Break in?

[baluuMS3]

I was told by the Salesman that I was cool to go and drive it the way I want too. Any suggestions out there. How long should I drive i tnice for. How long should I wait for a CAI mod or any mod. Any input would be appreciated.

 

[mrlilguy157]

do mods whenever you want. I drove the car 1200 miles in the first weekend, all highway.

 

[GoFast]

the second night i had mine i went to the drag strip with it and the 7th day i had it i went to the auto x. I bought it in may and i now have 19,000 miles on it and havent had a single problem yet. oh wait, i had a flat tire once

 

[DusterAZ]

break in procedure: "drive it like you stole it"

 

[dparm1984]

I'd go easy for the first 1000 miles. Get an oil change at 1000 miles, then drive the piss out of it.

 

[USMS3]

I was gentle for the most part after I bought mine, but after 5K I beat the s*** out of her and she still loves me and takes care of me.


Have fun, bro.

 

[Young Roids]

Moto man break in seems to be the best way. Wich is to drive it hard with varying rpms. I would stay away from highway driving with a constant rpm at first. Try to do alot of WOT accelleration and engine braking at first.

 

[dparm1984]

Here's what various experts have to say on it. Note that you might have to adjust those RPMs a bit, as some are for motors with higher redlines.



METHOD 1: Endyn Way

0-200 miles ( 0-325 km ) : Try to keep the highest rpm under 3000 rpm. Every 15-20 miles, zing the engine to 4500 rpm in first and occasionally in second gear.

201-400 miles ( 326-650 km ): Try to keep the revs limited to 3500 rpm. Raise the "zing" rpm to 5500 with the same frequency as above.


401-600 miles ( 651-970 km ) : Go to 4000 rpm for driving limit. Raise the "zing" to 6000 - 6500 rpm and include 3rd gear pulls, same frequency.

600-800 miles ( 971-1290 km ): 4500 rpm driving limit. "Zing" it to 7000+ rpm and include partial 4th gear pulls.

800-1K miles ( 1291-1615 km ) : 5000 rpm limit with "zing" to 7500+ rpm with some pulls all the way through 4th and partial fifth gear pulls.


Now, don't misunderstand me on the zings. You don't HAVE to scream the engine religeously at the prescribed intervals. If you don't have the space to run the engine up in the selected gears, don't do it. Just know that you can, and IF the opportunity comes around lay into it. Don't over-do the procedure.

I recommend that the oil be changed at the 1K mile marker. If the plugs are looking good and if the compression's (and leak down numbers) good, switch to Mobil 1 for life. Use either 0-30, or 10-30.

After the oil change, you might want to reset the valves and from that point on, drive it the way you'd normally run it.


METHOD 2: 2000 NIRA Comp4 Class Champion, Stephen Sakai's Way



1: Let the motor idle for about 30 minutes then change the oil.


Then take it out and road test for short distances until you reach about 100 miles. Then change the oil again.

Once you reach about 100 miles it should be broken in by then. Change the oil at 250, 500 and 1000 and then normal from then on. If you are scared you can wait until 500 miles before you start beating on it.

2: With respect to breaking in new cams : As long as you lubricated the cams properly on installation, there is no real break-in procedure.


METHOD 3: Ken Wood's (from Temple of VTEC's FAQ Section) Way

1. Use regular oil, not synthetic, during break-in.

2. When you first start it up, let it COMPLETELY warm up, not just kinda warm, all the way warm.

3. While it's still hot, check and see if the head needs to be
retorqued.

4. Check the timing again, as well as the valve adjustment.

5. Very slowly and using the lowest rpms as possbile get to about
65mph. Put the car in 4th gear. The coast, in neutral, to about 30.

