Break in time?

NotmyGTR · 05-07-2009, 03:47 PM

This might be overkill to some, but has anyone followed a certain break in period on their car before they started 7000 + RPM shifts? All of the engines that I have had done over the years have all been by Japanese tuning shops and have always had some break in time. The most common out of the three that I have had done are:

First 500km-nothing above 3K rpm
500-700km-nothing above 4K rpm
700-900km-nothing above 5K rpm
900-1000km-nothing above 6K rpm

After 1000km return to shop for oil flush/change final cpu tuning and boost settings.

Roughly 600 miles for the comparitive break in schedule. Easy to figure out a table with similar numbers. But, I was wondering if anyone has followed this.....or just simpley started beating the hell out of their 370 off the rip?

nogoodname · 05-07-2009, 04:10 PM

not bad, i just did under 4 K for 1000 Km's

One_Quick_Z · 05-07-2009, 04:12 PM

What I did with my 06 was varied driving for the first 2k miles thats with not using the cruise and constantly changing the gears

DAN

NotmyGTR · 05-07-2009, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nogoodname007

not bad, i just did under 4 K for 1000 Km's

Your avatar looks like somebody taking vid while your running jym-kana. Looks pretty cool.
I started this thread because in the oil temp issue thread, everyone only talked about driving style/condition......but nobody mentioned a break in at all. I am just wondering if any of the 370 owners actually did anykind of break in and still had engine issues, ie high oil temps/warning lights/vehicle safety mods taking over?

AK370Z · 05-07-2009, 04:32 PM

Break-In a New Car

Quote:

Originally Posted by AK370Z

Currently I have 548 miles on the Z. Pre 500 miles I have RELIGIOUSLY maintained 4K rpm and below. On highway, I have switched between 5th and 6th gear every 10 minutes (Nissan recommends you to NOT drive in the same RPM for long time during break in). Now that I'm past 500 miles, I am keeping it under 5000 rpm. I think after 800 miles, I'll keep it under 5500 rpm etc. Just increase 500 RPM every 200 miles you drive ... (btw, this is just me. Nissan recommends below 4K all the way to 1200 miles.)

It takes a lot of patience during break in period. Having a 332 HP VQ engine under the hood and not able to rev it above 4K rpm is probably one of the hardest thing you will ever do. But it'll pay off in the long run.

I followed the almost same as you've mentioned. Changed my oil @ 2000. I simply couldn't drive any longer with all those particles in the oil (Nissan recommends 1st oil change at 3750). Heck, by 3750, I may be running synthetic!!

NotmyGTR · 05-07-2009, 04:50 PM

Good info. Since you followed a break in guideline, did you notice any issues with your temps? I would assume after the first oil flush/change life should be good.
Something else I have always done after my break ins, when I flush/change the oil, I do the same for the waterside of the engine. Nissan doesnt recommend that until way late in the game as far as mileage is concerned. I am sure Im gonna follow my normal guidelines for both. Mr. Niikura has never led me in the wrong direction in the past.........guess I have to follow his wisdom.

zilent_jay · 05-07-2009, 06:04 PM

I kept the RPM under 4k RPM with a LOT of mild-moderate acceleration and engine braking to get good seals. Gradually got more aggressive as the miles racked up. I always allow the engine to reach operating temp before even thinking about accelerating hard.

Musashi · 05-07-2009, 06:07 PM

I broke in all right, by doing some nice redline shifts when I left the dealership. I bought it to have fun!

shumby · 05-07-2009, 06:59 PM

^^^ with you my friend on that one.

zilent_jay · 05-07-2009, 07:03 PM

Beating a cold engine is stupid, much less a brand new one. To each their own.

shumby · 05-07-2009, 07:07 PM

ah and now the drama of yet another breakin thread. Care to explain in engineering terms what happens to the engine going over 4000 rpm during the first 1200 miles? If you were actually worried about your engine and breakin you should be using running hours not miles. BUt what do i know I am dumb.

theDreamer · 05-07-2009, 08:08 PM

I have broken 4k maybe four or five times, none actually hard driving just wanted to hear the engine past 4k really. I did hit 6.5k-7k once at around 400 miles I dropped into neutral and hit the sensor for 5th gear and it pushed it up for half a second, not going to kill my car.

Musashi · 05-07-2009, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zilent_jay

Beating a cold engine is stupid, much less a brand new one. To each their own.

Who said anything about a cold engine? To each their own is right. We all get enjoyment and take pride in our cars in different ways. Plus, I don't plan on keeping it for that long.

2bits · 05-08-2009, 02:21 AM

I followed a strict breakin regiment for.. oh ... about 1 day. Now I'm solidly in shumby and Musashi's camp. Drive it like you stole it.

With the ultra elaborate breakin schemes here, it almost sounds as if there's some masochistic pleasure obtained through extreme restraint. Do your balls turn blue while driving?

The percieved benefits (i.e. LOT of mild-moderate acceleration and engine braking to get good seals. Orly?) are screaming placebo.

Seriously, as long as the engine is at operating temp, I'll do whatever I please to it, and that usually includes RPMs well beyond 4k.

CBRich · 05-08-2009, 09:53 AM

I've formed my own personal opinion about break-in based on what I've read.

Engines back in the day had sloppy tolerances. This resulted in a lot of particles initially. Newer engines have better tolerances but still generate a fair amount of particles. I'm personally restraining myself to around 4K RPM for the first thousand miles and then doing an oil change to get rid of the particles. From there on I'll just beat the crap out of Roxanne.

