Chris, you got through "Mitsubishi" just fine, but, "Eclips
e"...
![[Big Grin]](images/icons/grin.gif)
Anyway, I agree with what you were told and nicrfe's advice about an initial 500 mile oil change. Some manufacturers insist that the factory-fill oil be left in until the first scheduled oil change, but I feel that during that critical time, the major part of breaking in is occurring, leftover build crap is being flushed into suspension (and hopefully being trapped in the oil filter), and the rings are still loose enough to allow considerable blowby and resultant oil contamination. I pretty much followed nicrfe's advice on every car I've owned, though I don't adhere as long, 600 to 1,200 miles instead of 4,000 miles, depending on what my owner's manual says, nor do I do the 1,500 mile oil change, either. That does not make him or you wrong - it's just what I do. One thing I really like to do initially during break-in is find a lightly traveled road or freeway with moderate grades (the kind that won't require the transmission to downshift at speed). I set the cruise control around 55 mph to maintain that speed ascending and descending about 20 miles. During the up slopes, I'm loading the rings without lugging the engine. During the down slopes - especially when the fuel flow is temporarily completely cut to maintain my set speed - I'm reverse loading the rings with top gear compression braking. I feel this is a very effective way to accelerate ring seating without stressing the engine's other moving components.
[ June 01, 2003, 12:40 PM: Message edited by: Ray H ]