How to properly break in your new car?

resevil83 · 03-27-2005, 12:19 PM

My friend bought a brand new mustang gt and was asking me the best way to break it in. Well I remember reading an article that said basically to do some cycling of heating and cooling the engine down. I found this article and was wondering if this is a good idea. I found several actually. When I by my next pontiac I want to know how to properly break the bad boy in...

These two support this "pushing the car, to help seat the seals properly theory"
http://www.smartsynthetics.com/artic..._to_amsoil.htm
http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

This is more neutral yet says not to push the car as in racing... It says to drive normally but, remember to replace the oil and filter soon. 500-1000 miles soon
http://www.answerbag.com/q_view.php/2420

This article also supports the first... I was basically just wondering if the 2nd article I posted would be a good idea for a v8 engine, or a v6 for our purposes.
http://www.enginesonly.com/break-in.html

puckyou · 03-27-2005, 12:28 PM

Get in, start it up, put in neutral, REDLINE IT!!!

95-GT · 03-27-2005, 12:45 PM

When the car is finished being made, it is started up and redlinned on the rolls for a few seconds to break the motor in. On a older solid lifter cam car, you would need to run it at loe RPM's for awhile to break it in, but thats not the car on todays cars. When you buy the car, its broken in. If he has a 5-speed, he will want to very his speeds for the first 200 miles to break the transmission in. If its an auto, have fun.

ChrisB · 04-09-2005, 08:16 AM

True that everybody has an opinion on the best way to break in a new engine. I disagree that running it hard is the best way to break in an engine for obvious reasons. If you take it easy for the first 600 or so miles with the revs and, yeah, the cooling down heating up cycle helps too, as the amsoil page suggests, your car won't ever use oil...unless you do something unusual.

95-GT · 04-09-2005, 10:12 AM

The rings set the first 10 seconds of the car running. After that, your fine.

SilverGAGT04 · 04-09-2005, 03:46 PM

95, you are wrong. This is how you break in your car. For the first 500 miles its recommended that you don’t drive the freeway for longer then 10-15 mins. If you must drive on the freeway longer then that change your speed often and not exceeding 65mph. City driving is a new engines best friend. Do not exceed 3500 RPM during break in. Changing your oil after the first 500 miles is up to you. I did it on my car after 500 miles, but was told that the oil they use in the engine from the factory is "special". Check it out, the oil in a new engine has a green tint to it. This is "break in oil" but I don’t buy it.

New engines must wear in together slowly. Do you think holding the engine at 6500 RPMs wears all surfaces slowly? NO! Think about it and you will understand.
Rings seat right away, but what do they rub against? THE CYLINDERS, with cross hatch pattern. Basically shallow grooves that go all the way up and down the cylinder. The rings wear the hatch away so that they seal perfect for 100,000+ miles of running.

Don’t be a donkey. (No offence to the donkeys out there)
JK with you guys..

coupe · 04-09-2005, 03:53 PM

95-GT is right YOU are wrong.

95-GT · 04-09-2005, 03:55 PM

No, Rand, he is right. he is the one driving a stock Grand Am GT 4 door and not the one who has built any motors before.

coupe · 04-09-2005, 03:58 PM

True True

and its Rand not Randy. Sorry.... i hate that.

95-GT · 04-09-2005, 04:04 PM

Fixed.

SilverGAGT04 - If you wanna argue with this, then why can thry rebuild a motor in the middle of a race, and go right out and race again? Why do they build motors, then go tune them on a dyno revving them up? This is not the older days, this is a modern day motor which is built to handle it from the factory. I didnt say hold the rev's at 6500 RPM's, as thats not good for any stock motor, but simply you do not need to vary the speed at all. Why? Say your goind 60 MPH at 2500 or 20 MPH at 2500, STILL THE SAME ENGINE SPEED. You very the speeds to break in a new transmission smart one.

SilverGAGT04 · 04-09-2005, 04:12 PM

Hey, to each their own but I work at a Pontiac dealer servicing these engines and no offense, I know what is supposed to happen to them. Race engine, factory engine, 2 different things. Its your engine, and your money to fix it. Oh, and I built a 385 chevy so I guess you know my whole life story. And dont even start to ask what that is. A 350 chevy small block bored .040 over with a 400 crank. So go blow.

coupe · 04-09-2005, 04:23 PM

Gotta love the youngins.

