correct engine break-in procedure - nurse for 100miles only!

[Hack]

So riddle me this, batman....

So I have a new 2019, about 6 miles. It is sitting here in the cold, waiting for April or May to awaken from hibernation

Would it be bad to start it once in a while, for the sake of keeping the battery charged, since it is not broken in yet?
Or if I did, after warming up a minute or so, should it be gunned?

Or is it best to just buy a trickle charger? For all I know, it may already be dead .....been sitting maybe 2-3 weeks or so out there thus far

The worst thing you can do for an engine is to start it and let it idle. Actually that's the second worst. The worst is starting it up and revving the engine with no load on it.

Sponsored

 

[lenFeb]

It's written, in black on white in owners manual about break-in period. This was from engineers who design this engine. Why anybody even consider reading, never mind follow, other methods on internet from some engine "gurus" beyond my understanding. I always follow what manual said and had no issue in any of my cars.

 

[Alain]

ok, here's what I've gotten so far out of all the reading I've done.

From day1 to 1,000 miles: Rev the motor up to between 5K- 6K RPM using 75-80% of throttle and then let the engine slow the car down. Also, be sure to vary your speed as much as possible during that time.


No one is actually driving the car 1,000 miles the first time they drive it. So what does a typical drive look like during the 1,000 mile break in period?

1- Do you guys recommend doing these 5K-6K RPM blasts two or three times per drive and then resume a somewhat "normal driving condition" (of course remembering to vary your speeds)? OR
2- Do you guys go out and do as many of these 5K-6K RPM blasts as traffic conditions permit and go back and park the car. Repeating this until the 1,000 miles are reached?


I know I'm probably over thinking this, but since this is the latest thread I found on the subject, I figured I'd ask here.

 

[Frank.Herbst]

ok, here's what I've gotten so far out of all the reading I've done.

From day1 to 1,000 miles: Rev the motor up to between 5K- 6K RPM using 75-80% of throttle and then let the engine slow the car down. Also, be sure to vary your speed as much as possible during that time.


No one is actually driving the car 1,000 miles the first time they drive it. So what does a typical drive look like during the 1,000 mile break in period?

1- Do you guys recommend doing these 5K-6K RPM blasts two or three times per drive and then resume a somewhat "normal driving condition" (of course remembering to vary your speeds)? OR
2- Do you guys go out and do as many of these 5K-6K RPM blasts as traffic conditions permit and go back and park the car. Repeating this until the 1,000 miles are reached?


I know I'm probably over thinking this, but since this is the latest thread I found on the subject, I figured I'd ask here.

Maybe keep it easy enough to accomplish.
Notice Ford calls out no extended wide open runs as part of the break in. Next pretty much every agrees to vary the RPMs. Also most agree to accelerate and decelerate when you can to help seat the rings. Unless you have a bad part that's just waiting to fail you should be fine. This is how I approached the break in on my 17. All went well and I'll do the same on my 19.

 

[CANTWN4LSN]

And keep in mind it's not 1000 miles but 100 miles. The 1000 miles is only before track use. Once it's warmed up in the first 100 miles you can take it to wot just not extended per the manual.

 

[Hack]

ok, here's what I've gotten so far out of all the reading I've done.

From day1 to 1,000 miles: Rev the motor up to between 5K- 6K RPM using 75-80% of throttle and then let the engine slow the car down. Also, be sure to vary your speed as much as possible during that time.


No one is actually driving the car 1,000 miles the first time they drive it. So what does a typical drive look like during the 1,000 mile break in period?

1- Do you guys recommend doing these 5K-6K RPM blasts two or three times per drive and then resume a somewhat "normal driving condition" (of course remembering to vary your speeds)? OR
2- Do you guys go out and do as many of these 5K-6K RPM blasts as traffic conditions permit and go back and park the car. Repeating this until the 1,000 miles are reached?


I know I'm probably over thinking this, but since this is the latest thread I found on the subject, I figured I'd ask here.

I do something like your #2 every time I drive the car during the break in period. I try to be full throttle or no throttle as much as possible. But seating the rings is my #1 priority during break in. I'm sure I have annoyed other drivers.

 

[Alain]

Thanks guys. I put my car away for the winter with a little over 20 miles on it and it has been sitting ever since. I remember getting on it hard only once in that time period. Hopefully this is not a factor.

When I take the cover off in a month or so, I plan on swapping the wheels and brake pads then taking it to the interstate near my house and just do 1 mile loop on the interstate. Getting on and off the highway so that I am able to accelerate hard up to 6K RPM and let it slow down on its own coming on and off the interstate ramps.

I can't possibly do that around my neighborhood, not enough room and I don't want to annoy my neighbors and local police.

I can't wait to hear the sound that thing makes. It is the second reason I bought the car. First being that it's a Shelby.

 

[GT30fan]

So the idea is let the motor do the work of slowing down the car, yes?

 

[Alain]

So the idea is let the motor do the work of slowing down the car, yes?

yep !

 

[DCShelby]

I did about 5 200 mile drives on my new motor to break it in...That was lots of getting on the interstate or backroads and giving it 80 percent throttle till i hit 6k rpm (after 100 miles), then let off the gas for about 10 seconds or so then doing it again and again. Replacement motor has 13K on it now, uses perhaps 1 quart in 3500 miles.

 

[Alain]

I did about 5 200 mile drives on my new motor to break it in...That was lots of getting on the interstate or backroads and giving it 80 percent throttle till i hit 6k rpm (after 100 miles), then let off the gas for about 10 seconds or so then doing it again and again. Replacement motor has 13K on it now, uses perhaps 1 quart in 3500 miles.

confusion alert !

you could have technically done your break in procedure before the 100 miles correct?


This is where the confusion is

Some people say WAIT till AFTER the first 100 miles to do any kind of hard acceleration.

others say, accelerate to 6K RPMs right from the get go (before the 100 mile threshold) just don’t keep the gas pedal pinned for long periods of time.

 

[GT30fan]

confusion alert !

you could have technically done your break in procedure before the 100 miles correct?


This is where the confusion is

Some people say WAIT till AFTER the first 100 miles to do any kind of hard acceleration.

others say, accelerate to 6K RPMs right from the get go (before the 100 mile threshold) just don’t keep the gas pedal pinned for long periods of time.

AGREED. Kind of confusing what to do first 100 miles

 

[ParkCity06]

Again, welcome to the forum. Thanks for your input, however this has been discussed and debated very much a while ago.

Enjoy your new R

but helpful for the newbies like me...

 

[DCShelby]

For the first 100 I kept it below 6k, after 100 miles I would occasionally hit 6k, then only did full 8250 a few times up to 1k miles. Take it up, then let off and cruise for 15 seconds or so then do it again and again. I did my best not to keep a steady rpm, so cruise a 4K then 5k then 6k for a few miles but never lugging the motor. I did not use 6th gear at all

 

[Hack]

AFAIK there's nothing in the manual about doing something different for the first 100 miles. No reason to go easier on the car for the first 100 than you do for the other 900.

Sponsored