6. Go from 30 to 65, in 4th gear about 20 times. This allows the rings
to seat, so do it right, and do it 20 times.

7. Drive EASY for about 150 miles. Change the oil. Still just the
regular oil.

8. Drive easy for another 150 miles. Change the oil again. Still just
the regular oil.

(I realize that steps 7 and 8 say the same thing. Do it twice)

9. Drive it kinda easy (no trips to redline) for another 1500 miles.

10. Change the oil again. Now you can use the expensive synthetics if
you want to.

11. After that, the motor is pretty much broken in, so "go run the dang
thing to see how fast it is!!!!".

 

[Sacrilicious]

whatever you do: make SURE the car warms up to temp properly before you beat on it.

1. start it up...wait 10-20sec for the oil pump to get the oil flowing all over.
2. drive conservatively until the engine comes up to operating temp.
3. go crazy...

keep in mind, that letting the engine idle for long periods of time to bring it up to temp from cold isn't really a good idea, because it's causing condensation and whatnot. also, you're warming up the engine, but leaving the transmission cold. therefore, the best way to warm up a car is to drive it carefully! =d

 

[Sacrilicious]

honestly, the insane oil change schedules should not be necessary with modern cars these days. drive it like you would normally drive it, but make sure the engine/transmission temp come up to operational range, and you should be more than ok...

 

[Falconx84]

800-1K miles ( 1291-1615 km ) : 5000 rpm limit with "zing" to 7500+ rpm

ummm.... isn't that well past redline? I don't think that's advisable, lol

 

[Young Roids]

those procedures are not MS3 specific just general breakin I believe.

 

[dparm1984]

Correct, which is why I said you might have to adjust those figures a bit for our motors.

 

[bykeryder4life]

just drive the car as you plan on driving it everyday, but dont hold any rpm's for long periods of time(shift!) and dont keep it up high in the rpms for long(shift!). short bursts of throttle up to 5k or 5700 and some cruising will break it in just fine. wait 600 to 1k miles before oil change and driving the s*** out of it just to be safe. all the seals and stuff should be worn in nicely. you shouldnt worry too much with how new cars are built its all just "to be on the safe side"

 

[baluuMS3]

Thanks for all the advice Guys. I love my new car but I am having an issue with my stereo. The bass is going away and coming back. They thinkit maybe the radio but what are yall thoughts. It is the new style for the 2008.5

 

[absolutamente]

I grabbed the keys from the salesman, got in, looked at the seven miles on the odometer, pulled out of the parking lot and layed a strip of rubber a block and a half long. The rest is history...

The second step of my break in was to beat the s*** out of the thing every day after that. The loud clunk that I heard between 1st, 2nd and 3rd gear shifts went away after like the 4th or 5th time.

Now with 19,000 on the clock the car squeaks and rattles like crazy, my drivers seat is worn out, all the rubber on my pedals is gone and the shift knob is falling off.

Still gets up and goes though.

 

[MS3077]

I grabbed the keys from the salesman, got in, looked at the seven miles on the odometer, pulled out of the parking lot and layed a strip of rubber a block and a half long. The rest is history...

The second step of my break in was to beat the s*** out of the thing every day after that. The loud clunk that I heard between 1st, 2nd and 3rd gear shifts went away after like the 4th or 5th time.

Now with 19,000 on the clock the car squeaks and rattles like crazy, my drivers seat is worn out, all the rubber on my pedals is gone and the shift knob is falling off.

Still gets up and goes though.

+1 AMEN!!!

 

[Falconx84]

Thanks for all the advice Guys. I love my new car but I am having an issue with my stereo. The bass is going away and coming back. They thinkit maybe the radio but what are yall thoughts. It is the new style for the 2008.5

this is the wrong place to ask this question, but you're new so I'll forgive you... Does the volume change as you change speed? The faster you go the louder it gets? Kind of like the movie "Speed" lol

If thats the case then ALC (automatic level control) is on. There are 3 different levels, the higher the level the more dramatic the effect. To check it, push the know on the right hand side of the stereo and it's the first adjustment that pops up

hope that helps, if not, take it to the dealer, thats what they are there for