V8888v

Just came across on a bimmer forum.
It calls "Break-In Secrets"

http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

Seems like a pure BS to me. Any thoughts?

ByByBMW

Article has been around a long time. Some buy into it, some don't. I think all machinery needs to be treated with some respect for a period of time then enjoy. What is that time? Ah, there is the question. The one thing I do NOT do is push an engine hard before the OIL temperature has reached at least 160 °F.
Keep in mind one other thing. The newest conventional wisdom says break in on modern cars is more for brakes, tires and differentials than for the engine itself.
YMMV.

HummelS

Yep, although even theories about how to "break in" brakes vary widely.

If you've ever been to the assembly plant, you'll realize that the "keep it under 55 mph" caution in the manual is lawyer BS. I'd wager a new 'vette has already seen ~100 mph on the dyno at the plant. Every car gets romped - hard - when it comes off the line.

speedlink

It is more for the drive line components, than the engine.

wjnjr

I wonder what real automotive engineers would have to say on the subject?

Oh wait, they already have. It's in the owner's manual

c6rod

I agree with the "break it in aggressively" theory. I have built many high performance engines and experienced the poor result of gentle break in procedures. The rings don't seat for a long time and performance is not up to par. You don't have to abuse it, you just have to put a load on it in the upper gears and vary the load and RPMs frequently to help seat the rings rapidly and properly. Obviously the engine has to be totally warmed up with oil temp at 150 degrees before any loading is done.

HummelS

No - if you do a Museum Delivery, they will tell you the owner's manual is cautionary lawyer BS. It's hard to find a page in the manual without a lawyer's warning that you could be "hurt or killed" if you don't (or do) "x."

I'll repeat my previous statement - I have watched a new 'vette on the dyno at the plant. One minute after it comes off the line, it gets run to red-line on the dyno through multiple gears. Stay out of situations where you have to hammer the brakes, and you're good to go.

We drove our 2000 coupe from the Museum to San Diego at 80 mph. Put 43,000 miles on that car, and never had a hiccup. "I can't drive 55."

BigJoe

And I wouldn't be a bit surprised if the lawyers were a factor to add a "break in" period so that the new owners have some time to get used to the car before they start hammering it. But then I may just need to shine my tin hat...

MitchAlsup

I supscribe to the "run it up and down the RPM band with moderate but substantial throttle and vacuum" theory.

A motor built to a 40 hour service interval is broken in differently than a motor built to a 120K mile service interval.

yes, oil must be up to temp.

m kraz

that is bs

V8888v

if someone can buy 2 vettes and tell us a difference

Higgs Boson

I don't think it really matters, honestly. I've broken in a ton of engines and they have all been fine. My race motors go straight to the track with Mobil 1 and get run at WOT for a year then rebuilt even though they don't need it. I don't keep a street car for more than about 20K miles so I never really know if my break in procedure made a difference at 120K.....they all seem fine while I have them so I don't make a big thing of it.

wgcatlga

I did in November of 2011 and they told me to vary speeds for the first 500 miles, etc. It was a bit of a challenge because the freeways from Bowling Green, Ky to Atl, Ga were rather crowded on our return drive.

My "handler" did not say anything about lawyer stuff.

thedofuss

isnt it amazing. cars are around for what, 100 years--and we still have no clue about what really happens inside the combustion chamber.

Higgs Boson

better clarify "we."

I think we know precisely what goes on inside a combustion chamber. I think that maybe the dbag on Wall Street who buys a lambo with ponzi scheme money probably doesn't know what is going on inside a combustion chamber.

Sin City

Ferrari's also have a break in period -- and they dyno every engine and put it on a test track. The average delivery mileage for a new car is 60 miles.

And, they have a break in period.

Here's my suspicion. I think it's an attempt to keep brand new drivers from driving over their heads until they get used to it.

"Don't take it to red lie before 500 miles!" Yah right... What you really mean is take it easy and don't do anything stupid until you get used to the machinery --- and don't tell us we didn't warn you!

vetteship

Fast forward to 13:45 and watch how the factory break-in the car

fdxpilot

Considering some of the BS my "delivery specialist" tried to shovel my way, I would take anything from them with a grain of salt.

mirage2991

Rear end gears (street duty gears) usually have to be broken in to ensure a quiet life, and clutch usually has a break-in period as well... other than that and being cautious for any leaks or things not tight, I'd say let he rip.

level6

I kinda agree with that. If someone is not used to a high horsepower, light weight performance machine, keeping the tach below 4000 for the first 500 miles until they get acclimated might keep some of their customers alive.