How did you break your engine in?

[DavidCigam]

I know there are over 5,000 different ways to break an engine in, and I'm not asking because I wanna know how to break it in, I'm just curious on what some approach you all took on breaking it in. So, how did you break you engine in?

I researched for hours how to break an engine in before I decided on how I was going to, I found people telling me to keep it under 3K RPM and follow the manual while I also had people telling me to run it with hard loads.

That's when I decided I'll do a little of both, drive it how I will in the future, let it shift at 2K RPMs sometimes and other times have a little fun and let it shift at 4-5K RPMs, but I am staying away from using tapshift and cruise control, varying my speed for the first 1,500 miles. I figure millions of people drive off the lot with new cars every year and a lot of them may have not even heard of breaking an engine in. I just didn't see it as a do or die to keep it under 3K RPM for the first 3K miles and I drive a V6 so I'm not too concerned about making my engine a race engine so i wasn't big on the idea about putting huge load after huge load for the first 1,500 miles.

I also asked around about the subject, even asked a person who bought a '79 Camaro SS brand new and she didn't even know what an engine break-in was, she drove it the same way day 1 that she planned on driving it 5 years later, she kept the car for 10 years and it was in fine condition. I think breaking an engine-in is less needed now than it was back in the 70s.

But I am a noob/rookie/beginner when it comes to cars, though I do know that when you break an engine in you are pretty much sealing the cylinders, or making the car not use so much oil in the future. So my method may be hurting the car, who knows. But I am curious on y'alls approach on breaking an engine in.

[onechuck]

Like I stole it...

[lets_go_bills]

Don't shift until you've hit 6000rpm.

Seriosuly though, read the manual, that's the only way to break it in. Trust the people who built your car to know the right way to do it.

[ZED SLED]

Took it easy for about 200 miles then couldn't stand it anymore and from then on I drive it like a drunk on the way to the liquor store for more tequila.

[ga0358]

Well, I followed most of the advice I read on here. I took it easy for a while, then soon as the magic 1500 passed, I gunned her a couple of times, but NOT for long. Just short bursts of speed up to 90-95 then down again. Now she runs like a top and purrs like a kitten! I'm putting on a CAI this weekend and can't wait to see what she'll do then!

[TooCool5]

Originally Posted by ga0358

Well, I followed most of the advice I read on here. I took it easy for a while, then soon as the magic 1500 passed, I gunned her a couple of times, but NOT for long. Just short bursts of speed up to 90-95 then down again. Now she runs like a top and purrs like a kitten! I'm putting on a CAI this weekend and can't wait to see what she'll do then!

Did the factory break in, jumped on it a few times up to 85 mph after the first 500 miles.
First day I kept her hot for 4 hrs to temper the block good and stabilize it. Runs great and burns no oil.

[scythezo6]

I drove it pretty mild until about 3000 miles then drove it like I do any other car.

[cmore]

Except for a few times that I could not resist, followed the manuals recommendations.

[SSOOCH]

Tastes GREAT!!

Less FILLING!!

It's the age old debate.......

[SlingShot]

Drove it !!!

[Jayconut]

load the engine many times to break it in fast

[pennor]

I'm still breaking mine in technically since it only has 1000 miles on it and the manual says to break it in for 1500.

Anyway, the weekend we bought it we took it on a trip over the mountains on secondary roads, no freeways. That gave the car lots of speed changes, uphill and downhill grades, and several hours of operating at temperature. Since then I've avoided long trips on freeways because I was taught that long periods of constant speeds are hard on a brand new engine. There has also been a good amount of stop-and-go city driving on the car since that was what we needed to do. Overall I'm fairly comfortable with this regiment for the break in period. Next up after 1500 miles, maybe a long out of state trip on the Interstate.

[JoeP@TeamBeckyD]

Originally Posted by onechuck

Like I stole it...

[SC2150]

I ignore the factory breakin. I drain the syn and put in a good dino oil like Rottela, or Valvoline racing. Run it easy for the first 100 or so miles varying the RPMs constantly, never running at one RPM for to long. Then beat the heck out of it for the next few hundred miles, drain cut open the filter & examine (most good engine builders have a filter cutter) and fill with a good syn and your broke in and rings seated.

This is just my way, and no dealer will agree....but from 35 years of building race & performance engines.

On our alky fueled drag motors we build them a little looser so we just make one run 1/2 track, one full run, drain & refill and go racing. These are $20-$30k engines though. Your OEM LS engine is built with closer tolerances so needs a little more time.