get ahead of ourselves
that still remains to be the big question,
Factory Break-in vs DIY Break-in???
what aspects differentiates each one, and so forth...
who knows!

I'm not sure you're going to get a straight answer, honestly. I wish I could learn this answer too, however, I don't think it's really possible to test each way. Every engine is different and even though tollerances and output are way more within tighter tollerances now, I just don't think you're going to get a better answer than the Owner's Manual. Personally, I'm hybriding the site information from earlier (i.e. oil changes for the first thousand miles or whatever they were [I read it a long time ago]; no constant speeds for long durations; load the engine up with safe consistancy [no WOT runs, but a lot of throttle input to vary engine speeds and such]; etc.) Again, I think the Owner's Manual has more of a slant toward overall vehicle break-in but I think there are some things one can implement specifically for engine break-in. I seriously don't think you can do wrong with referrencing the manual

[lalometalik]

good stuff. DIY it is for me

[DntWrryBeHappy21]

Yeah even if it is factory broken in wont hurt to do some breaking in yourself :-)

[kanys]

Originally Posted by headpunter

where is Fbodfather or Al Oppenheiser when we need him

I just heard about break-ins for the first time last weekend, and have since researched it probably about 5-6 hours. It is all kinda freaking me out and I hope one of the two mention above chime in and calm my (and everyone else's it seems) nerves. I would expect the engine to be at least partially broken in at the factory, but I am still going to run it at varying rpms and such for about 600m, but rarely over 5k so as not to put too much strain on the drivetrain(yeah, I just made a sweet rhyme!). On the oil, I have also heard it may not be the best to switch it out, but I read somewhere that modern cars that come w/ synthetic from the factory has some special stuff in there to help catch the debris. If that is true I hope that stuff is in the Camaro, or better yet regular oil!

[playhard67]

Originally Posted by headpunter

where is Fbodfather or Al Oppenheiser when we need him

[RCowan]

My LS1 from MY99 still had factory honing marks on the cylinder walls when I changed the heads at 83,xxx miles. Don't sweat it! Welcome to the LSX revolution! Get in, adjust the seat and let 'er rip.

[CWI]

I can only speak for my own experiences and I am not going to recomend to anyone how to break in a new engine. Other parts of a new car are going to have minimal inpact by how you drive it early on unless you just go out and run the dogshit out of it and break something. The biggest issue on an engine however is sealing the piston rings. I would be very inclined to believe the comments on the moto website though. Even though our new engines are aluminum blocks, they have steel inserts that in the case of the LS3 are actually cast in at the foundry vs. other engine builders that machine them and press them into the cylinder.

That being said, I have owned several new vehicles over the years and agree that the first 20-50 miles are the most critical for breaking in the rings. Being a AWS Certified Welding Inspector, I have learned a bit about metalurgy and also about abrasives. By no means do I think that makes me an expert on this subject. Again I am just sharing my experience and my opinion, everyone has one. Early ring seating makes perfect sense to me. The same could probably be said for valve seating as well, compression forces the valves closed tighter and forges a seal quicker. Fossil oil during break in makes a lot of sense also. I have a brother that is a Certified Mechanic and have known many great mechanics in my life. I have never heard any of them say it takes 1, 2 or even 3000 miles to break in.

I have had 2 new Chevy trucks in the last three years. The service manager told me to just drive it the way i planned on driving all the time just avoid steady speed for prolonged periods for the first (few) hundred miles. After that, go for it. One of these was a Duramax. Problem there was that just days after buying it I left Oregon to go to work in Arizona. I was also pulling a 30ft travel trailer. From there I went to Alabama, pulling the trailer. While I was in Florida one weekend My oil life monitor told me I had something like 10% life remaining. Not wanting to change it right away, I called my service department in Oregon and explained my situation. After explaining I already had over 11,000 miles on the original oil and I was headed back to Oregon in a couple days he said no problem, make an appointment and we can do it when you get back. 14,000 miles, I ask him? What about warranty? He just said not a problem, you cant hurt that engine. BTW, none of these rigs ever gave me a problem with power OR oil usage.

Now for what I think and something to think about. Chevy has had the Duramax engine since 2000. It is built by Isuzu. It is a very good engine and by far more powerful than the two Powerstrokes I had previously. Like the LS3, the Duramax is aluminum with steel sleave cylinders. I am thinking with 99.999999999% confidence that GM has learned how to build engines that will run great for years. Their break ins are recommendations.
I drove my new Colorado from Oregon to Anacortes, WA the day after I bought itand to northern Cal 3 weeks later. After several oil changes, it has 37,000 miles and doesn't use any oil. See a pattern of good results?

