Bad Break In
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
Bad Break In
I always see posts about people asking how to break in their car.
My question is what can happen if you don't break it in right? Say if you bought a brand new 06 SS/SC and you beat the living hell out of it right from the dealer lot. What kinds of problem would you run into?
My question is what can happen if you don't break it in right? Say if you bought a brand new 06 SS/SC and you beat the living hell out of it right from the dealer lot. What kinds of problem would you run into?
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From: Southern Illinois
well, nothing major right away. The main reason you break in a car is to get all the seals to sit propperly, and to just get the motor used to running. Bad break ins greatly lower the life of the engine, and you could possibly burst a seal if you drove it hard all the time right off the light.
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From: RTP, NC
The manual doesn't say anything about being nice to the engine during the break in period. All it says is to vary the engine speed for the first 500 miles. I dunno about you but agressive driving usually involved varied engine speeds.
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Originally Posted by zinner
The manual doesn't say anything about being nice to the engine during the break in period. All it says is to vary the engine speed for the first 500 miles. I dunno about you but agressive driving usually involved varied engine speeds.
Not breaking an engine in can cause numerous problems. Seals and gaskets, as well as mechanical parts may be damaged. Oil consumption, and fuel consumption may increase as a result. The engine may also be more prone to failure during high load operation. These conditions also reduce the power potential of your engine.
Do not run this car to redline, avoid full throttle, and keep it under 5,000RPM like it says. Only thing I disagree with is engine braking. This is a normal part of driving a manual transmission car (can't be avoided at times), and it generally helps seat the piston rings for a tighter fit in their sleeve, resulting in higher compression, and more power.
Your clutch and brakes also need to be babied during this period. If the clutch is overheated, it will be permanently damaged, resulting in its failure way before it should need to be changed. This has been a common problem. Most people on this site having problems with their clutch are having problems because they have abused their clutches during the break-in period. Brakes need the first 200 miles (300 kms) to break in. You should avoid hard break applications. Leave lots of room between other vehicle so you are not hard on them. This gives the brake linings time to wear in, and prevents premature wear (just like the clutch) and optimizes the breaking abilitiy of the pads and rotors.
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From: Chicago, IL
Originally Posted by mi6_
Wrong. It says for the first 500 miles (805 kms) not to hold a constant speed for long periods of time (i.e. vary throttle), avoid hard launches, do not exceed 5,000RPMS, and avoid engine braking.
Not breaking an engine in can cause numerous problems. Seals and gaskets, as well as mechanical parts may be damaged. Oil consumption, and fuel consumption may increase as a result. The engine may also be more prone to failure during high load operation. These conditions also reduce the power potential of your engine.
Do not run this car to redline, avoid full throttle, and keep it under 5,000RPM like it says. Only thing I disagree with is engine braking. This is a normal part of driving a manual transmission car (can't be avoided at times), and it generally helps seat the piston rings for a tighter fit in their sleeve, resulting in higher compression, and more power.
Your clutch and brakes also need to be babied during this period. If the clutch is overheated, it will be permanently damaged, resulting in its failure way before it should need to be changed. This has been a common problem. Most people on this site having problems with their clutch are having problems because they have abused their clutches during the break-in period. Brakes need the first 200 miles (300 kms) to break in. You should avoid hard break applications. Leave lots of room between other vehicle so you are not hard on them. This gives the brake linings time to wear in, and prevents premature wear (just like the clutch) and optimizes the breaking abilitiy of the pads and rotors.
Not breaking an engine in can cause numerous problems. Seals and gaskets, as well as mechanical parts may be damaged. Oil consumption, and fuel consumption may increase as a result. The engine may also be more prone to failure during high load operation. These conditions also reduce the power potential of your engine.
Do not run this car to redline, avoid full throttle, and keep it under 5,000RPM like it says. Only thing I disagree with is engine braking. This is a normal part of driving a manual transmission car (can't be avoided at times), and it generally helps seat the piston rings for a tighter fit in their sleeve, resulting in higher compression, and more power.
Your clutch and brakes also need to be babied during this period. If the clutch is overheated, it will be permanently damaged, resulting in its failure way before it should need to be changed. This has been a common problem. Most people on this site having problems with their clutch are having problems because they have abused their clutches during the break-in period. Brakes need the first 200 miles (300 kms) to break in. You should avoid hard break applications. Leave lots of room between other vehicle so you are not hard on them. This gives the brake linings time to wear in, and prevents premature wear (just like the clutch) and optimizes the breaking abilitiy of the pads and rotors.
Not to mention the way cars are built now the computer is programmed to learn the driver. Meaning how you drive makes the able to compensate better. My brother is an automotive lube and seal technician. When I bought my car he told the same stuff as previously mentioned, plus don't race her until you've exceeded 1500 miles. This will allow your gaskets and seals to seat. Otherwise, be moderately hard on her from 500 miles to 1500 miles, not exceeding 5000 rpm.
Afterall, you do want to break her in the right way (just like your gf (j/k)).
Afterall, you do want to break her in the right way (just like your gf (j/k)).
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From: Chandler, AZ
I've heard a great way to get to break in well is to leave it in one gear, say 3rd on the highway, and accelerate to around 4-5k rpm, and let off the gas until the car slows to about 2k. Repeat a few times, and the vacuum it causes helps everything settle on both sides. Forget where I read that, so don't hold me to it. 
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
Originally Posted by Tomtwtwtw
I've heard a great way to get to break in well is to leave it in one gear, say 3rd on the highway, and accelerate to around 4-5k rpm, and let off the gas until the car slows to about 2k. Repeat a few times, and the vacuum it causes helps everything settle on both sides. Forget where I read that, so don't hold me to it.
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