GT500 Break-In Period

[DocGT]

Asking for advice:
What is the best way to “break-in” this new Shelby GT500?

What should be avoided during this “break-in” period?

How many miles until it is considered “broken-in”?

Thank you

Sponsored

 

[Snoopy49]

This is from the 2014 GT500 Owners Manual Supplement, it should be close to the 2020.

BREAKING-IN YOUR VEHICLE
Your vehicle requires a break-in period. Drive your new vehicle at least 100 miles (160 km) before performing extended wide open throttle maneuvers and at least 1,000 miles (1,600 km) before performance/competition conditions. Vary your speed frequently in order to give the moving parts a chance to break in.

It will be interesting to see if there is a break in requirement for the transmission.

 

[DocGT]

This is from the 2014 GT500 Owners Manual Supplement, it should be close to the 2020.

BREAKING-IN YOUR VEHICLE
Your vehicle requires a break-in period. Drive your new vehicle at least 100 miles (160 km) before performing extended wide open throttle maneuvers and at least 1,000 miles (1,600 km) before performance/competition conditions. Vary your speed frequently in order to give the moving parts a chance to break in.

Thank you. What is the difference, in terms of risk of damage, between “extended wide open throttle maneuvers” and “performance/competition conditions” that requires a 900 mile difference?

 

[obspsd]

0-100mph verses for example, tracking your car.

 

[MAV]

Note that the 2014 supplement uses the phrase "extended wide open throttle maneuvers". This is key. People don't think they should run WOT during break-in, but ask GT350 owners that babied their motors during break-in how much oil they have to add between changes. According to the language in the 2014 supplement, WOT is fine...just not EXTENDED WOT. Short bursts of WOT during the break-in period build cylinder pressure to help seat the rings and avoid oil consumption issues later on. You'll be glad you did.

 

[bluebeastsrt]

Break it in like. Like the performance car that it is. It needs heat cycles to seat the rings as mentioned above. The worst thing you can do is put 500 steady state highway miles on a car. DONT BABY IT!

 

[Deviruchi]

Break it in like. Like the performance car that it is. It needs heat cycles to seat the rings as mentioned above. The worst thing you can do is put 500 steady state highway miles on a car. DONT BABY IT!

Ouch, getting mine in florida then driving it up to virginia whenever it comes in

 

[Hack]

Ouch, getting mine in florida then driving it up to virginia whenever it comes in

If I were doing that I would take a LOT of off and on-ramps so that I could go through the gears multiple times, vary speed, etc. The main thing I try to avoid is light throttle steady state cruise during break in. I want the throttle open or closed most of the way all the time. Lots of full throttle and lots of no throttle.

 

[Jmeo]

My dad, who was a career mechanic, always told me to break it in like your gonna drive it normally. So get on in now and again, just don't beat the snot out of it. I would agree to not sustain light steady throttle for extended periods as well.

 

[ChuckXX]

When I picked up my 2019 Redeye widebody Hellcat last Dec. I was told that the first 500 miles is the "break in period". I was told to not go over 70 mph and to vary the speeds as much as possible. I sold the car with 358 miles on it so hence never really got to see or feel what it was capable of doing.

 

[bluebeastsrt]

Ouch, getting mine in florida then driving it up to virginia whenever it comes in

If thats the case. I recomend a lot of speed changes. Quick burst up to 90 or 100 on an open highway. Is not only fun. Its better for a brand new car. Dont just set the cruise control. Stop more often. It goes against conventional thinking. But its better to seat yhe rings. I broke in my race car engine by making 1/4 mile passes. As soon as we had the carb dialed in on the dyno.

 

[V00D00]

Break it in like. Like the performance car that it is. It needs heat cycles to seat the rings as mentioned above. The worst thing you can do is put 500 steady state highway miles on a car. DONT BABY IT!

If thats the case. I recomend a lot of speed changes. Quick burst up to 90 or 100 on an open highway. Is not only fun. Its better for a brand new car. Dont just set the cruise control. Stop more often. It goes against conventional thinking. But its better to seat yhe rings. I broke in my race car engine by making 1/4 mile passes. As soon as we had the carb dialed in on the dyno.

Its 120 miles from dealership To Race Proven Motorsports. Dynojet time, and then driving to Cecil County Dragway ( if weather/time/conditions are good)

 

[18usc371]

Ouch, getting mine in florida then driving it up to virginia whenever it comes in

No worries then! If you're going FL to VA, even if you take I-75, I-95, etc., You 'll get plenty of "variety" of highway to go 90+, stop and go, dead stop traffic, crawl at 40, dodge snowbirds, stop a Pedro's SoTB . . .

Fortunately/unfortunately about the only thing you can't do is steady state speeds. At least not anymore. I've made the trip many times.

 

[bluebeastsrt]

Its 120 miles from dealership To Race Proven Motorsports. Dynojet time, and then driving to Cecil County Dragway ( if weather/time/conditions are good)

I like where your heads at. Let me know when you get it. I have friends that race at Cecil. I could make the trip.

 

[nastang87xx]

I autocrossed my GT350 at 200 miles. The internet would tell you my motor grenaded immediately. 20,000 miles strong with hundreds of autocross runs and plenty of track days. I've added maybe 2.5 quarts of oil over this time frame. Why is autocross a great way to break a car in?

1. Short WOT bursts lets the car traverse through the RPM range.

3. It moves all the other driveline components quickly, but not doesn't put it under insane velocity.

4. Beds your brakes in. This is huge and people severely overlook this especially with a performance car.

5. It's fun.

Sponsored