breaking in my new 3

delpieve

Member
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2004 mazda 3 GT GFX, manual
Just wondering if anyone can offer any advice as to the best way to break in a new car...this being my first brand new car I have done some reading and read everything from dont take it over 4k rpms for the first 500kms to make sure you drive it hard in the first 40-60 kms to get your seals to set properly.....any personal opinions and experiences would be greatly appreciated
 
Whether it's a new motorcycle or a new car, I drive them like I stole them. Give 'em hell! It doesn't matter. If something's gonna break, it's under warranty. I've never had a problem with any of the new vehicles I've purchased and I've never really done anything special to "break in" any of them.
 
mine will be my 4th new car and the only thing I do....just my thing is I dont take it on the hwy until about 200km are on it........but I drive around until I get 200km the first day lol
 
I don't personally believe in break in periods, maybe on older cars, but on new ones, i have had 4 new cars in the past 4 years, everyone i test its limits eveyday from day one, never seems to bother the car (probably because i never have them long enough to see the affects?hahahahahaha) anyhoo, drive however you want motors of today don't really need a break in period... just my .02 cents
shag' (wink)
 
I've had 6 new cars in the last 8 years, and here's my method. I don't brake hard, accelerate hard, go past 4K, nor let it bog. Mix up my rpms, and highway rpms. Do this for the first 600, then I drain oil. Now, from this point on up to 1000 miles, I **** it often, but not at every single stop sign, just work that engine well. Then at 1000 I drain oil again, then I'm comfortable that I did what I could for the beating I will offer it over it's lifespan.
 
Break-In Period (straight from online owners manual p4-7)

No special break-in is necessary, but a few precautions in the first 1,000km(600miles) may add to the performance, economy, and life of your Mazda.

  • Don't race the engine
  • Don't maintain one constant speed either slow or fast, for a long period of time.
  • Don't drive constantly at full-throttle or high engine rpm for extended periods of time.
  • Avoid unnecessary hard stops.
  • Avoid full-throttle starts.
 
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