break-in period

[camarofanatic]

before people start jumping all over this thread because it might of been answered somewhere else but i couldnt find a deffinate answer(which some have the tendancy to do) what is the break in period ive seen 500 to 1000 miles and is there a certain speed that you cant go past or what

thank you

[zebra]

i don't really know if there's a definite answer. this ain't 20 years ago when if you didn't break it in right, the engine wouldn't operate as efficiently. from what i hear, the engine will be broken in from the factory (i don't really see how), but either way, i'm gonna take the first 1000 miles or so to make sure & break in the rest of the car. for the first bit, you don't wanna dog it or do much highway driving. just be gentle and try to use a semi-broad rpm range to make sure the rings get seated properly.

others who've had more experience with this feel free to chime in.

[Moose]

I suppose I'm "old school", but I've always followed the same routine;

For the first 500 mi.; no hard accelerations, vary the speeds at which I drive (no sustained speed for any length of time), no "speed shifting"; and an oil/filter change after 500 mi.

I've been told the above isn't necessary with "todays engines", but it's not a problem (for me) to follow these few steps and give myself "piece of mind".

I hope that helped answer your question?

[Mr Twisty]

New CAR engines are good to go, especially if they're shipping with synth. engine oil. They better be, the way I drive em!

[Croathlete]

I'm just going to follow my trusty owner's manual

Should have all the info we need.

[Scott@Bjorn3D]

Don't know if you would have to change the oil at 500 with Mobile 1 and it holding almost 9qts of oil. I plan on my first change at 3K then aound every 6K after that with Mobile 1.

[kanys]

From what I understand the engines are broken in very well at the factories. However other various components need to be worn in a little like the suspension and brakes and such, so I am going to accelerate smooth, brake smooth, corner smooth, drive on smooth roads and all that for the first 750 miles or so, then gradually get more agressive with it until I am driving it like I stole it at around 125000-150000 miles. But that is just me and is most likely completely uneccessary, but I am a little OCD and can't help myself.

[kanys]

Originally Posted by Croathlete

I'm just going to follow my trusty owner's manual

Should have all the info we need.

Yes the manual will probably say to take it easy for like 600 miles and vary RPM's, and most people will say that is fine. Of course some people love to beat the heck outta their cars and peel out of the dealership, which can be argued is fine too. Just depends on who you talk to, and what you are comfortable with.

[Croathlete]

Originally Posted by kanys

Yes the manual will probably say to take it easy for like 600 miles and vary RPM's, and most people will say that is fine. Of course some people love to beat the heck outta their cars and peel out of the dealership, which can be argued is fine too. Just depends on who you talk to, and what you are comfortable with.

Yea, I trust those GM engineers who get paid a ton of money to know their cars inside and out. If they say I can beat on it at 500 miles, hell that's what I'll do!

[camarofanatic]

thank you all that helps alot i plan on taking it easy bc its a brand new car i wouldnt want to be horsing around and wrap it up OH GOD i think id go and dig 6 foot and hide from my parents

[lalometalik]

Originally Posted by kanys

Yes the manual will probably say to take it easy for like 600 miles and vary RPM's, and most people will say that is fine. Of course some people love to beat the heck outta their cars and peel out of the dealership, which can be argued is fine too. Just depends on who you talk to, and what you are comfortable with.

also, its been confirmed that these engines will come with synthetic oil. so to help with the break-in, there are 'break-in synthetic' oils out there, Royal Purple makes one for example.

i agree on varying rpms strongly and i would avoid long trips where sustained speeds are likely to occur.

[Timberline]

Your paying for the car break it in the way you see fit.

I normally take it easy for the first 200 miles so the gears can wear in and always varying speed and rpm. I will get on it from day one but won't speed shift it. After that I drive it like I stole it but will still vary rpm and speed until 1000 miles for example no highway cruising at a set speed & rpm for long periods of time.

Never hammer it when the rearend and transmission are cold like frist thing in the morning this is my rule for as long as I own any car/truck. The gears normally warm up after a mile or so depending on how cold it is out side.

[paulv7260]

An underlying question to all this is how long would it take you to get through any break-in period? 2 days? A week? Face it, we're going to be in our cars an awful lot those first few days.

[Xanthos]

Originally Posted by Moose

I suppose I'm "old school", but I've always followed the same routine;

For the first 500 mi.; no hard accelerations, vary the speeds at which I drive (no sustained speed for any length of time), no "speed shifting"; and an oil/filter change after 500 mi.

I've been told the above isn't necessary with "todays engines", but it's not a problem (for me) to follow these few steps and give myself "piece of mind".

I hope that helped answer your question?

I'll be doing similar!

Same thing till 500 - then an oil change to RP Break in oil till 5000 miles, then an oil change with RP 5W-30 every 5000 miles from then out.

Hopefully that'll be enough to keep my warranty. Otherwise I'll do the oil changes more often.
- Xanthos

P.S. -

Originally Posted by camarofanatic

thank you all that helps alot i plan on taking it easy bc its a brand new car i wouldnt want to be horsing around and wrap it up OH GOD i think id go and dig 6 foot and hide from my parents

Screw parents, I'd be trying to hide from myself.