Poll: Did you follow the Owner's Manual Break-In Procedure?

drisko · 03-31-2009, 02:53 AM

Just curious how many of you new 370Z owners followed the Nissan recommended break-in procedure, which involves following these rules for the first 1200 miles:

1. Not revving the engine past 4,000 RPM.
2. Not accelerating at full throttle in any gear.
3. No quick starts or "launching" the car.
4. Making sure to vary the RPMs and not drive at a constant speed.
5. Not braking hard.

Personally, I could not wait to drive it fast but I have not yet redlined it (have about 980 miles on it). I honestly think after the first several hundred miles the car is fully broken in, but reading the owners manual would have you think otherwise.

drisko · 03-31-2009, 03:09 AM

Eh...well there should have been a fourth option: "I followed all the rules exactly for the whole 1200 miles!", but for some reason it cut it off at 3.

ChrisSlicks · 03-31-2009, 12:35 PM

I'm of the belief that engines need a mixture of driving for a good break-in. So yes, I stomped on the throttle once in a while just didn't take it all the way to redline, about 6-6.5K. It is said that highway cruising at constant RPM is one of the worst things you can do. This is all speculation however, there isn't much evidence to say which procedure is best and how long the break-in period should be.

I'm moderately easy on the brakes at first but now that everything is settled I will probably follow the standard bed-in procedure.

MightyBobo · 03-31-2009, 02:42 PM

I drive it fairly soft, but theres been a couple occasions I took it up fairly high, and braked hard. But I certainly didnt brake hard until a few heat cycles. Still breaking in, though - only at 550 miles or so.

AK370Z · 03-31-2009, 03:05 PM

I followed the 4K and below up to 800 miles. From 800 to 1200, I revved up to 5K RPM. After 1200 miles, well..... I was a very happy happy person

ctzn · 03-31-2009, 03:14 PM

I followed for the most part with a few exceptions, I can feel a difference now at 2000 miles in how the car feels and sounds. The exhaust does seem to have a deeper growl at this point which is nice.

Akirasoft · 04-01-2009, 09:50 PM

break-in is always the toughest period for any new car. each item in that list serves to break in a different component of the car and each component takes varying amounts of time to actually break-in.

The hard braking thing is likely the first thing you can stop worrying about. Next would be "lurching" which is really to allow the clutch to break in (in a manual trans car obviously.) The rest is obviously for the motor.

With my previous vehicles I generally followed break-in instructions... That being said I've been told applying full throttle during emergencies was ok so I tended towards 1-2 emergencies each time I was out in the car.

The 1200 mile period on this car does seem a bit long. I'm more used to 1000 miles.

Is the factory fill oil synthetic?

Musashi · 04-01-2009, 10:13 PM

When I left the dealership I shut off the VDC and did a sweet burner...

theDreamer · 04-01-2009, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Musashi

When I left the dealership I shut off the VDC and did a sweet burner...

And how did that make you feel?

Still unsure of what I will do, looks like my car will be arriving soon though.

bluzman · 04-03-2009, 12:07 AM

Followed the rules for the most part. I've got ~5,300 miles on it now. Now every once in a while I just drive it like I stole it.

import111 · 04-03-2009, 12:52 AM

I followed break in rules until 450 miles. That included not going over 4500rpm, lots of engine breaking to get high vacuum to help seat the piston rings, and no more than 1/2 throttle. After 450 miles I floored it every chance I got and have been doing so ever since. Oil changed at 1000 miles, and I am at 12xx miles now.

Namir · 04-03-2009, 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drisko

1. Not revving the engine past 4,000 RPM.
2. Not accelerating at full throttle in any gear.
3. No quick starts or "launching" the car.
4. Making sure to vary the RPMs and not drive at a constant speed.
5. Not braking hard.

I don't buy the braking crap.
The proper way to bed new pads and rotors is to do repeated 60-5 mph HARD stops.

STOPtech info on bedding

Gamedog · 04-03-2009, 01:30 AM

This was a big question over on MYG37 too.

Some Nissan tech guys said the motor comes already broken-in.

All I did was baby the clutch for the first 500 miles to properly break it in. The motor should be fine though.

KillerBee370 · 04-03-2009, 03:52 AM

Just curious since this topic keeps coming up... just what exactaly do you figure will happen if you don't adhere to this "break-in" period?

Musashi · 04-03-2009, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KillerBee370

Just curious since this topic keeps coming up... just what exactaly do you figure will happen if you don't adhere to this "break-in" period?

Absolutely NOTHING! I believe with modern engines they are already run it a little bit at the factory. They probably tell you that so you don't go crashing your car before your use to it. lol

View Poll Results: Did you follow the Nissan break-in procedure?
Hell no: I drove it off the lot like I stole it.	10	13.70%
I did for awhile, then said F*** it, this car needs to be driven.	8	10.96%
I followed the rules for the most part (only broke them once in awhile).	48	65.75%
I followed all the rules exactly for the whole 1200 miles!	7	9.59%
Voters: 73. You may not vote on this poll

03-31-2009, 02:53 AM	#1 (permalink)
drisko Base Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: So Cal Age: 43 Posts: 160 Drives: 09 370Z PW Tour S 6M Rep Power: 16	Did you follow the Owner's Manual Break-In Procedure? Just curious how many of you new 370Z owners followed the Nissan recommended break-in procedure, which involves following these rules for the first 1200 miles: 1. Not revving the engine past 4,000 RPM. 2. Not accelerating at full throttle in any gear. 3. No quick starts or "launching" the car. 4. Making sure to vary the RPMs and not drive at a constant speed. 5. Not braking hard. Personally, I could not wait to drive it fast but I have not yet redlined it (have about 980 miles on it). I honestly think after the first several hundred miles the car is fully broken in, but reading the owners manual would have you think otherwise. Last edited by drisko; 03-31-2009 at 03:06 AM.

03-31-2009, 02:42 PM	#4 (permalink)
MightyBobo A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 8,465 Drives: No cars; only bikes Rep Power: 52	I drive it fairly soft, but theres been a couple occasions I took it up fairly high, and braked hard. But I certainly didnt brake hard until a few heat cycles. Still breaking in, though - only at 550 miles or so. __________________ I don't own a car anymore.

03-31-2009, 03:05 PM	#5 (permalink)
AK370Z Administrator Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: NJ Posts: 9,930 Drives: 09 370Z MB Sports M6 Rep Power: 10	I followed the 4K and below up to 800 miles. From 800 to 1200, I revved up to 5K RPM. After 1200 miles, well..... I was a very happy happy person __________________ The370Z Signature Pictures ll Want to rock our forum decals on your car? Then click here! ll How to Embed YouTube Videos In a Post STOP! (Hammertime) ll Become a Premium Member Click HERE ll F.A.Q. Are You a Nissan Dealer? Click Here to Become A "Supporting Dealer" and Start Listing Your 370Zs In Our Inventory Section My Monterey Blue Z ll My Exhaust --> My Intake --> G3 Nissan's Official Response Regarding Oil Temp Issue: CLICK HERE Need a Set of Cheap Winter wheels /Tires? Then Visit The Banner Link Below and Place Your Order. You'll Help Keep The370Z Alive.

04-03-2009, 12:07 AM	#10 (permalink)
bluzman Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: CA Posts: 349 Drives: Red Touring 7AT Rep Power: 16	Followed the rules for the most part. I've got ~5,300 miles on it now. Now every once in a while I just drive it like I stole it. __________________ My Gallery

03-31-2009, 03:09 AM	#2 (permalink)
drisko Base Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: So Cal Age: 43 Posts: 160 Drives: 09 370Z PW Tour S 6M Rep Power: 16	Eh...well there should have been a fourth option: "I followed all the rules exactly for the whole 1200 miles!", but for some reason it cut it off at 3.

03-31-2009, 12:35 PM	#3 (permalink)
ChrisSlicks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North East Posts: 6,203 Drives: 09 370Z Sport M6 Rep Power: 653	I'm of the belief that engines need a mixture of driving for a good break-in. So yes, I stomped on the throttle once in a while just didn't take it all the way to redline, about 6-6.5K. It is said that highway cruising at constant RPM is one of the worst things you can do. This is all speculation however, there isn't much evidence to say which procedure is best and how long the break-in period should be. I'm moderately easy on the brakes at first but now that everything is settled I will probably follow the standard bed-in procedure.

03-31-2009, 03:14 PM	#6 (permalink)
ctzn inquisitive Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Back in Midwest, StL Posts: 384 Drives: G35 Rep Power: 17	I followed for the most part with a few exceptions, I can feel a difference now at 2000 miles in how the car feels and sounds. The exhaust does seem to have a deeper growl at this point which is nice.

04-01-2009, 09:50 PM	#7 (permalink)
Akirasoft Base Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: IL Posts: 24 Drives: 09 370Z PG M6 08 RDX Rep Power: 16	break-in is always the toughest period for any new car. each item in that list serves to break in a different component of the car and each component takes varying amounts of time to actually break-in. The hard braking thing is likely the first thing you can stop worrying about. Next would be "lurching" which is really to allow the clutch to break in (in a manual trans car obviously.) The rest is obviously for the motor. With my previous vehicles I generally followed break-in instructions... That being said I've been told applying full throttle during emergencies was ok so I tended towards 1-2 emergencies each time I was out in the car. The 1200 mile period on this car does seem a bit long. I'm more used to 1000 miles. Is the factory fill oil synthetic?

04-01-2009, 10:13 PM	#8 (permalink)
Musashi Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Jersey Posts: 357 Drives: 09 370Z 6speed Rep Power: 606	When I left the dealership I shut off the VDC and did a sweet burner...

04-03-2009, 12:52 AM	#11 (permalink)
import111 Track Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tucson, AZ. Posts: 622 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z Rep Power: 191	I followed break in rules until 450 miles. That included not going over 4500rpm, lots of engine breaking to get high vacuum to help seat the piston rings, and no more than 1/2 throttle. After 450 miles I floored it every chance I got and have been doing so ever since. Oil changed at 1000 miles, and I am at 12xx miles now.

04-03-2009, 01:30 AM	#13 (permalink)
Gamedog Base Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Riverside, CA Posts: 21 Drives: 08 Infiniti G37S Rep Power: 16	This was a big question over on MYG37 too. Some Nissan tech guys said the motor comes already broken-in. All I did was baby the clutch for the first 500 miles to properly break it in. The motor should be fine though. __________________ G37S:\|:6MT TEAM OUTCAST

04-03-2009, 03:52 AM	#14 (permalink)
KillerBee370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: So Cal baby! Age: 51 Posts: 5,964 Drives: with passion Rep Power: 321	Just curious since this topic keeps coming up... just what exactaly do you figure will happen if you don't adhere to this "break-in" period?

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