I will drive my new Camaro the way I want and watch the gauges very close to avoid getting it hot during break in. Not a problem in my mind. If someone has legitimate info to the contrary I would be happy to see it.

[JiXeR'z DoDgE/FoRd KiLLeR]

All you guys have to do is drive the car like you have some sense. Don't try to kill yourself breaking in an engine! The engines will definitely be broken in but it is safe to do your own. Just read the manual and be safe and drive smart

[Angrybird 12]

Originally Posted by CWIweldace

I can only speak for my own experiences and I am not going to recomend to anyone how to break in a new engine. Other parts of a new car are going to have minimal inpact by how you drive it early on unless you just go out and run the dogshit out of it and break something. The biggest issue on an engine however is sealing the piston rings. I would be very inclined to believe the comments on the moto website though. Even though our new engines are aluminum blocks, they have steel inserts that in the case of the LS3 are actually cast in at the foundry vs. other engine builders that machine them and press them into the cylinder.

That being said, I have owned several new vehicles over the years and agree that the first 20-50 miles are the most critical for breaking in the rings. Being a AWS Certified Welding Inspector, I have learned a bit about metalurgy and also about abrasives. By no means do I think that makes me an expert on this subject. Again I am just sharing my experience and my opinion, everyone has one. Early ring seating makes perfect sense to me. The same could probably be said for valve seating as well, compression forces the valves closed tighter and forges a seal quicker. Fossil oil during break in makes a lot of sense also. I have a brother that is a Certified Mechanic and have known many great mechanics in my life. I have never heard any of them say it takes 1, 2 or even 3000 miles to break in.

I have had 2 new Chevy trucks in the last three years. The service manager told me to just drive it the way i planned on driving all the time just avoid steady speed for prolonged periods for the first (few) hundred miles. After that, go for it. One of these was a Duramax. Problem there was that just days after buying it I left Oregon to go to work in Arizona. I was also pulling a 30ft travel trailer. From there I went to Alabama, pulling the trailer. While I was in Florida one weekend My oil life monitor told me I had something like 10% life remaining. Not wanting to change it right away, I called my service department in Oregon and explained my situation. After explaining I already had over 11,000 miles on the original oil and I was headed back to Oregon in a couple days he said no problem, make an appointment and we can do it when you get back. 14,000 miles, I ask him? What about warranty? He just said not a problem, you cant hurt that engine. BTW, none of these rigs ever gave me a problem with power OR oil usage.

Now for what I think and something to think about. Chevy has had the Duramax engine since 2000. It is built by Isuzu. It is a very good engine and by far more powerful than the two Powerstrokes I had previously. Like the LS3, the Duramax is aluminum with steel sleave cylinders. I am thinking with 99.999999999% confidence that GM has learned how to build engines that will run great for years. Their break ins are recommendations.
I drove my new Colorado from Oregon to Anacortes, WA the day after I bought itand to northern Cal 3 weeks later. After several oil changes, it has 37,000 miles and doesn't use any oil. See a pattern of good results?

I will drive my new Camaro the way I want and watch the gauges very close to avoid getting it hot during break in. Not a problem in my mind. If someone has legitimate info to the contrary I would be happy to see it.

I have always followed the Manufacturers break in (Over 30 NEW Vehicles)and have never had any vehicle use any oil(leaking yes, but using oil no). even after 140,000 miles on my 89 Chevy truck... Now see a pattern there???

P.S. 37,000 miles is nothing, the truck is just now getting to where it should perform it's best. there is no way ANY vehicle should use any oil at that number of miles.

[MLL67RSSS]

Well I just have to add this. Have you ever toured the Corvette plant? Just as EVERY car comes off the line it is driven into a little "torture chamber" with dyno wheels in the floor. They pull in onto the rollers and some posts come out of the floor in front of it, it kind of "chocks" the front wheels with ramps, and a monitor panel slides over in front of the windshield. After the doors shut and the posts and monitor panel are in place they proceed to run the ever loving piss out of the thing. Do a full throttle romp thru the gears while the power output is monitored, if it passes a green box lights up on the monitor "PASS". Then after everything moves and the doors open they drive it out to load for delivery. Pretty damn awesome thing to see. That brand new Corvette, engine screaming, bucking and swaying on those rollers looking as if it will come flying off of there any second (look ma, no safety straps)!!!!!! Truely a sight to see.

So I guess if you buy a Corvette, some amount of break-in has already been performed!

Mike L.

[Sierra]

I have always kept easy up until 500 miles. I have no issues over 4 vehicles. 2 with over 100k, never burnt oil.