The infamous "break-in" period.

AARC51

So is the break-in period a fact or a wives tale at this point and time? I tend to believe it's the latter given the fact that nearly every car has been test driven by someone who's continuously revved the engine beyond 4k. So what are the arguments for and against?

OnCallZ

A lot of "for" arguments out there. Here is my against argument; car is broken in by nissan before it even gets on the ship.

theDreamer

How do you know that?

The usual argument I hear is that they test these engines from day one, with break in, they use the "break in" period just to cover themselves still.

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OnCallZ

Yup that's what I always thought they did, that's why I bought my Z even though I redlined it while test driving and it had 45 miles on it.

Isn't the common consensus to baby it until XXXX miles so the engine doesn't get scarred up by the metal fragments?

U-NVmyZ?

i agree, i heard that the engines are ready to be driven hard. my dad told me that years ago, he has bought many cars and the ones that he kept for a long time are still good/great.
+ its japanese....

john370z

I hope you are all right...what are the odds that people will not redline it within a thousand miles or so...oh yea..... you cannot drive it on the freeway for extended times. I must be going to "break in" he!!. I drove my car 35 miles and then redlined it to about 120 mph and then drove 1000 miles home on the freeway in the Z. I think it cannot do any harm to properly break in a car...maybe it is like obeying the speed limits. I did change to Mobile 1 full synthetic after 2500 miles to help lube the poorly broke in engine.

355890

Everything needs to get seated properly, lubed up, time for new driver to get used to the new vehicle, it's a 1,000 miles ( how hard can that really be ) Don't answer, I know, I'm holding out through the alloted time frame.

frost

I don't want to sound like a conspiracy theorist, but with the "black box" tracking more and more of what we do every couple years, don't be surprised if you start seeing warranty issues denied due to not following their break in rules in the future.

355890

good point ^^^^

SoCal 370Z

This is the very thing I've wondered about and occasionally mentioned here too. Porsche will void your warranty when you do the wrong thing. Just how much information is stored in ECU? Redlines? Overheating? 160-mph junkets in blue 370z's.

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theDreamer

These black boxes can record almost anything electronic (which as we all know is getting close to everything), but individual states have to approve the use of these in cases. Insurance companies cannot just use them against you at will, there are laws protecting the drive, now manufacturers is a different story and a tougher battle.

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355890

In Texas...the insurance companies in this state are very sly, cunning, and questionable at the best of times.

Amon

Schwany

I dont know about Nissan so I cant say how they test there vehicles, but I do build the RX for Lexus and I can say that the tests we put it through before it comes "off-line" and ready to ship, make any reasoning for a 'break-in' period, mute

dad

WikiAnswers - How should you 'break-in' a new car

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