Azrael · 04-09-2005, 08:07 PM

I also hear they drive the cars rather spiritedly over speedbumps as soon as they leave the production line to make sure everything holds together.

GrahamKracka · 04-09-2005, 08:17 PM

I dont trust the propoganda the GM mechanics spread

SilverGAGT04 · 04-09-2005, 08:22 PM

Why exactly is that?

95-GT · 04-09-2005, 08:57 PM

"but was told that the oil they use in the engine from the factory is "special"."

Best statement ever.

SilverGAGT04 · 04-09-2005, 09:19 PM

Didn’t I say in the sentence after that "I don’t buy it". Don’t bust my balls for telling everyone my belief and what is considered by many manufactures the right way to break a vehicle in. So again, GO BLOW.

AndyVTek · 04-09-2005, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilverGAGT04

Didn’t I say in the sentence after that "I don’t buy it". Don’t bust my balls for telling everyone my belief and what is considered by many manufactures the right way to break a vehicle in. So again, GO BLOW.

The only reason he's bustin' your balls is because you flat out said he was wrong. You weren't just "giving everyone your belief."

I would think the transmission would need more break-in time than the engine, if any at all. Technology has come a long way.

GrahamKracka · 04-09-2005, 09:40 PM

GM engines are already broke in upon delivery

95-GT · 04-09-2005, 10:51 PM

No they arent. Think about it, would a motor really be broken in right away? No, you need to break it in. Make sure to not stay at one speed, cause you know, one speed and another speed will have the same RPM's which really affects the motor.

Ugh, damn kids. Let me tell you this right now, I am rebuilding my 302 right now (if you know what that is.), rering and new bearings. The motor will be broken in the first 60 seconds of the car running. The valvetrain will be broken in the 10 minutes of running. Now the transmission that I upgraded, will not be as I have to very the transmission speed. You very transmission speed with going differant speeds. You say to break in the motor with varying the speed of your car, but your motor will still spin the same speed. Why? GEARS/clutches in the transmission spin at differant speeds. Thats why you break in a transmission, not a motor.

03-27-2005, 12:19 PM	#1
resevil83 GAGT - Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Schaumburg Age: 38 Posts: 447	How to properly break in your new car? My friend bought a brand new mustang gt and was asking me the best way to break it in. Well I remember reading an article that said basically to do some cycling of heating and cooling the engine down. I found this article and was wondering if this is a good idea. I found several actually. When I by my next pontiac I want to know how to properly break the bad boy in... These two support this "pushing the car, to help seat the seals properly theory" http://www.smartsynthetics.com/artic..._to_amsoil.htm http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm This is more neutral yet says not to push the car as in racing... It says to drive normally but, remember to replace the oil and filter soon. 500-1000 miles soon http://www.answerbag.com/q_view.php/2420 This article also supports the first... I was basically just wondering if the 2nd article I posted would be a good idea for a v8 engine, or a v6 for our purposes. http://www.enginesonly.com/break-in.html __________________ Se to Gt just for the pure fun of it

03-27-2005, 12:28 PM	#2
puckyou Chevy Power!!! AKA: Jim Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: New Jersey Age: 45 Posts: 940 Vehicle: 2011 Silverado 6.2L	Get in, start it up, put in neutral, REDLINE IT!!! __________________ 6.2L Silverado on 305/55/20 Trail Graps CarDomain-Trailblazer SS GAGT Garage Grand Am SC/T - RIP

