Break in period

[Clod_King]

How many kilometers is considered as a safe break in period. This is my first new car, and I don't know how much longer I can hold off on wringing this car out on some corners....

I've been trying to keep the rpms below the 3500 mark, but it's hard to do on the highway.

 

[SurlySays]

i was wondering the same thing, usually when im driving i keep it below 4k rpm's... how hard to you others drive your M2?

 

[Red2]

I took it fairly easy on mine (not revving quick or over 4K) for the first 500 miles, then I started driving like I was going to every day. Did the same thing with my 02 Protege when I bought it new and the motor never gave me a lick of problems. Also followed the same procedure on my new 09 Kawasaki ER6-n (motorcycle) at the recommendation of the dealer.
I did change the oil around 300 miles on each of those vehicles to make sure that there were no metal shavings from parts breaking in right out of the box.

 

[rahne]

i just bought my new 2012 mazdaspeed 3 and the owner's manual says (yeah, i read the manual, i'm a nerd, so what?) there is technically no breaking in period but to not race or rev the engine for the first 600 miles (which sounds precisely like a breaking in period but whatever). i've had various people tell me 500, 1000 and 3500 miles (referred to as the 3500 rule - not to rev over 3500 rpm for the first 3500 miles), my 2001 mp3 that i bought new was treated with kid gloves for 500 miles and i just sold it to buy the mazdaspeed and the engine purred still after 111,000 miles. based on my experience and red2's i would say you'll be fine after 500 miles... that's what i'm planning anyway. have fun (cabpatch)

 

[Joker2]

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

I sort of do it this way with Oil Sampling Analysis to back it up. Generally the first Oil Change is due at 1000-2500 miles.
The only thing is to load and unload the engine gently and not drive in traffic.
Warm it up and drive it progressively increasing the engine RPM. Deccelerate slowly under load. etc.
YMMV

 

[zps2004]

I went 1000 miles, then changed the oil and threw it on the dyno, lol

 

[Mr.Lahey]

I'm glad to see that I've done pretty much exactly the same things as everyone else, being my first new car kind of just guessed at it.

 

[DaleNixon]

The manual said to vary RPMs. So I varied them from idle to redline! I still have the factory fill. Getting ready to do my first oil change at 5000 miles.

 

[Clod_King]

Okay well I am at 1249 kms which roughly works out to be 775 miles. I guess I'll drive a little longer like a grandma, and then I'll giver'

 

[SurlySays]

up here in Canada... i think i drove mine like 5000k before i let it go on the RPM's / speed!

 

[Clod_King]

Really?!?!?!?! 5000 kms? How did you manage to hold off?? I almost wish I could just lend the car to someone I could trust, and jus get it back after 5k... But then I wouldn't getto drive it all!

 

[SurlySays]

it was hard, but its my first new car so i didnt wanna push my limits and have it end up in the shop!!!

 

[Mazdamatic]

i have 1100 miles but i granny drove it for about 600 only floored it twice just to see/let the motor have a taste of adulthood. but now i drive a lil more than grandma

 

[PGTBrow]

I drove it gently for the first few hundred miles, and im at about 2000 miles now and still haven't really gone past 5k rpm. As far as the oil change goes I was thinking first one at 2500 miles and then again at 5000 to begin the whole every-5000-miles routine.

 

[shaowq]

i've driven it for about a week, have put around 400 miles on it so far, went up to 5k rpm once to merge onto the freeway, but have been consistently not "racing" the car, and shifting as smoothly as possible between 3-4k rpm.

most of my ASE certified friends say that once i hit about 300 miles i should be good to go so i've been doing 75-80mph on the freeway since i hit 350 miles, otherwise before that it's always been 65-70 when i hit the freeway.

 

[DrWebster]

I drove it gently for the first few hundred miles, and im at about 2000 miles now and still haven't really gone past 5k rpm. As far as the oil change goes I was thinking first one at 2500 miles and then again at 5000 to begin the whole every-5000-miles routine.

This is exactly what I did. I'm at 5400 miles and I've already done my 2nd oil change and first tire rotation.

 

[Clod_King]

I just hit 5000 kms a little whil ago, and I am starting to stretch out my 2s legs now. I wish I had goten it a little sooner, because we are going through a bit of a rainy season now, and I am afeard of destroying my nice new car. Maybe I should ind a track near by and take it out his weekend.....

 

[Joker2]

Change the oil and start running it a bit harder. Or are you going to wait to get to 50,000 km before you you bounce her of the rev-limiter?

 

[XCLR8TN]

Change the oil and start running it a bit harder. Or are you going to wait to get to 50,000 km before you you bounce her of the rev-limiter?

I call BS! You can't bounce this thing off the limiter. It just dies at the limiter lol.

 

[Joker2]

I call BS! You can't bounce this thing off the limiter. It just dies at the limiter lol.

Very funny Miss. Racer!
But I give you this: Mine seems to want shifting around 5800-6000.

I changed my first oil around 2500, second around 7500 (give or take a few hundred ) and the next one is due at 12500 unless my Oil analysis lab says otherwise.

Used Mobil 1 for first and Mazda Synthetic (both ow-20) for second.