Alrite here we go with the second installment of Perma's a noob .

I was out driving my LS around tonight and had some jackass in a Mazda 6 in my trunk the whole damned way down the road. Finally on the next set of lights I'd had enough and decided it was time to finally open up the Cobalt for the first time. First through fourth (stopped in fourth at 4k cause I was going fast enough as it was) I shifted the car at 5000RPM consistently and did NOT slip the clutch...in and out...smoother than I thought I'd manage with standard. I wasn't power shifting it either...I made sure to take the foot right off the gas each time because I'm not ready for those WOT shifts and I KNOW that's not good for your tranny, clutch and engine.

After I pulled my head out of my ass I remembered that the engine was still fairly new and started worrying I may have possbily harmed the engine or transmission in one way or another. Basically my car is at 4900km but I've never taken it above 4000RPM and that was in fourth gear when passing on the highway. Is there any possibility I did any damage to my car or is it safe to say my engine should be more than broken in and I can open it up on occasion from this day forward ?

On a side not, in case anyone wondered the outcome I found out it was the 3.0L version so I inevitably got my ass handed to me...but I was impressed with how hard the car ran even with the A/C on...I'm sure a few more thousand and she'll be ready to give 'er all hell. Man could I feel the torque though !

Thanks,

Permafried-

 

after 500 miles, your cobalt should be ready to go
i babied mine til 1000 tho

 

That's about what GM recommends in the manual for the break-in period...somewhere around 850km (or 500 miles ) if I remember correctly which was why I was thinking I was in the clear. I don't intend to make it a regular habit it was one of those spur of the moment type things which I'm making a mental note to stay away from . I will be taking it out for a cruise tomorrow afternoon to make sure I don't hear any funny sputs or murmurs, etc. but I'm assuming everything should be fine...can't baby the car forever .

Thanks for your input...better safe than sorry.

Permafried-

 

oops..........lol

 

my father works for a company that delivers cars from the factory. GM is one that he delivers. i asked him the same question.
he laughed and said, "those cars have the **** kicked out of them from the moment they leave the factory."

so i dont think that you taking it to 5 grand will make a difference, cause the guys that put the first 10-15 kms on the car, arent very nice doing it..

 

yeah lol

 

Thats soo true... the SS I test drove was the one I ended up buying (at 12miles)... Miles 11 and 12 (done on the test drive) were pretty hard on the car.

Ive got over 5500 miles on my car and the only mechanical problems I've had was a broken exhaust baffle (happened around 700 miles) and a faulty ABS module (around 1000)

That break in period is really meant for the older cards that were pressed with machines and the engine blocks were made inconsistently... like in the 60 and 70... now everything is done with computer percision... after a 100 miles (just to learn the car) let her rip... I did...

-Rich

 

Everyone is correct here, these engines can handle alot more abuse than you've shown it Perma....So I wouldn't be too worried....

When I test drove an SS, even the salesperson sitting beside was encouraging me to open up the car...He agreed, as long as you're not being psycho with it constantly, you'll be fine...