Engine break in procedure

[mattlqx]

Whoa? Where did this come from? Is the owners manual online too? Thanks!

That is the book you get with the GT350 in addition to the standard Mustang owners manual. If you want the '16 owners manual, that's just a quick search away...

http://www.fordservicecontent.com/F...ang-Owners-Manual-version-1_om_EN_07_2015.pdf

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[Anthony 05 GT]

I'd be more interested in breaking in the clutch for a few hundred miles

 

[Crashspeeder]

I would avoid high RPM use during break in rather than be concerned about speed.

That's terrible advice. The break-in period is where it's most important to vary your speed so everything expands and contracts as needed to form proper seals. If you meant avoid high RPM during the first 100 miles, then I agree, but not during the whole break-in.

 

[DrumReaper]

How is it that there are varying opinions when Ford has established the procedure and wrote in ink? Makes no sense to diverge from what Ford endorses. Smh...

 

[BmacIL]

How is it that there are varying opinions when Ford has established the procedure and wrote in ink? Makes no sense to diverge from what Ford endorses. Smh...

This.

Also from 100-1000 miles you definitely DO want to explore the upper RPM range, just not for significant lengths of time. How else are you going to get the liner & rings worn in properly and accustomed to high RPM running?

 

[GoBlues38]

1 just don't thrash a car for the 1st 1,000 miles or so.

Will do an occasional 0-60 run. Maybe 1 0-100 run.

but at 1,000 miles, I never worry about it anymore. Been doing thiss for 25 years.

 

[Strokerswild]

I always break a new engine in relatively hard, and have never had one use oil or any other nonsense. You want to get ring seal established ASAP or you’ll have a turd. Any shortcomings in the assembly will be revealed right away anyway.

I’m usually a little easy on them for the first 15-25 miles and watch coolant temps and oil pressure closely, but once a newbie is fully at operating temp and everything looks good I’ll run them relatively hard through the RPM range, changing load and throttle position frequently. Just take it easy as far as max RPM at WOT until there's 100 miles or better on it (and, of course, no extended periods at or near redline).

In other words, once up to temp, don’t *****foot the thing. It’s not Grandma’s Cadillac, especially in this case.

 

[Helmet]

What is the break in procedure for this engine? I am coming from the M3 world, which has very specific instructions for the procedure. This is my first Ford product so I am a noob.
Thanks.

This information will be in the Owner's manual, It wouldn't hurt to follow it but that is totally up to you.

 

[Hack]

That's terrible advice. The break-in period is where it's most important to vary your speed so everything expands and contracts as needed to form proper seals. If you meant avoid high RPM during the first 100 miles, then I agree, but not during the whole break-in.

Varying engine RPM is done so that the splash oiling inside the engine hits different areas.
Varying speed is done because the engine needs to be loaded so that the rings seat well.
Expansion and contraction has nothing to do with it.

How is it that there are varying opinions when Ford has established the procedure and wrote in ink? Makes no sense to diverge from what Ford endorses. Smh...

Agreed, somewhat. If Ford gave more details, there would be fewer disagreements. The Ford "procedure" is plenty vague enough to allow questions and disagreements.

This.

Also from 100-1000 miles you definitely DO want to explore the upper RPM range, just not for significant lengths of time. How else are you going to get the liner & rings worn in properly and accustomed to high RPM running?

The liner and rings don't get "accustomed" to high RPMs. They do not have personalities. Component loads are much higher at high RPMs. I keep the RPMs down during initial break-in to give components a chance to wear together gradually rather than hammering down the high points and dislodging all the debris at once. If you have an actual reason that makes sense for bumping the redline right away I would be interested.

I always break a new engine in relatively hard, and have never had one use oil or any other nonsense. You want to get ring seal established ASAP or you’ll have a turd. Any shortcomings in the assembly will be revealed right away anyway.

I’m usually a little easy on them for the first 15-25 miles and watch coolant temps and oil pressure closely, but once a newbie is fully at operating temp and everything looks good I’ll run them relatively hard through the RPM range, changing load and throttle position frequently. Just take it easy as far as max RPM at WOT until there's 100 miles or better on it (and, of course, no extended periods at or near redline).

In other words, once up to temp, don’t *****foot the thing. It’s not Grandma’s Cadillac, especially in this case.

I agree that ring seal is important and it is a good reason to use full and no throttle often during break in. Extended idling or excessively gentle use is not going to do the engine any favors.

 

[DrumReaper]

BREAKING-IN

Your vehicle requires a break-in period. Drive your new vehicle at least 100 mi (160 km) before performing extended wide open throttle maneuvers and at least 1,000 mi (1,600 km) before performance or competition conditions.

Note: Vary your speed frequently in order to give the moving parts a chance to break in.



Hmmmm... What about that sounds vague? If there's any vagueness it's probably because the perception of the one reading feels there is a certain degree of entitlement to do as they please and not as they're told.

 

[arsenalrocks]

it is vague compares to the OP's M3 break in procedure, which lists max RPM and max speed allowed during break in.
I believe it was 5500rpm and 105mph

BREAKING-IN

Your vehicle requires a break-in period. Drive your new vehicle at least 100 mi (160 km) before performing extended wide open throttle maneuvers and at least 1,000 mi (1,600 km) before performance or competition conditions.

Note: Vary your speed frequently in order to give the moving parts a chance to break in.



Hmmmm... What about that sounds vague? If there's any vagueness it's probably because the perception of the one reading feels there is a certain degree of entitlement to do as they please and not as they're told.

 

[DrumReaper]

it is vague compares to the OP's M3 break in procedure, which lists max RPM and max speed allowed during break in.
I believe it was 5500rpm and 105mph

So, I'm assuming Cottonelle has to tell you to use 5 sheets of double ply for each crap you take...?

It's ridiculous that people read between the lines and need their hands held.

 

[MAV]

Varying speed is done because the engine needs to be loaded so that the rings seat well.

This.

In my not-so-humble opinion, proper ring seal is the number one consideration of engine break in. High cylinder pressure forces the rings into the cylinder walls, achieving a good initial wear pattern that stays with the engine throughout its lifetime. This is more about sealing the top ring to keep blowby at a minimum, thus increasing the efficiency of combustion.

Now, I'll admit that opinion was formed over years of working with cast iron blocks and iron cylinder liners in aluminum blocks. I don't know how that translates into these new plasma arc cylinders, but I would guess it's still important.

 

[GT P-TREE]

Drive it like you stole it.

/thread

worked for my GT-R

 

[arsenalrocks]

what's with all the anger every time people mention BMW, and the stuff BMW does?

it is what it is, you can choose whatever you want to do with your car, but the engineers at BMW who designed the s65 which won many many engine of the year awards since inception clearly felt the need to list all the steps for the owners to follow during break-in.

and I am assuming your parents already trained you so Cottonelle doesn't need to.

So, I'm assuming Cottonelle has to tell you to use 5 sheets of double ply for each crap you take...?

It's ridiculous that people read between the lines and need their hands held.

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