New car break-in

[AZjeff]

It seems the break-in procedure cited in most owner manuals I've seen is something along the lines of keep the speed under 55, no full throttle, and vary speed for the first 500 miles. That's kind of hard to do for most people I think and how many people even try? Lots of people here drive 100+ miles to Phoenix to buy a new car, jump in and drive home probably at 75+ mph and going uphill all the way. And, lots of dealers do dealer trades and have someone drive a new car/truck to the other dealer and drive the traded for new car back. Could be a couple of hundred miles. Does it really make any difference how a new car/truck is driven from new? A dealership salesman told me recently today's cars don't need any break-in.

 

[PimTac]

Just drive sensibly. No racing.

 

[Ram02]

JUSt do the best u can

 

[kstanf150]

I’ve bought a lot of new cars and trucks in 45 years, and I’ve always drove em off the lot like I drive em everyday with no issues

 

[rob1715]

That may have been true years ago, but maybe not today. Metallurgy is so good that a break-in might not be needed. Drive sensibly, don't worry about it, and change your oil on time. I've been driving for 35 years and have never seen or heard of a new vehicle breaking down due to non-varying speeds.

 

[Gimpy1]

That may have been true years ago, but maybe not today. Metallurgy is so good that a break-in might not be needed. Drive sensibly, don't worry about it, and change your oil on time. I've been driving for 35 years and have never seen or heard of a new vehicle breaking down due to non-varying speeds.

THIS^^^^
Like rob1715 said technological adancements have made break in obsolete. Just drive the car normally, and after a few hunded miles let er rip tater chip. You'll be fine

 

[gregk24]

I don't remember the specifics, but our VW owners manual said something along the line of low rpm / low load / gentle driving for the first 1000 miles. Thats on the 2020 Jetta.

 

[ecotourist]

I went on a long trip shortly after buying my '00 Solara V6 5MT. The first part of the trip was on a freeway where I usually would have set the cruise and driven 200 miles at a constant speed (70 MPH). Considering that it was a new engine I varied the speed much more than usual, with stretches of constant speed and then, when clear of other vehicles, decelerating hard while in gear and accelerating. So you do what is practical for break-in.

That engine used no oil.

 

[AutoMechanic]

Don’t think it really matters. I never go over the speed limit so I don’t think it would matter too much as long as you keep reasonable speeds.

 

[Skippy722]

I just treated the truck. The bolded parts were my favorite part!

“A long break-in period is not required for the engine and drivetrain (transmission and axle) in your vehicle. Drive moderately during the first 300 miles (500 km). After the initial 60 miles (100 km), speeds up to 50 or 55 mph (80 or 90 km/h) are desirable. While cruising, brief full-throttle acceleration within the limits of local traffic laws contributes to a good break-in. Wide-open throttle acceleration in low gear can be detrimental and should be avoided.”

 

[AZjeff]

So your manual implies for the first 60 miles you should keep the speed under 55. Which nobody does. Having any kind of break-in info in the manual is some kind of CYA then?

 

[buster]

I read this recently. I'm not sure how accurate it is.

"3-5 heat cycles and rings are seated... The heat cycle thing was written about in a book by a pretty famous engine builder, cant remember who. The article I read on it that referenced the book went on to say that manufacturers usually say 500-1000-1500 mile break in because they know the 3-5 heat cycles should be complete in that time frame. The other premise of the book was a harder break in to develop a lot of cylinder pressure to really get the rings to seat well. If you ever buy a motor that was broken in on an engine dyno, they will do several heat cycles on it running it harder and harder on each heat cycle."

 

[loneryder]

That may have been true years ago, but maybe not today. Metallurgy is so good that a break-in might not be needed. Drive sensibly, don't worry about it, and change your oil on time. I've been driving for 35 years and have never seen or heard of a new vehicle breaking down due to non-varying speeds.

Not break down but will use more oil.

 

[Skippy722]

So your manual implies for the first 60 miles you should keep the speed under 55. Which nobody does. Having any kind of break-in info in the manual is some kind of CYA then?

I did 65 on the test drive with 30 miles on the clock, then immediately took it on the highway and did 70-75 for 10 miles. Most of of aren’t driving performance vehicles with high strung engines, where I think a “proper” break in is far more crucial. For instance, the SRT break in recommendations:

 

[wtd]

I did the easy kind of break in on my 98 chevy K1500 after I bought it new and it has always burned a little oil.

On my 2014 Mustang GT, I did several hard pulls and then let the engine decel on it's own and it doesn't burn any oil.

 

[john_pifer]

I think a few things are pretty much universally agreed upon:

• It’s good not to drone along at the same speed in the same gear for a long time. Vary speed and gear when possible.

• Engine braking is important for seating the rings. Try to employ some engine braking to create some vacuum in the cylinders.

• Brief runs into the higher RPMs not only won’t hurt the new engine, but are actually beneficial to break-in. That doesn’t mean to hold it in higher RPM range for an excessively long time, but, early on in the engine’s life, I believe it’s a good thing to go ahead and briefly redline it (being sure it’s had plenty of time to warm up to full operating temp).

• Heat cycles are important - getting it up to full ops temp, then letting it fully cool down, many times.

• Modern engines don’t take all that long to “break in”.

 

[doublebase]

It really is probably one of the most debated things I’ve ever seen on a car forum.

To me, I just try to do the best I can do. Take it kind of easy and only do what the road/traffic, dictates me to do. I’m not going to get myself killed over “engine break in”, but I’m not going to go and drive like a nut while I’m in the process either.

And then there's that first oil change...when do you do that?? I dump it at around 1,000 miles. Then people will tell you, no, keep that factory oil in it, it has all the “good stuff” in it and it needs to work its way into the camshaft lobes. Yeah, ok. And of course there’s the dealer, telling you to drive it 7,500 miles because they give you ”free” oil changes over the first two years or something.

Just be reasonable, you’ll be fine.

 

[DwightFrye]

I have always followed the manufacturer's instructions. But agree with the poster who suggested doing some engine braking to help seat the rings. Run the car up to about 5000 RPM, 75 MPH in the appropriate gear and the let off the throttle and let the car slow down to about 30 MPH. Do that a few times in the first 100 miles or so. If you have some long downhill grades in your area, they are good for doing some moderate engine braking, just don't overdo it.

Also I like to bed the brakes in the first 100 miles. Warm up the brakes with a few moderate stops, and then get going about 75 MPH and brake as hard as you can without activating the ABS. However, do not come to a complete stop. Let off the pedal when you are slowed down to about 5 MPH. Do this 3 -4 times.

 

[ls1mike]

Had my 1998 Z28 on the Dyno with 238 miles on it, put 156,000 miles on that with probably 500 1/4 mile passes. Had my 2001 Z28 on the Dyno with 151 miles on it, at the track with paper tags cracked off a 12.95 pass at 110mph first day out bone stock with under 500 miles on it. I personally put 160,000 on that and probably close to 600 1/4 mile passes. I guess do it how you want but being around GM F-bodies and Corvette since I could drive I have never seen an easy break in.

 

[ls1mike]

Here is what it said for the Z28s and the Trans Am

Your vehicle doesn’t need an elaborate “break-in.” But it will perform better in the long run if you follow these guidelines: Keep your speed at 55 mph (88 km/h) or less for the first 500 miles (805 km). Don’t drive at any one speed -- fast or slow -- for the first 500 miles (805 km). Don’t make full-throttle starts. Avoid making hard stops for the first 200 miles (322 km) or so. During this time your new brake linings aren’t yet broken in. Hard stops with new linings can mean premature wear and earlier replacement. Follow this breaking-in guideline every time you get new brake linings. Don’t tow a trailer during break-in. See “Towing a Trailer” in the Index for more information.

I have never seen anyone break in a Sports/Pony/Muscle car like that. That statement goes out the window on the first test drive and lot of those cars don't live an easy life. Certainly not the life of a Camry or a Malibu.