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Engine break-in question for you guys

8085 Views 17 Replies 12 Participants Last post by  Hudsonhawk
I've read some other threads on this forum about engine/trans break-in, but I have a question:
The manual states: "Drive moderately during the first 300 miles (500 km).
After the initial 60 miles (100 km), speeds up to 50 or
55 mph (80 or 90 km/h) are desirable."

So:
How do I drive from 0 miles to 60 miles?

Between 60 miles and 300 miles, I shouldn't exceed 55 mph but I should occasionally floor it ?

Comments? I pick up the beast toMORROW ( ok, ok, it's not a Trailhawk, so not technically a "beast", but just let me dream I live in Moab)

Thx, Mike
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Guess I should have read the manual cause I didn't do any special break in...
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have a steady foot. no burn outs, no high rpm. also brief take offs once u get more mileage in.
Drive it like you stole it. ;)

Seriously, what dawhitesTH said.

I have briefly taken mine up to 80 mph on the highway with about 150 miles on the odometer. I am getting close to 200. I'm taking a 500+ mile trip in a few weeks and need to get things broken in.
I agree with what has been said above. After a few hundred miles a few brief full throttle bursts are ok. You can go above 55mph. Just don't floor it from a dead stop for awhile.
Well I drove mine 70 MPH on the highway all the way home the night I bought it. Oops.
From my experience... I babied the 07 Subaru Legacy I bought and followed every rule. Also had a million and one problems with her 3 years later. 10 Jeep Compass Sport 4x4 drove 255 miles down 95 to come home from the dealer on the first day, she still ran like a dream when I dumped her and found the trailhawk. So I guess it's all in personal preference?
I took it easy for the first 60 or so miles. All surface streets. Easy acceleration.
After that I kept it below 60 until about 500 miles. Brief periods of Heavy acceleration but no WOT. Did not maintain a set speed for extended periods.
After 500 miles I drove it normally.

Still working on the trailer break in. I have done 105 miles of the 500 miles at 50MPH or less. Need to get the trailer out and finish it.
I'm sure a lot customers have driven the car aggressively during their test drive. So this break-in instruction looks to me would only work for people who ordered their vehicle.
My local dealership located a Cherokee equipped the way I want, unfortunately it is 200 miles away. I don't think I am comfortable with them putting the first 200 miles on the new powertrain. I may just wait and order what I want.
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The Journey I'm currently driving was located 280 miles away and it was trucked from Miami to Clearwater. It kept the miles off but I'm sure it added to my cost. Plus I'm told the dealer doesn't have some kick-backs from Chrysler to negotiate with.
My local dealership located a Cherokee equipped the way I want, unfortunately it is 200 miles away. I don't think I am comfortable with them putting the first 200 miles on the new powertrain. I may just wait and order what I want.
My jeep came with 100 miles. All the options i wanted, didn't preorder, got 10%off invoice and another off from tread lightly...and a $500 rebate.

The mileage didn't really matter much since i got a heck of a deal on my purchase and my trade in.
Plus I'm told the dealer doesn't have some kick-backs from Chrysler to negotiate with.
Trust me - they all say this garbage. According to them they don't make jack sh** on new vehicle sales. Yeah, my ***.
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Then they show you some bs "paperwork" that shows that they paid like $500 less than they're asking for it...
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I don't know how much stock I put in break in procedures. Some swear by it, some say it is BS. Reality is it also varies between manufacturers. Some are confident in their build accuracy/quality that they just say take it easy for a few hundred miles and you're good. Otherwise like this have specific rules. I've even read some say there is no break in period. It's already good to go.

Frankly if these rules are legit I could never drive my Jeep home. The few dealerships I'm visiting all require a NJ highway. Minimum speed is 65 and if you don't want to get run over, 70+ is where it is at.

Personally I believe modern engines and modern technology have done away with most of the break in need. I think it is good advise to take it easy on your car for about 600-1000 miles (i.e. don't do burn outs, launches, WOT from cruising speeds to pass, etc) and then be on your merry way.

I completely ignored the break in procedures on both our Mazda3 and Mazda6. Never had a single issue. Whereas you see above someone else followed Subaru to the letter and had a ton of problems.
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I agree that with modern engines break in procedures are not as important as before.

It may still make a difference but I've never heard of a certain break in causing the engine the fail prematurely.
You do understand you are not just breaking in the engine but also the gears in the transmission and differentials.
Gear break inis important if you don't want a melt down. The heat generated helps harden the gears. Too much heat will melt them.
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