[arpad_m]

Congratulations on your new Camaro

No need to kill the engine and wait for it to cool down at all, just vary your speed, don't drive at a constant 65-70-75 mph in the same gear for hours. Enjoy a few little half throttle, 3.5-4k rpm bursts from 30 to 70 mph in the right lane, shift down and back up periodically etc.

The idea is that you don't want the engine running at the same rpm under the same low load for extended periods during the break-in. That said, the LT4 isn't made of candy, don't worry, you won't break it with your driving.

Now as to whether or not this is a proper break-in procedure, that is a whole deep rabbit hole that I don't want to descend into. At the end of the day, this is the official recommendation from the manufacturer, and you will find plenty of information even here on this board if you're interested in more details.

[avalonandl]

Vary your rpms.... If you have the 10 speed its eassy. 6 Speed just vary between 5th and 6th occasionally. Forget cool down not needed.

[Mac7504]

Originally Posted by Elite Engineering

Here are GM's instructions (from LS new engines, but still the same for LT):





And the rear diff should be done by 1000 miles!!!! BMWD is correct. This is really the only other portion of the drive-train that needs to "break in" as the gears mesh in and clutches/steels shed material in that initial few hundred miles. Leaving that in greatly contributes to wear.


I would never leave the initial oil fill in longer than a few hundred mile. As the GM instructions show, drain immediately after ring seating.

Do you all really disconnect control system and prime the engine every time you change the oil???

[CW3SF]

I test drove (very spirited style) my car for an entire weekend and about 200 miles. I then returned the car, left a deposit on the car and moved from TN to Denver. After I finished the move, I flew back to TN, picked up the car and drove it 1400 miles to Denver. I changed the fluids (oil, filter and rear diff) after arriving in Denver.

[SpiritedAway]

I see a lot of diff oil changes being mentioned but does that also apply to Verts without eLSD?

[SpiritedAway]

Any thoughts on when I should do the first diff fluid change on a vert ZL1?

[Gunkk]

For street use, the manual says every 45k miles.

You'll need 2qts of P/N# 88862624 Dexron 75W90 LS Gear oil incl. limited slip friction modifier. Get a hand pump.

[SpiritedAway]

Originally Posted by Gunkk

For street use, the manual says every 45k miles.

You'll need 2qts of P/N# 88862624 Dexron 75W90 LS Gear oil incl. limited slip friction modifier. Get a hand pump.

You’re saying wait 45k miles for the FIRST diff fluid change??

[arpad_m]

Originally Posted by SpiritedAway

You’re saying wait 45k miles for the FIRST diff fluid change??

He's just saying that is what the owner's manual calls for. I had the dealership change mine at 1500 miles.

[SpiritedAway]

Originally Posted by arpad_m

He's just saying that is what the owner's manual calls for. I had the dealership change mine at 1500 miles.

I had my first oil change at like 700 miles.

Perhaps I can do another one at 2k miles and add in diff fluid change.

Anything else I should do? Thanks!

[arpad_m]

Originally Posted by SpiritedAway

I had my first oil change at like 700 miles.

Perhaps I can do another one at 2k miles and add in diff fluid change.

Anything else I should do? Thanks!

You'll be good with that. The only other thing I could think of is trans fluid, but you have the Tremec TR-6060 and don't need to worry about that for a long time. Not sure about your chosen break-in protocol, but the most important thing is to enjoy that beast

[SpiritedAway]

Originally Posted by arpad_m

You'll be good with that. The only other thing I could think of is trans fluid, but you have the Tremec TR-6060 and don't need to worry about that for a long time. Not sure about your chosen break-in protocol, but the most important thing is to enjoy that beast

I didn’t wait too much before flooring it

Maybe 100 miles? Lol

[mliebs]

Originally Posted by SpiritedAway

I didn’t wait too much before flooring it

Maybe 100 miles? Lol

I only have 260 miles on mine and it's literally killing me to not put it to the boards. I'm doing my best to keep the accelerations no more than 4k but my patience is wearing thin.

[george]

I wonder how many here that followed break-in procedures and warm vehicle prior to WOT had oil pump failures?