How do you break-in your new engine?

ZKindaGuy · 08-22-2009, 08:22 AM

OK folks - how do (did) you go about breaking-in your brand new 370Z engine? Also here is an interesting article of one person's view on engine break-in that I just so happen to agree with as I have always done with all my cars exactly what he said and got the same results he speaks to...

Break In Secrets--How To Break In New Motorcycle and Car Engines For More Power

BTW - Assume the second poll choice to be driving the car per the manufacturer's recommendations...

nogoodname · 08-22-2009, 10:08 AM

i drove under 4k rpm and never constant speed....keep it fluctuating.
did it for 1500 Km.....did an oil change at 15Km also

AH370Z · 08-22-2009, 11:01 AM

I will be doing something based on this

1. Start Egine and drive off when engine rpm drop
2. Drive easy under 2500rpm until Engine is completly warmed. Check Oil Pressure
3. WOT to 5000rpm/Engine break back down repeat x 5 in 2nd Gear
4. Repeat Step 3 with 3rd Gear
5. Drive low rpm for several more km varying rpm
6. Repeat 3 and 4
7. Drive low rpm for several more km varying rpm
6. Park Car and cool down
7. Repeat above 2 more times

So the first 32 kilometers are the most important, because this is all the mileage required for a new engine to seat the piston rings, by performing WOT, it will create the maximum temperature and pressures for the engine and components to fully expand to their maximum size, so they can wear and seat in properly. But keep in mind, too much heat buildup, resulting from Full Throttle or Full Acceleration during the first 32 kilometers, will cause glazing or heat welding between parts in the engine, resulting in loss of performance. The engine should not be floored until everything within the engine has set, and the engine has been run thru its paces, gradually running thru the whole RPM range, preferably rite after 1000kms, it is best to floor the car, just after the 1st oil change, to finally break the engine in completely.

nogoodname · 08-22-2009, 11:14 AM

^^ never heard of that kind of break-in

Old Chuck · 08-22-2009, 11:40 AM

It makes some sense for the engine's top end however, you have bearings down low and don't forget about the differential in back as well as the brakes and their linings. There are many other moving parts to consider then just the seeding of the rings with their linings. The fact that most every Z seems to drop oil temps with miles on it may speak to a longer break end period then the one described. Just a thought........

spearfish25 · 08-22-2009, 12:36 PM

There are tons of 'break in' threads. Just search around and do whatever makes you sleep best at night. There is no solid evidence to support one method over another.

Trips · 08-22-2009, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spearfish25

There are tons of 'break in' threads. Just search around and do whatever makes you sleep best at night. There is no solid evidence to support one method over another.

Plasmaball · 08-22-2009, 09:36 PM

a hammer

schrute · 08-22-2009, 09:55 PM

My vote was Drive it like you stole it because how could you possibly baby this thing for that many miles without going crazy.

I don't have the patience.

Pushing_Tin · 08-22-2009, 10:12 PM

Wow I wouldn't have thought that many people would drive it like the stole it right away.

spearfish25 · 08-22-2009, 10:41 PM

There are a few issues with this post and poll. With the post...this has been asked and answered innumerable times. A quick search will get you answers much faster than any replies here. Regarding the poll, your choices don't follow any break-in plan I've ever heard of. The Nissan owner's manual suggestion for break-in isn't even included (keeping RPM below 4k until 1200mi).

frost · 08-22-2009, 11:28 PM

I managed to get to 1,000 miles, then drove it like I stole it (from the cops).

StLRedrider · 08-22-2009, 11:32 PM

^ bad influence

Snakes709 · 08-22-2009, 11:47 PM

break in the engine? **** that when i get my 370z im going to the drag strip...lol...just kidding. Well not really. Car has 700km on it already..im going to baby it for a few days then go to the track.

ZKindaGuy · 08-23-2009, 02:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spearfish25

There are a few issues with this post and poll. With the post...this has been asked and answered innumerable times. A quick search will get you answers much faster than any replies here. Regarding the poll, your choices don't follow any break-in plan I've ever heard of. The Nissan owner's manual suggestion for break-in isn't even included (keeping RPM below 4k until 1200mi).

I know...I realized I left the manufacturer's one out so I tried to edit the post but I couldn't edit the poll choices itself. So I tried to delete the poll and re-enter it but I couldn't delete it either. So that is why I said to assume the second one as the manufacturer's recommended. The second choice of the three choices is the closest to that of the manufacturer and is in the spirit of being in the middle of the two extremes.

Sometimes when reading someone's posting you have to think of what it is saying in its overall spirit of meaning instead of with excrutiating letter-of-the-law exactness. If people would do that in this world then perhaps things wouldn't be so strained all the time between people.

