Break In - Avoiding the same speed for too long

[dtraill27]

This will be my first new car that I need to break in. I'm familiar with all the breaking procedures other than trying to avoid going the same speed for an extended period of time. I know you can go the same speed if you just shift into lower gears to vary the engine speed but I was curious on how often I should or what they mean by an extended period. Appreciate any advice

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[activeGT]

It's not the speed of the car but the engine. Vary rpms.

This will be my first new car that I need to break in. I'm familiar with all the breaking procedures other than trying to avoid going the same speed for an extended period of time. I know you can go the same speed if you just shift into lower gears to vary the engine speed but I was curious on how often I should or what they mean by an extended period. Appreciate any advice

 

[GTA6T7]

I would think extended periods of time would be hours on end. For example, a three hours road trip where you set cruise control to 70 for the entire time.

 

[Scott in Houston]

I drove mine from Dallas to Houston the day I got it.
I just ran it in 6th gear for a while, then 5th and included occasional downshifts to 4th etc.
I also pulled over to stop much more often than I normally would.

 

[dtraill27]

Yeah I know about switching gears just curious to hear how often people are doing it. Every 10 minutes, half hour, 5 minutes?

 

[69mach1-395]

Once every new song...it's so easy to do

 

[B-52 Jetman]

Here's a very good article on engine break in:

http://mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

 

[Herr_Poopschitz]

Here's a very good article on engine break in:

http://mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

While I don't agree w/ some of the details of this site...I agree w/ the fundamental idea.

 

[Strokerswild]

I have to agree with the fundamentals in the link above.

I always break in a new engine relatively hard. They always perform the best long-term. The key is lots of RPM fluctuation. You want the piston rings seated quickly most of all.

I used to do quite a few performance builds of vintage musclecar engines on the side. I have a favorite "test loop" near my home consisting of about 25 miles of winding, hilly roads that aren't heavily used, and I'd use it for break-ins. Once everything was up to temp (very important) and all vital signs looked OK, I'd start with a mix of moderate partial-throttle and WOT pulls (not to max RPM) to highway speed across the initial 5-mile straight stretch and would finish each pull by letting the engine overrun (wind down) with the throttle shut, dropping 20 MPH or so before going into the next. After that, into the hills and curves, doing much the same thing.

After 100 miles of this kind of thing, it's generally safe to do most anything short of max-RPM WOT for extended periods.

 

[mikef523]

Re: Engine "break in" periods

I thought the newer engines today required no special break in periods. I have been told by quite a few folks (not necessarily experts, but knowledgeable) that there was nothing that really needed to be done as far as breaking in the newer engines.
Am I wrong on this?

2015 eco, convertible
ordered on: 12/17/14
Vin#: Early Jan.
Build week: 2/2/15
Delivery date: ???

 

[B-52 Jetman]

What does the owners manual say?

 

[davekro]

I'm interested in more info on break in so will keep an eye here.

 

[Hack]

What does the owners manual say?

It says vary your speed for the first 1,000 miles. I'm not sure exactly why but I can think of a couple reasons:
1. Rings seat better if they are loaded. Full throttle or no throttle positions are best for seating the rings. A good ring seal = more power. This is also why extended idling is bad for your engine and not recommended by manufacturers. Also why if I ever bought a competitor's product with cylinder deactivation I would shut it off.
2. There are engine components that get oiling from splash coming from other components rather than directly. Splash oiling varies by rpm.

I avoid winding the engine all the way out and vary speed quite a bit for the first 1,000 miles. Not just down shifting to vary the RPM but also changing the speed of the car so that the rings are subjected to throttle changes. A lightly loaded engine (highway cruise) can glaze the cylinders and the ring seal won't be as good.

 

[Cobra Commander]

I bounced mine off the rev limiter today in first gear. I have 128 miles on my car.

 

[JimmyTwoTimes]

I varied speed constantly on the highway for the first 1,000 miles -- like, if I want to go 65, I'd accelerate 70, take my foot off the gas until it got down to 60, accelerate again to 70, repeat.

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