Break-in with a long trip..

[Muggi]

Just picked up my GT2 tonight, in love already! My question is I have a long trip (PA to FL, roughly 1200mi) planned in 5 days (Jan 2), and want to do all I can to get through the break-in period of 600mi prior to that. My question is what to do if that doesn't happen...avoid cruise control obviously, but would the mechanics here recommend holding a speed for say 30mins, then shifting +/- 5mph for another 30?

Any suggestions appreciated!

 

[Stinger GT SS]

Just picked up my GT2 tonight, in love already! My question is I have a long trip (PA to FL, roughly 1200mi) planned in 5 days (Jan 2), and want to do all I can to get through the break-in period of 600mi prior to that. My question is what to do if that doesn't happen...avoid cruise control obviously, but would the mechanics here recommend holding a speed for say 30mins, then shifting +/- 5mph for another 30?

Any suggestions appreciated!

Also check the owners manual section for recommended breaking procedure that should see you right, enjoy your road trip & be safe.

 

[Muggi]

Yeah the manual recommended the 600mi, between 2–4K rpm and no constant speed for “extended periods of time”. I guess my real question is what constitutes “extended”!

Appreciate the well wishes, truly looking forward to the drive. Looking for some fun detours along the way!

 

[Stinger GT SS]

Yeah the manual recommended the 600mi, between 2–4K rpm and no constant speed for “extended periods of time”. I guess my real question is what constitutes “extended”!

Appreciate the well wishes, truly looking forward to the drive. Looking for some fun detours along the way!

I would like to think that anything over 5-10mins would constitute an “extended period of time” especially on highway/freeway driving. By varying your speed this helps the pistons “bed in” & avoids “polishing” the bores.

 

[Dennis]

Vary the rev avoid cruise control giving it some load on partial boost. Speed is not the issue its the variation of rev that is critical. You can maintain at same speed but vary the revs thats most impt.

 

[TwinSnails]

Break-in happens fast... drive it pretty robust... not hard, but robust.

 

[eflyguy]

Purchasing from a dealer 560 miles from home meant I was pretty much done with the break-in by the time I got home.

No, wasn't a boring cruise-control churn down interstate. Lots of varied back-country roads for a while, then challenging conditions with heavy rain and construction most of the rest of the way. This was overnight, drove straight through in darkness. Even with adaptive cruise on, I rarely needed to change anything to prevent it from being stuck at one speed for any "extended periods"..

 

[MerlintheMad]

I used Sport mode exclusively for the first 600 miles; made 2K to 4K revs easier to maintain. And I went to the end of my breakin period on my first road trip. While in Sport during breakin, I also used manual so that the trans wouldn't drop below 2K. Each time I saw the revs dipping down to 2K I would drop a gear. I opted for either side of 3K revs most of the time. Once I was off the "leash", the fun passing began. But I still didn't use cruise control very much (go figure). I had it set, but spent frequent time above that setting. Pass, coast back down to cruise setting; pass (go over a hundred) coast back down to cruise setting: repeat as needed.

 

[Sabz]

Drive the car like you want .. make sure it’s warmed up obviously but have fun with it...

 

[Optima Mystic]

Funny, the day I bought my car I asked the service rep if there was a break in period on the engine and he said an emphatic "nope!".

 

[Sabz]

Funny, the day I bought my car I asked the service rep if there was a break in period on the engine and he said an emphatic "nope!".

I agree ... it’s a high performance car.. drive it like one haha

 

[DrGCS3]

I agree with Merlin. I kept mine in sport for the first 600 miles. Maintained it between 2-4K RPM with paddles. I laughed because it’s still a little aggressive accelerating from a stop at 4K RPM. I also changed my oil when break in was over. Small price to pay I thought.

 

[Flameangel]

Funny, the day I bought my car I asked the service rep if there was a break in period on the engine and he said an emphatic "nope!".

Yep, I was told the same thing when I purchased my Optima in 2013 from new, he said " running in engines is a thing of the past "

 

[MerlintheMad]

Yep, I was told the same thing when I purchased my Optima in 2013 from new, he said " running in engines is a thing of the past "

Oh sure; the manual is just blowing smoke. I'd trust the manual before a dealership person's assertions any day.

 

[Revvdmedia]

While I believe the break is "almost" unnecessary these days, following the guidelines of the manual would be best. I cant attest to evidence of practice leading to longevity since I have never kept a car longer than 3-1/2 years, I have typically done road trips in "manual mode" when driving automatics by changing gears every minute or so to vary the revs and slight variations of speed like 5 under to 10 over (kmh) to keep everything variable. In my opinion, the most important thing ever is to not bag an engine before it is fully warmed up.

 

[MerlintheMad]

In my opinion, the most important thing ever is to not bag an engine before it is fully warmed up.

I take this to possibly an extreme, in cold weather (didn't do this in the summer): I bring up the oil temperature gauge; and I let the car idle until the oil is poking above 100F before I roll. You do that, and the full operating temp is reached quickly.

 

[SteveCo]

I take this to possibly an extreme, in cold weather (didn't do this in the summer): I bring up the oil temperature gauge; and I let the car idle until the oil is poking above 100F before I roll. You do that, and the full operating temp is reached quickly.

Start the car and drive away (provided the windshield is clear), and it will reach operating temp even faster. As long as there is oil pressure (which happens almost immediately), there's no benefit to warming up the engine while it's sitting still - you're just burning up fuel for no reason.

I noticed you referenced the owner's manual regarding engine break-in. Here's what it says about warm-up:

5.Do not wait for the engine to warm
up while the vehicle remains stationary.
Start driving at moderate engine
speeds. (Steep accelerating and
decelerating should be avoided.)

 

[MerlintheMad]

Missed that one. I started this practice a few weeks ago, because our church is so close (less than five minutes away), and I hate running an engine and shutting it off without it reaching full operating temperature. When we had our Club wagon, I'd run it in the driveway for up to twenty minutes before setting forth to church; but then, it was not an aluminum block either, so took quite a bit longer to warm up.

 

[Revvdmedia]

Start the car and drive away (provided the windshield is clear), and it will reach operating temp even faster. As long as there is oil pressure (which happens almost immediately), there's no benefit to warming up the engine while it's sitting still - you're just burning up fuel for no reason.

I noticed you referenced the owner's manual regarding engine break-in. Here's what it says about warm-up:

5.Do not wait for the engine to warm
up while the vehicle remains stationary.
Start driving at moderate engine
speeds. (Steep accelerating and
decelerating should be avoided.)

This is generally my practice. I give up to 30 seconds before driving to allow the oil to flow, then I drive pretty easy until it starts warming up. No racecar until what I think is fully warmed. Not sure if that's oil temp or water temp at full with oil temp mostly near upper limit...so I usually wait til the middle or upper end of the oil temp before any flooring.

 

[Muggi]

thanks for the replies all, I drove it up the mountains yesterday (about 115mi each way), paddled it down to keep the revs 2-4 and varied those every couple mins. I’m sure I missed 2-4 many times, but overall I think I was pretty successful.

Gonna continue this for the beginning of my trip, think I’ll be good.