View Poll Results: How did you go about breaking in your new 370Z engine?
Baby the car - never drive over 55 and never put the foot into it for the first 1000 miles.	20	24.39%
Drive it <= 65 MPH and give it the hammer for a few seconds now and then.	31	37.80%
Drive the bitch like you stole it.	31	37.80%
Voters: 82. You may not vote on this poll

08-22-2009, 08:22 AM	#1 (permalink)
ZKindaGuy Track Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 699 Drives: 370Z-AT7 Tour+Sport Rep Power: 375	How do you break-in your new engine? OK folks - how do (did) you go about breaking-in your brand new 370Z engine? Also here is an interesting article of one person's view on engine break-in that I just so happen to agree with as I have always done with all my cars exactly what he said and got the same results he speaks to... Break In Secrets--How To Break In New Motorcycle and Car Engines For More Power BTW - Assume the second poll choice to be driving the car per the manufacturer's recommendations... Last edited by ZKindaGuy; 08-22-2009 at 08:36 AM.

08-22-2009, 11:40 AM	#5 (permalink)
Old Chuck Base Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Florida & SC Posts: 86 Drives: 05 Tundra& 02 Subaru Rep Power: 16	Saw this a few years back It makes some sense for the engine's top end however, you have bearings down low and don't forget about the differential in back as well as the brakes and their linings. There are many other moving parts to consider then just the seeding of the rings with their linings. The fact that most every Z seems to drop oil temps with miles on it may speak to a longer break end period then the one described. Just a thought........

08-22-2009, 11:32 PM	#13 (permalink)
StLRedrider A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: St.louis,Mo Posts: 17,755 Drives: O9Sprt/Touring,p-51 Rep Power: 60	^ bad influence __________________ Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today J.Dean

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08-22-2009, 10:08 AM	#2 (permalink)
nogoodname Lifetime Premium Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Montreal Posts: 22,357 Drives: E46 M3 Rep Power: 1765	i drove under 4k rpm and never constant speed....keep it fluctuating. did it for 1500 Km.....did an oil change at 15Km also

08-22-2009, 11:01 AM	#3 (permalink)
AH370Z Base Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Australia - Sydney Posts: 168 Drives: 11' 370z, 13' E92 M3 Rep Power: 16	I will be doing something based on this 1. Start Egine and drive off when engine rpm drop 2. Drive easy under 2500rpm until Engine is completly warmed. Check Oil Pressure 3. WOT to 5000rpm/Engine break back down repeat x 5 in 2nd Gear 4. Repeat Step 3 with 3rd Gear 5. Drive low rpm for several more km varying rpm 6. Repeat 3 and 4 7. Drive low rpm for several more km varying rpm 6. Park Car and cool down 7. Repeat above 2 more times So the first 32 kilometers are the most important, because this is all the mileage required for a new engine to seat the piston rings, by performing WOT, it will create the maximum temperature and pressures for the engine and components to fully expand to their maximum size, so they can wear and seat in properly. But keep in mind, too much heat buildup, resulting from Full Throttle or Full Acceleration during the first 32 kilometers, will cause glazing or heat welding between parts in the engine, resulting in loss of performance. The engine should not be floored until everything within the engine has set, and the engine has been run thru its paces, gradually running thru the whole RPM range, preferably rite after 1000kms, it is best to floor the car, just after the 1st oil change, to finally break the engine in completely.

08-22-2009, 11:14 AM	#4 (permalink)
nogoodname Lifetime Premium Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Montreal Posts: 22,357 Drives: E46 M3 Rep Power: 1765	^^ never heard of that kind of break-in

08-22-2009, 12:36 PM	#6 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	There are tons of 'break in' threads. Just search around and do whatever makes you sleep best at night. There is no solid evidence to support one method over another.

08-22-2009, 09:36 PM	#8 (permalink)
Plasmaball Base Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: San Diego Posts: 113 Drives: 6sp PG 370z Rep Power: 16	a hammer

08-22-2009, 09:55 PM	#9 (permalink)
schrute Track Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: utah Posts: 781 Drives: my z every day Rep Power: 17	My vote was Drive it like you stole it because how could you possibly baby this thing for that many miles without going crazy. I don't have the patience.

08-22-2009, 10:12 PM	#10 (permalink)
Pushing_Tin A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Eugene, OR Posts: 2,875 Drives: E63 AMG Rep Power: 228	Wow I wouldn't have thought that many people would drive it like the stole it right away.

08-22-2009, 10:41 PM	#11 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	There are a few issues with this post and poll. With the post...this has been asked and answered innumerable times. A quick search will get you answers much faster than any replies here. Regarding the poll, your choices don't follow any break-in plan I've ever heard of. The Nissan owner's manual suggestion for break-in isn't even included (keeping RPM below 4k until 1200mi).

08-22-2009, 11:28 PM	#12 (permalink)
frost Retired admin Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Winterfell Posts: 106,613 Drives: Your Wife Crazy Rep Power: 0	I managed to get to 1,000 miles, then drove it like I stole it (from the cops).

08-22-2009, 11:47 PM	#14 (permalink)
Snakes709 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Edmonton Posts: 1,205 Drives: 2011 Evo-X GSR Rep Power: 18	break in the engine? **** that when i get my 370z im going to the drag strip...lol...just kidding. Well not really. Car has 700km on it already..im going to baby it for a few days then go to the track.