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...

:driving:

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

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.

^^ never heard of that kind of break-in

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........

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.

:iagree:

a hammer

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.

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

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

^ bad influence

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.

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.

I'm not trying to strain any relationships here...just help you in the future by suggesting searches rather than reinventing the wheel. I'm sorry but 'driving <= 65mph and giving it the hammer now and then' in no way echos Nissan's suggestion of keeping the rpm < 4k for 1200mi. Nissan recommends RPM rather than speed limits for a reason. If they said to keep it under 55mph, some idiot would drive around in 2nd gear all the time at 6k RPM. Regarding the posting issue, you can always send AK a message and he can help you with editing as well.

In any event, good luck with your car. It's a ton of fun, and any way you choose to break it in will be fine as long as you're not at an extreme (drag strip tomorrow). Pick something in-between and that will help you sleep at night instead of worrying about how you're treating your new car. I can tell you that I just drove mine fairly aggressively and it's doing beautifully at 4,000 mi now.

How much damage do you think can be done if soon as I got my new z I just drove like a animal first 1000 miles

On sports tuned engines I baby em 1500 miles. 55 to 65mph. 4700rpm max.
Then I set up as many track days as I can fit in to begin my break in process.

1st I bring it to a steady 100mpf for 2 track days
Then 115mph for 2 more track day
Then a steady 130mph for 2 more track days.
Then a steady 145mph with a push to top speed a few times.
All my sports cars had the capability of hitting 160+mph.

Once its gone thru this process n as close to 3500mi as possible.
I do an oil change n fluid upgrade to UHP fluids n MOBIL 1 OIL.
When I get my Z.@I will be confused on this part.
Not sure to go with ester oil or go with my traditional MOBIL1?

^ been a member for 2 months and just made his first post :D

Anyway, I keep hearing people say don't drive hard or you will have problems; but I actually have yet to meet anyone who said "yeah, I have all these engine problems now because I drove too damn hard when I got her."

I agree. I DID kill one of my cars though...but it wasn't related to engine break-in. I had an awesome AA Yellow Landrover Defender 90 which I got used with 30k miles on it. I used it to tow a heavy boat for a few summers and by 60k miles the engine was a disaster.

If driving my Z too hard when I bought it turns out to be an issue, I'm sure the car will be long gone before that issue ever arises...otherwise my 5 year powertrain warranty can take care of it.

how heavy was the boat compared to the tow rating?

It was right at the limit...I think the rating and boat were both about 8,000 lbs.

Oh, I thought the moral of the story was that you were towing something way too heavy. lol. Too bad, I wouldnt have expected that from a LR

They were and, from what I've heard, continue to be disasters of maintenance problems. It's too bad because I really like the new LR3 coming out. Given my LR experience, I bet that taking a new Z to the track for a solid week straight could hurt the longevity of the motor. On the flip side, revving to 4-5k and a redline here or there during the first 1000mi probably won't hurt a thing.

i kept rpms 4k and under for the first 1000 miles ,except when passing "left lane loosers" you know those brain dead drivers who hog the left lane and never move over even thou no one is in the right lane! they 're usually under the speed limit and compleatly unaware of their surroundings,really piss me off and make me pass them quickly..:shakes head: