Recommendations on how the break-in a new engine

1Sweet Z · 02-18-2011, 09:13 PM

Hey everyone,

I picked up a new 11' 370z coupe A7 sport & nav at the beginning of Feb. The nissan dealer did not suggest on how to break-in the engine on the 370z. I have put a couple hundred k's on it in the last few weeks, but I don't think the piston rings have seated yet, because I have punched it a few times and I am getting a burnt oil smell.

Any recommendations? Please don't say to baby it till like 5K, cause this car is way to fun for that.

SoCal 370Z · 02-18-2011, 09:16 PM

Did you read your Owners Manual? There is a section on how to break-in your Z properly according to Nissan. I'd be leery of punching it as this point. I have not read the 2011 Owners Manual (ours is a 2009) and cannot elaborate on the differences, if any, on the break-in recommendations.

frost · 02-18-2011, 09:18 PM

New Car Break In

How to break in my new 370Z Nismo?

The infamous "break-in" period.

Break In Period?

Break-In a New Car

How do you break-in your new engine?

Break in - drive it "hard" or "be gentle"?

SoCal 370Z · 02-18-2011, 09:20 PM

Frost, you know that you just throttled the piss out of yours from inch one!

frost · 02-18-2011, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoCal 370Z

Frost, you know that you just throttled the piss out of yours from inch one!

I totally did

Mt Tam I am · 02-18-2011, 09:49 PM

I religiously followed the manuel pertaining to break in on my new short block. It took me three awful and boring months to do. I started my new oil consumption test 200 miles ago. I am using a quart every 1000 miles currently. I am beginning to think, "drive it like you stole it" is correct break in method.

tyler20c · 02-18-2011, 11:26 PM

Drive it like you stole it. I left the dealership sideways. Enough said.

1Sweet Z · 02-18-2011, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frost

New Car Break In

How to break in my new 370Z Nismo?

The infamous "break-in" period.

Break In Period?

Break-In a New Car

How do you break-in your new engine?

Break in - drive it "hard" or "be gentle"?

Thanks for making me feel like a noob.. oh wait I am...

I appreciate the links.
I'll check the manual in the morning.

I can see that this is going to be a slooowww spring for me.

1Sweet Z · 02-18-2011, 11:29 PM

Nice.. it is a serious investment thou and I wanna er to last.

tyler20c · 02-18-2011, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1Sweet Z

Nice.. it is a serious investment thou and I wanna er to last.

In all seriousness I have always heard that the best way to break a car in is to drive it like you will normally drive it on a day to day basis. That way the car is "used" to your driving style. For me, that was to drive it very hard.

Sean · 02-18-2011, 11:55 PM

Drive it calmly for for the first 1000 miles but shortly after that get on it. It's all about the RPMs and not taking it for a long road trip at the same RPM.

If it's a lease....well try the drive it like you stole it approach.

wdkwang · 02-19-2011, 01:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tyler20c

Drive it like you stole it. I left the dealership sideways. Enough said.

gangsta

mick · 02-19-2011, 01:58 AM

when i got my z, i drove it gently during the break in period.
later on, i got a (new) daily driver which had a much weaker engine and to keep up with the flow of traffic, i had to rev up the engine and change gear near the maximum rpm every time i drove it.
since doing this during the breaking in period didn't seem to hurt the dd at all, i don't think it would hurt the z either.

Nismoracer · 02-19-2011, 02:23 AM

Your owners manual says wait 30 secs after you start your vehicle to let the oil flow through the engine. You can hear it when it has. After that let the engine warm up to temp then drive it however you want. Had plenty of new engines whether it's in a car, motorcycle, or pwc. I don't follow the break in process. Don't believe it. When new toys are out for testing, when reviewers test them, do they break it in before they get on it.......No. You may or may not want to hold it at full rpms for a long period of time but how can you do that anyways. I've been told the engine is usually broken in at the factory already or that it happens in the first 20 secs or 20 minutes or 20 miles something like that. I think you're good to go. Google Motomans engine break in myths if you want some subjective info.

Levan · 02-19-2011, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mt Tam I am

I religiously followed the manuel pertaining to break in on my new short block. It took me three awful and boring months to do. I started my new oil consumption test 200 miles ago. I am using a quart every 1000 miles currently. I am beginning to think, "drive it like you stole it" is correct break in method.

Correct. The rings are sealed within the first 20 miles...the harder you drive the car the better they'll seal. The rough honed engines are a thing of the past and you no longer have to baby an engine when you get a new car.

In fact, vehicles that are babied are noticeably slower and perform worse than cars that are broken in more spiritedly. The reason why the break-in process is still the way it is is because of liability reasons...nothing more.

