Ive been reading alot on the "break in period" and have been getting mixed answers. I want to see if there is a correlation between following the break in period guidelines and have engine problems down the road. For those of you guys that followed the guidelines, were there many problems? For those of you that didnt, were there problems?
Thanx
cameron

 

You always want to follow proper break in procedures on pretty much any mechanical device.

The moving parts have to mate together, as this happens they reform themselves slightly. When you run hard right out the gate you are forcing the parts together violently instead of allowing them the time to properly mesh. Then you run into problems......

This is why you need to change the oil etc. after break in. There will actually be some metal shavings in there.

 

I am going to take a lot of heat for this, but there is no break-in period for a one year lease. I toyed around with babying it for about 100 miles, but then I said WTF. I'm only going to put 3-4K miles on this car anyway. If I wait for the break-in to end, I'm giving up enjoyment of the car for 4-6 months.

 

I doubt that you will find a definitive study on what haapens when the recommended breakin is ignored. My guess would be that not much. The only caution I would offer is that regardless of how many miles you have on your car, make certain that the engine has a chance to be warmed up and well lubricated before you drive hard. BMW M3s have a roving set of lights on the tach near the red line that remain illuminated until the engine warms up. Drivers aren't supposed to rev their engines into the illuminated areas on the tach.

 

well, i recall some guy who didnt break in his car when he first got his G35. he just romped on the throttle all day long. his friend got the same car but he "broke it in"... they decided to dyno both cars stock, and the car that was "abused" had 6 extra hp then the one who was babied. it could be coincidental, or it just varies from car to car from maunufacture. dont know. anywho, i broke in my car "accordingly" and i have 35k miles and no problems so far.

 

All 5 of my last cars were given the proper break in.

I have 3 different friends that also drive the same cars, but, drove
it like they stole it. My (3) cars G-35/Pontiac/BMW pulled stronger then my friends cars (stock/stock? My G now is (1, 1-1/2 car lengths) stronger from 20-100 then my buds G. And from 50-130 I was about 3 cars in front. We ran about 10 diff times with the same results every time.Hmmmm......That was stock vs stock.

FYI, I always change the oil after 1k on the clock and have screened out
metal shavings all the time.

My $.02 beans

 

Allow me to chime in here. Before you say “whose this guy and why listen to him” let me outline my background. 25 years ago I started at a Datsun Dealer working the parts counter. Still working for Nissan, currently as Parts & Service Mgr for a major dealer.
Ive sold tens-of-millions $ of Nissan parts and overseen 1000’s of engine repairs.
Without going into great detail as why I will only state READ THE FOLLOWING.

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

I could of not wrote it better myself. I am a BIG proponent of the theory expressed and countless times personally witnessed both positive results for adhering to this and MANY NEGITIVE results to those who “baby” during break-in. DRIVE IT HARD. The key to longevity is consistent oil changes.

 

I've always followed the break-in procedure on every ride I've owned and never had an issue later down the road.

I've done this because the manufacturers have recommended it, and it sounded reasonable.....
C.

 

I am a firm believer in this man's write up on the subject as I have had similar experiance in both auto race engines and motorcycles...many many engines in my life so far.

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

Just don't lug 'em or overheat 'em.And change the oil like it's religon.

 

As it goes, this is one of those subject where it has been beaten to death and no one side is correct. I say, do what you believe is more logical. I, for one, broke in my car for the first 1200 miles. Really, there's no harm in breaking in the car (not just for the engine, but everything else about the car)? On the other hand, there CAN be some harm done if you "drive it like you stole it". I've actually read articles on both subject (one being from Motortrend, when they do their usual long-term reports on cars), and they had problems on cars when they went all out and didn't break it in properly.

 

a big +1!!! I was also told by a race tech at Nissan Motorsports that the VQ is broken in at the factory

drive it like ya stole it!! I did that to mine and my car runs very strong with no problems

 

I pampered my car up to 1,500 miles,changed the oil at 1,200,and currently have 2,300 miles on it.I believe the better you treat your car,the car will treat you the same way.Now im having loads of fun with it.But even though the car is broken in,i still dont drive it like i stole it...unless my friends and i are just clowning around..

 

Somewhere in-between there is the truth. Just drive it normally, but as mentioned, don't stress it if it has not warmed up yet. This goes for during break-in as well as after.

Even the 'expert' on the internet is not abusing it before it's warmed up, and also he is dailing it in gradually. Hitting higher RPMs gradually each time.

The oil change procedure sounds like overkill. I've never quite figured out how you can possibly get the filings out just by draining the oil.
Have you ever watched dirty oil flow through a funnel, or see what the container looks like after the oil is gone? It still has solids clinging to the sides.
Unless you drop the pan, or 'maybe' use an engine flush, a lot of those will remain inside the engine. Assuming there are many to begin with. With modern engine building I think those particles are kept to a minimum.
The oil filter is the only thing is to keep them from circulating if they do break lose.

 

I drove it like I stole it as soon as the keys were handed to me.

I bought it in Sacramento (Elk Grove to be exact), drove it to Oakland, spent the night in Oakland then drove it through San Francisco and down Pacific Coast Highway all the way to L.A.

And I sure as hell didn't baby it along the way. 23,000 miles later, no problems thus far.

 

thanx guys, i didnt expect to get his much info so thankyou for the help
-cam