04-09-2005, 03:46 PM	#6
SilverGAGT04 GAGT - Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Milwaukee, WI Age: 38 Posts: 158 Vehicle: 2004 Grand Am GT Sedan	95, you are wrong. This is how you break in your car. For the first 500 miles its recommended that you don’t drive the freeway for longer then 10-15 mins. If you must drive on the freeway longer then that change your speed often and not exceeding 65mph. City driving is a new engines best friend. Do not exceed 3500 RPM during break in. Changing your oil after the first 500 miles is up to you. I did it on my car after 500 miles, but was told that the oil they use in the engine from the factory is "special". Check it out, the oil in a new engine has a green tint to it. This is "break in oil" but I don’t buy it. New engines must wear in together slowly. Do you think holding the engine at 6500 RPMs wears all surfaces slowly? NO! Think about it and you will understand. Rings seat right away, but what do they rub against? THE CYLINDERS, with cross hatch pattern. Basically shallow grooves that go all the way up and down the cylinder. The rings wear the hatch away so that they seal perfect for 100,000+ miles of running. Don’t be a donkey. (No offence to the donkeys out there) JK with you guys.. __________________ I am a Pontiac auto tech driving a 2004 Grand Am GT 4 Door, stock...so far...

04-09-2005, 03:53 PM	#7
coupe lick it AKA: Rand Join Date: May 2003 Location: Grand Rapids, Mi Age: 40 Posts: 7,347 Vehicle: 99 GAGT/96 Z71/05 R6	95-GT is right YOU are wrong. __________________ CarDomain.com http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm...endID=31690558 he has asserted his dominance over competing males with the loud masculine sound form his exaust system, Females searching for a potential mate will be driven away by weaker exaust systems and attracted to his SLP.

04-09-2005, 03:55 PM	#8
95-GT Slow 5.0 AKA: David Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: St. Heights, MI Age: 36 Posts: 2,365 Vehicle: 89 5.0 Mustang LX	No, Rand, he is right. he is the one driving a stock Grand Am GT 4 door and not the one who has built any motors before. Last edited by 95-GT; 04-09-2005 at 04:01 PM.

03-27-2005, 12:45 PM	#3
95-GT Slow 5.0 AKA: David Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: St. Heights, MI Age: 36 Posts: 2,365 Vehicle: 89 5.0 Mustang LX	When the car is finished being made, it is started up and redlinned on the rolls for a few seconds to break the motor in. On a older solid lifter cam car, you would need to run it at loe RPM's for awhile to break it in, but thats not the car on todays cars. When you buy the car, its broken in. If he has a 5-speed, he will want to very his speeds for the first 200 miles to break the transmission in. If its an auto, have fun.

04-09-2005, 08:16 AM	#4
ChrisB MEMBER AKA: Chris Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Easton,PA Posts: 23 Vehicle: 2002 Gran Am GT	True that everybody has an opinion on the best way to break in a new engine. I disagree that running it hard is the best way to break in an engine for obvious reasons. If you take it easy for the first 600 or so miles with the revs and, yeah, the cooling down heating up cycle helps too, as the amsoil page suggests, your car won't ever use oil...unless you do something unusual.

04-09-2005, 10:12 AM	#5
95-GT Slow 5.0 AKA: David Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: St. Heights, MI Age: 36 Posts: 2,365 Vehicle: 89 5.0 Mustang LX	The rings set the first 10 seconds of the car running. After that, your fine.

04-09-2005, 03:58 PM	#9
coupe lick it AKA: Rand Join Date: May 2003 Location: Grand Rapids, Mi Age: 40 Posts: 7,347 Vehicle: 99 GAGT/96 Z71/05 R6	True True and its Rand not Randy. Sorry.... i hate that. __________________ CarDomain.com http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm...endID=31690558 he has asserted his dominance over competing males with the loud masculine sound form his exaust system, Females searching for a potential mate will be driven away by weaker exaust systems and attracted to his SLP.

04-09-2005, 04:04 PM	#10
95-GT Slow 5.0 AKA: David Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: St. Heights, MI Age: 36 Posts: 2,365 Vehicle: 89 5.0 Mustang LX	Fixed. SilverGAGT04 - If you wanna argue with this, then why can thry rebuild a motor in the middle of a race, and go right out and race again? Why do they build motors, then go tune them on a dyno revving them up? This is not the older days, this is a modern day motor which is built to handle it from the factory. I didnt say hold the rev's at 6500 RPM's, as thats not good for any stock motor, but simply you do not need to vary the speed at all. Why? Say your goind 60 MPH at 2500 or 20 MPH at 2500, STILL THE SAME ENGINE SPEED. You very the speeds to break in a new transmission smart one.