05-07-2009, 03:47 PM	#1 (permalink)
NotmyGTR Base Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: TX Posts: 177 Drives: 09 370Z/Pearl 6speed Rep Power: 16	Break in time? This might be overkill to some, but has anyone followed a certain break in period on their car before they started 7000 + RPM shifts? All of the engines that I have had done over the years have all been by Japanese tuning shops and have always had some break in time. The most common out of the three that I have had done are: First 500km-nothing above 3K rpm 500-700km-nothing above 4K rpm 700-900km-nothing above 5K rpm 900-1000km-nothing above 6K rpm After 1000km return to shop for oil flush/change final cpu tuning and boost settings. Roughly 600 miles for the comparitive break in schedule. Easy to figure out a table with similar numbers. But, I was wondering if anyone has followed this.....or just simpley started beating the hell out of their 370 off the rip? __________________ 1996 Skyline GT-R LM fully tuned by Mines/2006 Nissan Titan 5.6 SE Texas Edition/2009 370 Base w Sport Pkg

05-07-2009, 04:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
One_Quick_Z A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Seneca Il Posts: 1,374 Drives: 10 Civic EX Sedan Rep Power: 219	What I did with my 06 was varied driving for the first 2k miles thats with not using the cruise and constantly changing the gears DAN __________________ -My BRZ with exhaust will decimate all if we overnight parts from Japan- 10 Civic EX Sedan- Current Daily

05-07-2009, 04:50 PM	#6 (permalink)
NotmyGTR Base Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: TX Posts: 177 Drives: 09 370Z/Pearl 6speed Rep Power: 16	Following break in Good info. Since you followed a break in guideline, did you notice any issues with your temps? I would assume after the first oil flush/change life should be good. Something else I have always done after my break ins, when I flush/change the oil, I do the same for the waterside of the engine. Nissan doesnt recommend that until way late in the game as far as mileage is concerned. I am sure Im gonna follow my normal guidelines for both. Mr. Niikura has never led me in the wrong direction in the past.........guess I have to follow his wisdom. __________________ 1996 Skyline GT-R LM fully tuned by Mines/2006 Nissan Titan 5.6 SE Texas Edition/2009 370 Base w Sport Pkg

05-07-2009, 06:59 PM	#9 (permalink)
shumby Captin Canuck Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: with your mom Age: 44 Posts: 6,288 Drives: your sister Rep Power: 237	^^^ with you my friend on that one. __________________ Originally Posted by SAM@GTM Engine detonation is not normal and it should never never happen, and whoever told that need to do something else for living . Sam

05-07-2009, 07:07 PM	#11 (permalink)
shumby Captin Canuck Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: with your mom Age: 44 Posts: 6,288 Drives: your sister Rep Power: 237	ah and now the drama of yet another breakin thread. Care to explain in engineering terms what happens to the engine going over 4000 rpm during the first 1200 miles? If you were actually worried about your engine and breakin you should be using running hours not miles. BUt what do i know I am dumb. __________________ Originally Posted by SAM@GTM Engine detonation is not normal and it should never never happen, and whoever told that need to do something else for living . Sam

05-07-2009, 04:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
nogoodname Lifetime Premium Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Montreal Posts: 22,357 Drives: E46 M3 Rep Power: 1765	not bad, i just did under 4 K for 1000 Km's

05-07-2009, 06:04 PM	#7 (permalink)
zilent_jay Base Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: OKC Posts: 96 Drives: 2009 MB Base Sport Rep Power: 16	I kept the RPM under 4k RPM with a LOT of mild-moderate acceleration and engine braking to get good seals. Gradually got more aggressive as the miles racked up. I always allow the engine to reach operating temp before even thinking about accelerating hard.

05-07-2009, 06:07 PM	#8 (permalink)
Musashi Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Jersey Posts: 357 Drives: 09 370Z 6speed Rep Power: 606	I broke in all right, by doing some nice redline shifts when I left the dealership. I bought it to have fun!

05-07-2009, 07:03 PM	#10 (permalink)
zilent_jay Base Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: OKC Posts: 96 Drives: 2009 MB Base Sport Rep Power: 16	Beating a cold engine is stupid, much less a brand new one. To each their own.

05-07-2009, 08:08 PM	#12 (permalink)
theDreamer A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 30,879 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 4210	I have broken 4k maybe four or five times, none actually hard driving just wanted to hear the engine past 4k really. I did hit 6.5k-7k once at around 400 miles I dropped into neutral and hit the sensor for 5th gear and it pushed it up for half a second, not going to kill my car. __________________ theDreamer's Z // Fast Intentions // Uprev // GTM // HKS // TEIN theDreamer's Silvia // URAS // GREDDY Houston Zs // Facebook // Twitter // Instagram

05-08-2009, 02:21 AM	#14 (permalink)
2bits Base Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Seattle Posts: 118 Drives: 09 370Z Blk Sp 7AT Rep Power: 16	I followed a strict breakin regiment for.. oh ... about 1 day. Now I'm solidly in shumby and Musashi's camp. Drive it like you stole it. With the ultra elaborate breakin schemes here, it almost sounds as if there's some masochistic pleasure obtained through extreme restraint. Do your balls turn blue while driving? The percieved benefits (i.e. LOT of mild-moderate acceleration and engine braking to get good seals. Orly?) are screaming placebo. Seriously, as long as the engine is at operating temp, I'll do whatever I please to it, and that usually includes RPMs well beyond 4k.

05-08-2009, 09:53 AM	#15 (permalink)
CBRich A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: SC Posts: 2,464 Drives: 370Z Rep Power: 544	I've formed my own personal opinion about break-in based on what I've read. Engines back in the day had sloppy tolerances. This resulted in a lot of particles initially. Newer engines have better tolerances but still generate a fair amount of particles. I'm personally restraining myself to around 4K RPM for the first thousand miles and then doing an oil change to get rid of the particles. From there on I'll just beat the crap out of Roxanne.

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