[Sledgehammer70]

We talked about it, but here is GM's guide to proper vehicle brake-in.

Starting and Operating

New Vehicle Break-In
Follow these recommended guidelines during the first 2 414 km (1,500 mi) of driving this vehicle. Parts have a break-in period and performance will be
better in the long run.

For the first 2,414 km (1,500 mi):
- Avoid full throttle starts and abrupt stops.

- Do not exceed 4,000 engine rpm.

- Avoid driving at any one constant speed, fast or slow.

- Do not drive above 129 km/h (80 mph).

- Do not tow a trailer.

- Avoid downshifting to brake or slow the vehicle when the engine speed will exceed 4,000 rpm.

- Do not let the engine labor. Never lug the engine in high gear at low speeds. With a manual transmission, shift to the next lower gear. This
rule applies at all times, not just during the break-in period.

- Do not participate in racing events, sport driving schools, or similar activities during this break-in period.

- Check engine oil with every refueling and add if necessary. Oil and fuel
consumption may be higher than normal during the first 2,414 km (1,500 mi).

- To break in new tires, drive at moderate speeds and avoid hard cornering for the first 322 km (200 mi). New tires do not have maximum traction and may tend to slip.

- New brake linings also need a break-in period. Avoid making hard stops during the first 322 km (200 mi). This is recommended every time brake linings are replaced.

- Should the vehicle be used for racing or competitive driving (after break-in), the rear axle lubricant must be replaced before hand.

My thoughts on break-in for all aspects of the car:


Source: GM 2016 Camaro Manual (Page 200)

[joemosfet]

1500 miles... taking delivery at the beginning of the snowy season...

Basically that reads to me like "Don't drive above 80 for four months, don't rev above 4000 for four months..."

Yeesh, this is gonna be hard.

[SSport16]

Originally Posted by joemosfet

1500 miles... taking delivery at the beginning of the snowy season...

Basically that reads to me like "Don't drive about 80 for four months, don't rev above 4000 for four months..."

Yeesh, this is gonna be hard.

Seriously! I have to try and put as many miles as I can , but those short easy trips are going to old quick!

[LovePhenom]

Originally Posted by joemosfet

1500 miles... taking delivery at the beginning of the snowy season...

Basically that reads to me like "Don't drive about 80 for four months, don't rev above 4000 for four months..."

Yeesh, this is gonna be hard.

You drive your SS in the winter?

[Sledgehammer70]

Originally Posted by LovePhenom

You drive your SS in the winter?

I know everyone else seems to get real weather... but I can't help but smile about not having snow or ice in SoCal.

[joemosfet]

Originally Posted by LovePhenom

You drive your SS in the winter?

Winters here are interesting. It can be freezing and cold with 4" of snow on the ground. The next day, the roads are dry, and its a balmy 40 degrees. Then the next day, blizzard again. Couple of days later, the roads are clear again, sun is shining, etc.

So, yeah, when I can, I will, but it won't be often. And I don't want to get trapped somewhere when it starts snowing, so only short trips.

And thus, I really won't be able to put even a couple hundred miles on it before spring. The highways near me are 75mph, and the on ramps are long... this is gonna be difficult.

[joemosfet]

Originally Posted by Sledgehammer70

I know everyone else seems to get real weather... but I can't help but smile about not having snow or ice in SoCal.

Smile about another thing: sea-level density altitude.

At the track here, we get over 9000' DA in the summer. I can't even post my time slip without getting clowned on.

When I bought the '14 Camaro, I mentioned that it needed something to give me the seat-of-the-pants feel that I had in the Charger. I said my blown Charger did a 13.8 quarter mile at altitude after the mods. Big mistake.

People said my Charger wasn't put together right, or that the supercharger whine was making me think it was fast, and that my new stock SS Camaro will beat that by a whole second.

So I posted a video of a Camaro SS at Bandimere putting down 14.98. Then it was "that guy can't drive, are you kidding me? The Camaro way faster than that..." So I posted another video, showing the similar numbers. Finally, somebody else posted links to density altitude calculators, and so on, and finally people shut up, but dang.

Imagine having a stock vehicle, run it down the track, and being in the 15s club instead of the 12s club with the other stock guys.

Ah well. The altitude allows us to run more boost and/or more timing and/or less octane.

[LovePhenom]

Originally Posted by joemosfet

Winters here are interesting. It can be freezing and cold with 4" of snow on the ground. The next day, the roads are dry, and its a balmy 40 degrees. Then the next day, blizzard again. Couple of days later, the roads are clear again, sun is shining, etc.

So, yeah, when I can, I will, but it won't be often. And I don't want to get trapped somewhere when it starts snowing, so only short trips.

And thus, I really won't be able to put even a couple hundred miles on it before spring. The highways near me are 75mph, and the on ramps are long... this is gonna be difficult.

I was just curious. I'll be driving my 2LT in the winter as well. According to all the major weather outlets "El Niño" is supposed to give us a pleasantly warm winter which relieved some anxiety.

[SS 1LE]

The last comment about the axle lube is odd...

[LesserO2Evils]

For the first 2,414 km (1,500 mi):
- Avoid full throttle starts and abrupt stops.

- Do not exceed 4,000 engine rpm.

- Avoid driving at any one constant speed, fast or slow.

- Do not drive above 129 km/h (80 mph).


Yeah... Not happenin. Lol

[GTIanZ28]

Originally Posted by Sledgehammer70

- Do not let the engine labor. Never lug the engine in high gear at low speeds. With a manual transmission, shift to the next lower gear. This
rule applies at all times, not just during the break-in period.

Isn't this exactly the opposite of the skip shift function?

[joemosfet]

Originally Posted by GTIanZ28

Isn't this exactly the opposite of the skip shift function?

No, no, this is saying that if you're bogging the engine down, i.e. in 6th gear at 20mph, then go to the next lower gear, i.e. 5th gear.

[LesserO2Evils]

I think he is trying to point out that the manual says to NOT do, EXACTLY what Skip shift forces the car to do when driving gently on a 1->2 shift. Bog in too high a gear.

[GTIanZ28]

Originally Posted by LesserO2Evils

I think he is trying to point out that the manual says to NOT do, EXACTLY what Skip shift forces the car to do when driving gently on a 1->2 shift. Bog in too high a gear.

Precisely what I was attempting to say. Thank you for wording it properly.