How did YOU break in your Cobalt SS/SC?
03-25-2007, 10:24 PM
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How did YOU break in your Cobalt SS/SC?
I just wanna know how you broke in your car and if you've had any problems with it.
My car has a little more than 430 miles on it. So far, i revved it to around 4-5k a lot and mixed up my speeds. I wasted A LOT of gas revvin it up so high. The thing im worried about is that i did a lot of engine braking because i thought that was good. I also went over 5000k a couple times but most of the time it was only up to 5500k.
According to the manual, you arent supposed to rev past 5000k or down shift/engine brake. Also, you arent supposed to step on the gas all the way either which i did a few times.
Do you guys think im gonna have a lot of problems wit my car in the future? I wish i read the part about breakin it in sooner
My car has a little more than 430 miles on it. So far, i revved it to around 4-5k a lot and mixed up my speeds. I wasted A LOT of gas revvin it up so high. The thing im worried about is that i did a lot of engine braking because i thought that was good. I also went over 5000k a couple times but most of the time it was only up to 5500k.
According to the manual, you arent supposed to rev past 5000k or down shift/engine brake. Also, you arent supposed to step on the gas all the way either which i did a few times.
Do you guys think im gonna have a lot of problems wit my car in the future? I wish i read the part about breakin it in sooner
03-25-2007, 10:32 PM
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Fast cars get broken in driving them hard, just make sure you clutch solid til it breaks in or it could develop slippage early. Most modern motors like the one in our SS/SC cobalts have actually been proven to run better, faster, longer after a hard beak in, it's almost like the motor has to be "trained". Just my 2 cents.
Oh yeah and make sure you understand the difference between "hard" or "spirited" driving and abusive driving. the rev limiter is not your friend.
Oh yeah and make sure you understand the difference between "hard" or "spirited" driving and abusive driving. the rev limiter is not your friend.
03-25-2007, 10:33 PM
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I was told by the dealer when I bought it that there was no break-in period. I tried to mix it up a little for the first 500 miles or so changing speeds and whatnot but it probably didn't make any difference. It is true that you won't make full boost until you get some wear on the motor though. I wouldn't worry about it. Hell, if the stage 2 allows you to rev to 7k with no changes to the motor, even if you bounced it off the stock limiter (6.5k) it would be OK (I wouldn't recommend it though). The LSJ is a pretty stout motor. You can get on it, just don't flat out abuse it. Hardly anyone who is stock has had any problems with the motor. It's the clutch, axles, and sunroof you have to watch out for.
03-25-2007, 10:42 PM
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Well you do gotta break in the pistons so you shouldnt rev low a lot. Any mechanic would tell you that. Why does it say in the manual to keep your revs below 5000k?
03-25-2007, 10:47 PM
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to help establish a base fuel map for mileage.. and its a gm performance engine. which is held at or near redline(for hours not sure how many) before its put into the cradle.. i did a decent break in on my lsj (i have a redline) and i regularly get 300+ miles to a 10 gallon main with 2.5 reserve. and i have never come close to runnin out of gas. its very possible to push rpm's without boost.
03-25-2007, 10:59 PM
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I mixed up my speeds alot, some city, some highway. I got right up on 5k rpms a few times before the 500 mile mark, but after that I let it loose. The only thing that I monitored really close was the 5000 rpm mark, I just didnt want to breach it badly till after 500 miles
03-25-2007, 11:02 PM
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I went easy on mine for the first 1000kms, then I started whipping the **** out of her. I'm at 10000kms and no probs at all, I would even say it runs better than the first 5000 kms. The GM mechanics say she is in great shape all around. I think they are made to be pushed hard, just watch out for the hard starts. I almost crapped my pants the first time I started wheel hopping. I thought for sure I broke something but all was OK. I wouldn't do it again though. Stay on top of the preventative maintenance and you will have many many miles of driving pleasure. Reading these forums helps out on staying on top of performance issues. There are a bunch of guys and gals with a great deal of experience and know how on this site.
03-26-2007, 12:06 AM
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I was out the first day I got mine wiht 54 miles on it doing throttle on shifts running my buddies monte carlo ss he had just got. It had stage2 on it alredy to. Belive me i broke it in.
Drive it like to stoled it. Its underwarranty so find the weak points now.
Kyle
Drive it like to stoled it. Its underwarranty so find the weak points now.
Kyle
03-26-2007, 12:12 AM
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Now the key is to come back to this thread in like 3-5 years and see who's cars are still running good, guys who say run it hard like me or the guys who babied them for the first 2500 miles lol.
03-26-2007, 12:17 AM
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I went easy on mine for the first 1000kms, then I started whipping the **** out of her. I'm at 10000kms and no probs at all, I would even say it runs better than the first 5000 kms. The GM mechanics say she is in great shape all around. I think they are made to be pushed hard, just watch out for the hard starts. I almost crapped my pants the first time I started wheel hopping. I thought for sure I broke something but all was OK. I wouldn't do it again though. Stay on top of the preventative maintenance and you will have many many miles of driving pleasure. Reading these forums helps out on staying on top of performance issues. There are a bunch of guys and gals with a great deal of experience and know how on this site.
in my previous car and when i had my jeep i noticed that this proved to be true
03-26-2007, 12:17 AM
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I tried to use a coat hanger and then I proceded with the little passenger window with a hammer. then I found that I could not reach the door handle to unlock it so with lots of frustation I just broke the drivers window with the hammer as well.
Its better to not lock your keys in the car. How do you break-in to your Car?
Its better to not lock your keys in the car. How do you break-in to your Car?
03-26-2007, 01:03 AM
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I tried to use a coat hanger and then I proceded with the little passenger window with a hammer. then I found that I could not reach the door handle to unlock it so with lots of frustation I just broke the drivers window with the hammer as well.
Its better to not lock your keys in the car. How do you break-in to your Car?
Its better to not lock your keys in the car. How do you break-in to your Car?
03-26-2007, 02:45 AM
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I tried to use a coat hanger and then I proceded with the little passenger window with a hammer. then I found that I could not reach the door handle to unlock it so with lots of frustation I just broke the drivers window with the hammer as well.
Its better to not lock your keys in the car. How do you break-in to your Car?
Its better to not lock your keys in the car. How do you break-in to your Car?
Last edited by PolishPauL; 03-26-2007 at 02:45 AM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
03-26-2007, 02:55 AM
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I think the guys who ran em soft are not gonna like the leakin pistons...
03-26-2007, 04:41 AM
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beat the f**king **** out of ****.. seriously.. shift nice, then smash it.. get on the freeway.. rev it up in third hammering on it, and then let it slow down on its own.. it'll set everything right.. these engines are broken in from factory, as i'm told..
03-26-2007, 06:18 AM
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its like a woman if you make her screamm good the first date, she'll lovee it and ask for moree everytime you see her, same as the ss/sc make that **** screamm meanwhile you break her in, and she'll love it 