Breaking in a New Car - Suggestions?

Anonymous Poster · Jun 3, 2003

Last new one I bought, I kicked right square in the fender before it left the dealer's building. I had the pleasure of putting the first dent in that puppy, and the next one somebody put in it didn't bother me near as much. The salesman looked like he'd been shot.
When I got it home, I drained the oil and replaced it with good oil and a new filter.
The next dent didn't occurr for 20,000 miles, and the engine ran like a top till a drunk wiped it out 85,000 miles later.

r0GuE · Jun 4, 2003

Perhaps this isn't the best forum for this question, but when you said you switched the filter I was surprised. Aren't the OEM parts the best?

Trev · Jun 4, 2003

In my manual, it simply says to not exceed 100 MPH and to avoid full RPM for the first few hundred miles. I expect that most people never read the manual at all, and it does seem that many new cars simply don't specify *any* break-in period. I wonder sometimes if this is because of our throw-away culture where it's expected that cars will be traded long before they really need to be.. probably the manufacturers are happy that this is the case? Or am I being to cynical? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Anonymous Poster · Jun 4, 2003

Aren't the OEM parts the best?

Only according to their propoganda!
All OEM stuff is built by the lowest bidder. Having ridden the planet a few passes around the sun I've concluded the only OEM equipment, other than body panels and exhaust that is the best is tires. Manufacturers get the best tires from the tire plants, and the rest of tire production goes to aftermarket users.

TresCrows · Jun 4, 2003

"---- manual, it simply says to not exceed 100 MPH and to avoid full RPM for the first few hundred miles. I expect that most people never read the manual at all, and it does seem that many new cars simply don't specify *any* break-in period. I wonder sometimes if this is because of our throw-away culture where it's expected that cars will be traded long before they really need to be.. probably the manufacturers are happy that this is the case? Or am I being to cynical? "

Yes, your being cynical. Machine tolerences and selection of materials are so far superior these days to the past that a lengthy breakin is rarely required. I think normal driving is sufficient with a few good accelerations thrown in here and there to load the engine. The rings are pushed out by combustion pressure and so it is a good idea to give them some "pressure" here and there so they seat in.
Your manual said not to exceed 100 MPH? What manual said that for what car?
I recently bought a little motorcycle. I got a cam kit for it so after breakin was complete I pulled the cylinders. What got me curious was a web site that a fellow has--Mototuner or some such--anyway--he had pictures of ugly looking blowby and scorching on pistons that he claimed were the result of "easy" breakin per manual rather than the "drive it like you stole it" technique he recommended. Pictures of the abused bike pistons were clean and shiney---hmmmmm. I am a skeptic /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif!!!!!! I ran my engine easy with loading cycles and cooling cycles per the manual. Well, my pistons are clean and shiney. A compression check reveals solid compression. I think Mototuner is full of it or at least is leaving something out of the story.
My suggestion is to use common sense and honor the manual and your new minivan (egads--double yuk) will be happy and shiney for many years and NO, the manufacturers are not spending millions on research to build market competitive cars that nowadays can run 100,000 plus miles with no maintenence other than oil changes just to trick you into ruining your new vehicle--that is cynical and regardless of what the whackos on Art Bell say, the Planet X is not going to collide with the earth and turn it upside down either and NASA is not hiding that info from us. Heck, I got my telescope out and looked for myself--nope---I don't see PLanet X anywhere and I don't need NASA to tell me /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif. J

Trev · Jun 4, 2003

Hi Trescows,

I'd quote your message, but I find when I do that I end up with funky colors if I have to go back and edit a typo.

Let's see.. okay, yes.. I'm sure I was being too cynical. What you say makes sense.

You asked about my break-in instructions. The car is a '98 BMW 528i, and the break-in says, and I'm paraphrasing, up to 1240 miles constantly vary both engine and vehicle speed, avoid engine speeds over 4500 RPM, and refrain from exceeding 100 mph (160 km/h). Accelerate gently, never use full throttle, avoid kickdown of the automatic, and be especially careful until the tires have 186 mile (300 km) on them.

The manual has a nice, laid back, sense of humor.. for example they note that their anti-lock braking system is not capable of suspending the laws of physics. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

No, Planet X is not coming in.. but NASA is hiding a lot of info. (That's in the owner's manual also. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif )

Bob

icat · Jun 4, 2003

( My son and I drove straight through 1300 miles. Just shut the motor down for gas and pit stops. We did the same thing in reverse a week later. )

Man, that's a long haul in reverse! Would have made my neck hurt! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

TimSullivan · Jun 5, 2003

Poster: icat
Subject: Re: Breaking in a New Car - Suggestions?

( My son and I drove straight through 1300 miles. Just shut the motor down for gas and pit stops. We did the same thing in reverse a week later. )

Man, that's a long haul in reverse! Would have made my neck hurt!



Mine too, I need to read my posts.