02-18-2011, 09:13 PM	#1 (permalink)
1Sweet Z Base Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 185 Drives: 11 GM 370Z A7 Spt/Nv Rep Power: 14	Recommendations on how the break-in a new engine Hey everyone, I picked up a new 11' 370z coupe A7 sport & nav at the beginning of Feb. The nissan dealer did not suggest on how to break-in the engine on the 370z. I have put a couple hundred k's on it in the last few weeks, but I don't think the piston rings have seated yet, because I have punched it a few times and I am getting a burnt oil smell. Any recommendations? Please don't say to baby it till like 5K, cause this car is way to fun for that. __________________ V-LED : ILLUM KICK PLATES : VENTURE SHIELD : H & R : K & N : GOODRIDGE SS BRAKE LINES : NISMO CBE

02-18-2011, 09:16 PM	#2 (permalink)
SoCal 370Z A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: US of A Posts: 2,842 Drives: Answers Rep Power: 33	Did you read your Owners Manual? There is a section on how to break-in your Z properly according to Nissan. I'd be leery of punching it as this point. I have not read the 2011 Owners Manual (ours is a 2009) and cannot elaborate on the differences, if any, on the break-in recommendations. __________________ ( Click to show/hide ) Why I NEVER say NO to the Panda Lou Fusz!!! Last edited by SoCal 370Z; 02-18-2011 at 09:18 PM.

02-18-2011, 09:20 PM	#4 (permalink)
SoCal 370Z A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: US of A Posts: 2,842 Drives: Answers Rep Power: 33	Frost, you know that you just throttled the piss out of yours from inch one! __________________ ( Click to show/hide ) Why I NEVER say NO to the Panda Lou Fusz!!!

02-18-2011, 09:49 PM	#6 (permalink)
Mt Tam I am A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: California Posts: 10,709 Drives: 370Z T/S/N 6MT & XKE Rep Power: 3843	I religiously followed the manuel pertaining to break in on my new short block. It took me three awful and boring months to do. I started my new oil consumption test 200 miles ago. I am using a quart every 1000 miles currently. I am beginning to think, "drive it like you stole it" is correct break in method. __________________ "Does the carpet match the drapes? NO!!! I don't date bald women." Nissan Motorsports 34R Oil Cooler. Stillen CBE. Hotchkis Sport Sway Bars. KW Variant 3 Coilover System. Stillen Gen3 CAI. Michelin Pilot Super Sport. Stillen Brake Ducts. Carbotech™ XP10/XP8 Pads. Z1 Front Rotors. Z1 Stainless Brake Lines. Two degrees of camber

02-18-2011, 11:29 PM	#9 (permalink)
1Sweet Z Base Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 185 Drives: 11 GM 370Z A7 Spt/Nv Rep Power: 14	Nice.. it is a serious investment thou and I wanna er to last. __________________ V-LED : ILLUM KICK PLATES : VENTURE SHIELD : H & R : K & N : GOODRIDGE SS BRAKE LINES : NISMO CBE

02-18-2011, 11:26 PM	#7 (permalink)
tyler20c Base Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Tampa Posts: 174 Drives: G37 Rep Power: 14	Drive it like you stole it. I left the dealership sideways. Enough said.

02-18-2011, 11:55 PM	#11 (permalink)
Sean Base Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: SoCal Posts: 41 Drives: Honda Rep Power: 15	Drive it calmly for for the first 1000 miles but shortly after that get on it. It's all about the RPMs and not taking it for a long road trip at the same RPM. If it's a lease....well try the drive it like you stole it approach.

02-19-2011, 01:58 AM	#13 (permalink)
mick Track Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: California Posts: 903 Drives: Used to drive a 370z Rep Power: 16	when i got my z, i drove it gently during the break in period. later on, i got a (new) daily driver which had a much weaker engine and to keep up with the flow of traffic, i had to rev up the engine and change gear near the maximum rpm every time i drove it. since doing this during the breaking in period didn't seem to hurt the dd at all, i don't think it would hurt the z either. Last edited by mick; 02-19-2011 at 02:29 AM.

02-19-2011, 02:23 AM	#14 (permalink)
Nismoracer Enthusiast Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Earth Posts: 420 Drives: 10 Nismo Rep Power: 14	Your owners manual says wait 30 secs after you start your vehicle to let the oil flow through the engine. You can hear it when it has. After that let the engine warm up to temp then drive it however you want. Had plenty of new engines whether it's in a car, motorcycle, or pwc. I don't follow the break in process. Don't believe it. When new toys are out for testing, when reviewers test them, do they break it in before they get on it.......No. You may or may not want to hold it at full rpms for a long period of time but how can you do that anyways. I've been told the engine is usually broken in at the factory already or that it happens in the first 20 secs or 20 minutes or 20 miles something like that. I think you're good to go. Google Motomans engine break in myths if you want some subjective info.

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