04-09-2005, 04:12 PM	#11
SilverGAGT04 GAGT - Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Milwaukee, WI Age: 38 Posts: 158 Vehicle: 2004 Grand Am GT Sedan	Hey, to each their own but I work at a Pontiac dealer servicing these engines and no offense, I know what is supposed to happen to them. Race engine, factory engine, 2 different things. Its your engine, and your money to fix it. Oh, and I built a 385 chevy so I guess you know my whole life story. And dont even start to ask what that is. A 350 chevy small block bored .040 over with a 400 crank. So go blow. __________________ I am a Pontiac auto tech driving a 2004 Grand Am GT 4 Door, stock...so far...

04-09-2005, 04:23 PM	#12
coupe lick it AKA: Rand Join Date: May 2003 Location: Grand Rapids, Mi Age: 40 Posts: 7,347 Vehicle: 99 GAGT/96 Z71/05 R6	Gotta love the youngins. __________________ CarDomain.com http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm...endID=31690558 he has asserted his dominance over competing males with the loud masculine sound form his exaust system, Females searching for a potential mate will be driven away by weaker exaust systems and attracted to his SLP.

04-09-2005, 08:07 PM	#13
Azrael Never doubt an SE AKA: Matt Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Selkirk, Manitoba Age: 40 Posts: 217 Vehicle: Black 95 Grand Am SE	I also hear they drive the cars rather spiritedly over speedbumps as soon as they leave the production line to make sure everything holds together. __________________ CarDomain

04-09-2005, 08:17 PM	#14
GrahamKracka WannaBe Fat Kid AKA: Richard Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: San Antonio, Texas Age: 36 Posts: 1,517 Vehicle: 2005 Nissan Titan	I dont trust the propoganda the GM mechanics spread

04-09-2005, 08:22 PM	#15
SilverGAGT04 GAGT - Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Milwaukee, WI Age: 38 Posts: 158 Vehicle: 2004 Grand Am GT Sedan	Why exactly is that? __________________ I am a Pontiac auto tech driving a 2004 Grand Am GT 4 Door, stock...so far...

04-09-2005, 08:57 PM	#16
95-GT Slow 5.0 AKA: David Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: St. Heights, MI Age: 36 Posts: 2,365 Vehicle: 89 5.0 Mustang LX	"but was told that the oil they use in the engine from the factory is "special"." Best statement ever.

04-09-2005, 09:19 PM	#17
SilverGAGT04 GAGT - Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Milwaukee, WI Age: 38 Posts: 158 Vehicle: 2004 Grand Am GT Sedan	Didn’t I say in the sentence after that "I don’t buy it". Don’t bust my balls for telling everyone my belief and what is considered by many manufactures the right way to break a vehicle in. So again, GO BLOW. __________________ I am a Pontiac auto tech driving a 2004 Grand Am GT 4 Door, stock...so far...

04-09-2005, 09:40 PM	#19
GrahamKracka WannaBe Fat Kid AKA: Richard Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: San Antonio, Texas Age: 36 Posts: 1,517 Vehicle: 2005 Nissan Titan	GM engines are already broke in upon delivery

04-09-2005, 10:51 PM	#20
95-GT Slow 5.0 AKA: David Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: St. Heights, MI Age: 36 Posts: 2,365 Vehicle: 89 5.0 Mustang LX	No they arent. Think about it, would a motor really be broken in right away? No, you need to break it in. Make sure to not stay at one speed, cause you know, one speed and another speed will have the same RPM's which really affects the motor. Ugh, damn kids. Let me tell you this right now, I am rebuilding my 302 right now (if you know what that is.), rering and new bearings. The motor will be broken in the first 60 seconds of the car running. The valvetrain will be broken in the 10 minutes of running. Now the transmission that I upgraded, will not be as I have to very the transmission speed. You very transmission speed with going differant speeds. You say to break in the motor with varying the speed of your car, but your motor will still spin the same speed. Why? GEARS/clutches in the transmission spin at differant speeds. Thats why you break in a transmission, not a motor.

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