Butt Dyno - Faster After Some Miles?

[Coyote Red]

Coyote Red in sport mode

I just turned 14,000 on my 16 GT and it's as strong as it was new. I have a greater control & feel for the shifting auto/paddle, so much so I chirped 2nd gear the other day and it's never done that before. It's a "Getting Familiar" with the torque curve and shift points thing with my seat time. I do regular oil changes and can feel the "new oil change" as well.

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[Detector]

I have to agree that I've seen a marked performance increase with miles. I know quicker times can be attributed some to getting more proficient with the car, but I noticed a readable improvement is track times that can't all be written off as getting more familiar with the car.

I think, with some miles, things begin to loosen up and move more freely, and that gives a notable improvement in performance.

 

[arghx7]

friction decreases with mileage; first it decreases at a fast rate, and then slows down. That's why you get an improvement in the first few thousand miles.

Compression can eventually decrease with long enough life on an engine, as the rings stop sealing as well.

 

[CCCP1999]

My Mach 1 definitely got faster after 5,000 miles or so. My brothers 2001 Camaro SS would walk me all day but once my car got broken in it was either a dead heat or whoever got the better launch. I never dynoed mine brand new but some guys would only get 250 rwhp new then after 10,000+ miles they'd get 280+.

The same with my new 03 Lightning, 2010 5.3 Colorado and a 06 C6 Vette.

After about 4k miles they all ran faster.

 

[Norm Peterson]

I do regular oil changes and can feel the "new oil change" as well.

I've noticed this especially with the last two or three cars - they definitely idle smoother for a few days following an oil change.


Norm

 

[Five Oh Brian]

The last Mustang that I kept pure stock and drag raced from day one was my 2000 Mustang GT manual trans. Brand new it ran the 1/4 mile in the 14.20's. A year and 10K miles later it was running 13.80's. Same car, same weather (DA), same track, no changes. Traction was never an issue with this "slow" Mustang.

Every other Mustang I've owned has been modded right from the beginning, so I can't comment on whether they got quicker over time just from loosening up.

 

[nastang87xx]

I've noticed this especially with the last two or three cars - they definitely idle smoother for a few days following an oil change.


Norm

Norm, I always thought I was crazy but I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks this lol.

 

[TNcoupe]

Norm, I always thought I was crazy but I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks this lol.

Not crazy. I can definitely "feel" when my Focus ST needs an oil change. I change the oil in the Mustang so often because of track days that I dont have a real feel for it.

 

[15GTBEN]

I've owned several new cars over the years and have never noticed any butt dyno performance differences between green motors and motors with miles.
Cool dry air can clearly feel faster than when it's hot and humid out. Old tired motors have felt/been slower.

 

[Spykexx]

friction decreases with mileage; first it decreases at a fast rate, and then slows down. That's why you get an improvement in the first few thousand miles.

Compression can eventually decrease with long enough life on an engine, as the rings stop sealing as well.

This is my thought. When brand new everything is in such close tolerance and still seating causing excessive (or more than normal) friction, and friction leads to power loss. Once the rings seat, and everything is nice and smooth it should free up some of that extra friction. Actually I believe engineering explained explained this in one of his videos.

 

[ScottsGT]

Rings seating to the bores are a big difference with some mileage. Valves seating to the seats would be a difference too.
I'd love to see a compression check chart with new and then every XXXX miles.

 

[RevvdMedia]

The butt dyno dictates the passenger seat has at least another 200ft/lb of torque compared to the driver seat.

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