Is there a break in period for the Z?
 

I'm sure there's a post on here about this and I'm sure I probably sound like an idiot, but I read that the Z doesn't even have a break in period, but I read all the time that people are talking about not flooring it or givin it the ultimate pedal to the metal until 5k miles. I floored it the day I got the 370, I had a 6 speed and now I have an auto. I never ran into a single problem. Are you guys just talking about the general break in time for a car or the DO NOT FLOOR IT UNTIL 5K MILES break in. Thanks. Lemme know. Please don't respond with any douche bag comments. This is a legitimate question and I'm only asking because I read reviews saying there's no need to break it in before floorin it. Thanks guys!

your manual says to break it in for 1200 miles.

Id say you follow that.

I don't think anyone can help but to floor their cars when first bought but jsut don't do it agian. One time won't break anything.

The owner's manual says that you should keep it below 4,000 RPM until 1200 miles.

You probably have one in your glove box... Check it out.

I don't know of anyone that has said anything about 5,000 miles. After 1200 miles you're good to go. I also don't recommend you change the oil until 3,000 miles, but other people think you should do it at 500 or 1200 miles (or both) and honestly I doubt it's going to make much difference either way except cost you money or not.

This

Yeah unfortunately I floor it often, since day one. What r some of the consequences for doin that if somethin were to happen?

if you don't break it in properly, rings won't seat correctly, engine will eat up oil over time.

Thats one big thing.

Then again, some people swear by breaking it in hard.

Seirously, its a car, before you know it, you will probably be in another vehicle before you start seeing ill effects.

Whats your mileage now?

I never broke in my 2012 370z. I'm at 5K miles now. No damage that I can tell. Didn't lose any oil. I checked it right before my first oil change.

From the test drive forward, I've driven this car reasonably hard. It's a 7 speed A/T and I've enjoyed every minute of it.

There is no way in hell you could have convinced me to pussy foot this car for the first 1,200 miles. It would be nearly impossible to keep the RPM's below 4K because it jumps to 6K nearly instantly when you push the pedal halfway down. It's just too sensitive to go easy on it.

The car is tuned to be driven hard. I don't know how people say they've kept the RPM's below 4K. It must have felt terrible, like driving a Prius Hybrid.

I didn't buy a 370z to drive it like an old lady. From my research, it sounds as though the 370z is broken in sufficiently at the factory in the first couple of miles of it's life.

Newer car engines don't need a break-in. We aren't living in the 70's.

The 1,200 mile suggestion is just that, a suggestion.

^ i did the exact same thing with my auto 370z :stirthepot:

Everyone has their own way to breaking it in. Some drives it like they stole it from the dealership, while other like me, follow the 1200 miles rule. I am a firm believer of following directions of the highly knowledgeable Nissan Engineers but that's just me. :hello:

Here's what Nissan USA want you to follow.

http://www.the370z.com/images/370zfo...0in%20370z.PNG

58,000 miles and no problem yet :knocks on wood:

hi AK

When i had the 6 speed, i burned out of the dealership, got on I-95 and didnt look back. drove it hard everyday unless it was raining out. that had 16K miles on it in 6-7 months. never had 1 single problem. And now i have an automatic, and drive it the same way and that has 3.5k miles on it. Only reason i started this post was cause i was curious about the break in info i read, and to see what everyone else thought or if they heard of the "370Z doesnt need a break in period" myth, or whatever u wanna call it... And thanks for the picture post AK. Appreciate it :tiphat:

I did my best to following the instructions of the break in period. It took a lot of self control but it didn't take me all that long to get to 1200 miles. Within a month I was driving it like it was meant to be driven. :)

Why even ask now? :rolleyes:

I followed the manual for break-in as best I could but did I get on it every once in awhile? Yep. I look at it like this. Unless you took delivery right off the truck chances are someone before you has redlined your car.

.

It's not the engine you need to break in. It is the clutch and brakes.

This is so true!

+1. The suspension settles too.

its not jsut test drivers. Workers are known to floor these ***** cause they dont give a ****.

And also they put in regular gas all the times, so its always good to drive off the first tank they give you.

I have never once followed any kind of break-in period for any of my new vehicles and have never had any sort of issue. IMHO I think they are not neccessary.

The best break-in is keeping it at 7500rpm steady for as long as you possibly can at gyrating speeds. over 125mph a serious+ :driving:

Go 4 the gusto bud.:rofl2:

Not only that,maybe inside the factory,the workers already full blast the engine for testing.

Shove some potatoes in the exhaust pipes and rev the car. Don't know what it will do but should be interesting.

Expensive potato gun :owned:

I half way followed the break in period for my automatic 2003 and 2008 Z. Never had a problem. The Infiniti G37 has the same engine. I got down hard shifting it and running it up to almost red line. I smelled something buring so I have not shifted it since. This was done when it only had a few miles on it. So, I am not going to run my new Z up to redline till after the break in period.

You will spend hours reading opinions on this. Most new engines are bench tested from the factory so the initial 'break' in of rings is mostly done given the tighter tolerances of modern manufacturing.

The Nissan recommendation is conservative. Personally I feel the best part of it (and consistent with other manufacturers) is to avoid steady state operations, i.e. cruising at 3K for an hour.

Vary the load on the engine, which implies varying the RPM load. You don't have to bury the throttle to get it above 4K, but IMHO its good to stretch the legs of the RPM range once warmed up. Sure you can get plenty of driving done below 4K but pushing to 4500, 5000, 5500 as you progress in the progress through the break in period is a good thing.

I have only broken in two new cars myself. First was a high performance honda which I did take on the Highway a bit when young. Next was a 2002 WRX that I very much broke in by varying load for 500 miles or so. Honda was sold at 140K, the WRX has 125K and still going. Both barely used any oil between 7500 synthetic changes.

Rest of my cars have been pre-loved so I have absolutely no clue how they were used. 2010 Z and the 06 Cayman.

We drive both of them with gusto. :)

- b

Sounds good. Thanks for all the input