I hear all this talk about breaking in a new car.

I am completely unsure of how this is done. I just picked up my new Cobalt SS 2.4L on Friday.
Loving it so much! But being up in the frozen north, haven't driven it too too much just yet.

Anyways, if someone could enlighten me on how to do this properly, would be greatly appreciated!

 

Do exactly what the New Owner manual tells you to do. Remember that there is a clause in the warranty that can get you if they even think you were doing otherwise.
Hutch

 

let it warm up all the way, then push it a bit, dont hit redline, but go wot a few times and let the engine coast down while in gear, do this a few times in 3rd or 4th, this will let the rings seal

 

drive it lightly for the first 500 miles then let it rip but on first start of day let it get to at least 150 coolant temp before redlining

 

floor it lots and do alot of neutral bombs

 

Let it warm up to normal operating temperatures. Then DRIVE IT HARD!! Do not hit redline, but let it see 4-5000RPM, with varying throttle positions. Do not let the RPM's stay the same for long distances.

 

I dont think there is anything in the manual that tells you how to break it in that i saw. But best thing to do is do not rev past 45-5k for the first 500. Do a couple of 3rd gear pulls and start going all out around 7-800 miles.

 

I broke mine in very hard, out the dealership and on to the highway. Slowed to 2-3k rpm's on the highway and hit redline 2nd, 3rd and fourth. Don't be afraid to show it rpm's and drive it like it was meant to be driven, just don't bury it into the rev limiter. Hitting redline is fine just don't abuse the car every chance you get. This method worked for my last 2 cars and ask anyone who has driven my SS how it felt

 

I'm behind this philosophy. Broke in my 2.2 in a similar fashion and have had no problems... nothing but power and an average 28 mpg during spirited city driving.

 

an important note is that the engines are already run from the factory, so they arent exactly brand new