Originally Posted By: buster
How do people know Mazda breaks-in the engine?
Breaking in a 2.0L Mazda Skyactiv?
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They don't. It's called 'heresay' as it is endlessly repeated from forum to forum.
Most mfgrs do not break in motors at all, they simply spin them on a test platform to verify they are assembled correctly. That hardly constitutes a run in process.
And to those who know an employee of a mfgr, it is likely they signed a non-disclosure agreement at work and are not supposed to share the info anyway, I'm not sure that someone telling me they are a Mazda employee really means much...
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Originally Posted By: buster
How do people know Mazda breaks-in the engine?
As you can see, there is no agreement on this issue. Since I've been on the internet, I've yet to get a concise answer on two questions: 1. Should you break-in the engine with full throttle/high load/low rpm runs? 2. Do manufacturers break-in the engine?
Actually I'm wrong, several years ago a GM engineer joined the site and he was in favor of a more aggressive break-in.
Originally Posted By: buster
As you can see, there is no agreement on this issue. Since I've been on the internet, I've yet to get a concise answer on two questions: 1. Should you break-in the engine with full throttle/high load/low rpm runs? 2. Do manufacturers break-in the engine?
Actually I'm wrong, several years ago a GM engineer joined the site and he was in favor of a more aggressive break-in.
How long in the break in period would you say is most crucial? The first 100 miles, 1000? When would you say things are set?
Originally Posted By: jigen
How long in the break in period would you say is most crucial? The first 100 miles, 1000? When would you say things are set?
Originally Posted By: DBMaster
Drove mine like a rental and left the factory fill in for the full 7,500 miles. While there is no such thing as a car that doesn't burn a "drop of oil." I have not had to add any makeup oil between OCI's. I have 28,000 on it now and my average combined mpg is 35.
I get the car to maximum RPM's daily (6,000-6,500). I did the same thing with my 1989 Accord. I traded it in after 23 years and 353,000 miles, still on its original engine, and still giving me 27 mpg - as good as it ever got in combined driving.
There is no magic formula for this and asking these question on this forum is going to get you so many differing responses I doubt it's going to help you.
Just drive it. The technician who does the pre-delivery inspection will thrash it during the test drive anyway, it'll be broken in before you even see it for the first time... Oil and filter change at 1,000km if you're keen (which you obviously are) and then every 10,000km after that. It'll use some oil at some stage during your ownership, that's just what cars do, don't let it worry you too much. Enjoy! 
Originally Posted By: hpb
Just drive it. The technician who does the pre-delivery inspection will thrash it during the test drive anyway, it'll be broken in before you even see it for the first time... Oil and filter change at 1,000km if you're keen (which you obviously are) and then every 10,000km after that. It'll use some oil at some stage during your ownership, that's just what cars do, don't let it worry you too much. Enjoy!
However, most brands (Dealers) here recommend a 1K KM break in oil change and then every 5K. (Except for the euro brands)Who knows more about your engine? A team of engineers that design, build, and stand behind it, or a bunch of guys on the internet that have had success breaking in a few engines? If it was my car, I'd read the manual, and follow it. No reason to complicate things.
I guess our OP is well past his break in now.
With modern engines I would say break in is nearly instantaneous, still I try to avoid sustained steady state driving for at least several hundred miles.
The VW kept the factory fill for 1 year as per manufacturer instructions and the big twin will get a service at 1000 as per manufacturer instructions.
I would treat a post OEM engine differently.
The compression ratio in the first post is wrong. The US spec 2014 Skyactiv engines have 13:1 compression ratio (Japaneese spec is 14:1 due to better gas)
I have a feeling that Mazda detuned the engine for US spec in order to allow regular gas for the tree huggers and I personally run Premium 93 octane in mine. I don't have any proof or dyno results but I compared regular gas vs Premium and found the engine to be more response and stronger. I don't have an issue with the price difference for premium fuel. My Mazda 3 is now modified and gets abused daily. It will be tuned to take full advantage of the premium fuel when tunning software comes out.
I agree about the manual tranny. I have a CorkSport short shifter plate on mine, which reduces throw by like 22% or something like that. Feels even better then Mazda designed it.
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