[Can'tHave2MuchHP]

With my car arriving in a few weeks and summer around the corner when once it does, I'll be getting started on the break in miles. But that said, what is the general consensus about these break in miles? Is it a good idea to keep your foot out of it completely for the first 100, 200, 300 or even 1000 miles? I don't know how in the world I'm going to make anywhere near that. I only put about 1000-2000 miles combined on all my garage cars, see below, in the short summer period here. I suppose I could up that and start driving it on general errands but I don't want to expose it to above average amounts of "road wear" and the possibilities for disasters obviously. I'll probably make it the first 100 miles before getting her up over 140 and maybe that will keep me happy until the...next red light

Anyways, what did you do with yours? Did you baby it? Or did you drive it like you stole it right off the lot? Seems most people were just hammering on them after the first 50-100 miles and never really cared about that 1500 number or whatever it is.

[ZED SLED]

Well, you know what the answers on here are going to be. I'm at 1700 and still haven't gotten around to any WOT hole shots, but I had it on Watkins Glen a couple of times doing some 120 mph parade laps before it had 700 on it. I probably haven't been above 5500, but it has been sitting in the garage under a cover since around Oct 20. I just kinda broke it in the way I plan to drive it. I did do an oil change at 500 and 1500 though.

[RedHot18]

I changed my oil at 500, then just drove it daily for the next 1000 with a few short road trips mixed along with some minor hoonage. At 1500 miles I changed out the brake fluid for some RBF 600 then went straight to Sebring for a full day of track abuse. I track it as hard as my ability will allow and hoon it as much as possible, so far so good!

[Ron_Robinson1]

I’m a firm believer in you drive from the beginning, like your always going drive it. After 260 miles mine was broken in. My 3 last card I have done this with and have had no issues. But I also have done full Bolt-ons (including cam) after 3k miles. I drive my car hard every time I’m in it.

Different strokes for different fokes.

[Mr. Wyndham]

I decided to stick to the owner's manual for break-in, as prescribed...if for no other reason than I want to keep this car stock and warranty in-tact with issues one way or the other. "I did what you told me", sort of mentality. That said...I would be lying if I said I never went above 80, or revs above 4000...but when I did, it was an adrenaline-induced "whoops" moment...and very infrequent.

The first oil change was at 500 mi using the dealer courtesy service (5W30) oil change.

The second oil change at 1400 mi to Mobil1 15W50.

Then about 350 more miles were driven before it went right onto the NCM road course! After that event, at about 2100 miles, I changed the oil back to 5W30, using the second dealership courtesy oil change...and changed the diff fluid.

[kwav8r]

I went by this:
https://my.chevrolet.com/content/dam...tion-guide.pdf

Did I "occasionally" exceed 4K? Yes, but only briefly in the first 500 miles.

And did like Wyndham said, first oil change at 500, second at 1500. Also changed the diff. fluid at ~1800 and highly recommend you do the same - old fluid did not look good and the sludge on the magnetic fill plug ends was like axle grease (very fine but dense).

[BMWM.D.]

I just tried to take it easy for the first 500 miles. Mainly just keeping the revs down, no hard launches, and no high speed pulls. Then I changed the oil and started beating on it. Then I did another oil change right before 1500 miles. I also did the rear diff oil at 500 miles.

There seems to be confusion concerning the break in, but what I took from reading it was pretty much what I did. They don’t recommend taking it to a track day until 1500, but the speed and rpm limit recommendations are only until 500.

[Victoryred1le]

Originally Posted by Ron_Robinson1

I’m a firm believer in you drive from the beginning, like your always going drive it. After 260 miles mine was broken in. My 3 last card I have done this with and have had no issues. But I also have done full Bolt-ons (including cam) after 3k miles. I drive my car hard every time I’m in it.

Different strokes for different fokes.

100% agree with this. all of my race engines get built, put on a dyno and run WFO. ive had 30+ cars in the last 18 years, i do this religiously and have had Very little issues. i heat cycle the car for the first 500 varying throttle, change the oil and then drive the car.

[rjacobs]

3-5 heat cycles and rings are seated... has nothing to do with miles. Thats strictly the engine. I put about 150-200 easy miles on it below 3000rpm then i started running it harder. I did a lot of high vacuum decel's as well. I was around 350 miles when I started hammering on it when I went for a nice long drive with my car club...

The heat cycle thing was written about in a book by a pretty famous engine builder, cant remember who. The article I read on it that referenced the book went on to say that manufacturers usually say 500-1000-1500 mile break in because they know the 3-5 heat cycles should be complete in that time frame. The other premise of the book was a harder break in to develop a lot of cylinder pressure to really get the rings to seat well. If you ever buy a motor that was broken in on an engine dyno, they will do several heat cycles on it running it harder and harder on each heat cycle.

500 miles the rear end is broken in... again should have several heat cycles done to it, the first one should be ~50 miles then a full cool down. Thats according to a LOT of companies that set gears for a living. They also recommend changing diff fluid at 500, which a lot of guys on here have done and reported it was nasty.

I also will go out and bed the brakes pretty well. About 12-15 stops from 60-0 as hard as you dare with a few minutes of cool down in between.

Thats my approach after reading a lot on various forums over the years on break in.

[BMWM.D.]

Yep... my diff oil was pretty nasty at 500 miles.

[unavailablezl1]

I have been told my "other" manufacturers to break it in like you are going to drive it. Don't baby it and then drive it hard. To each his own. I did not read the manual until 3 days later, (what am I, a scholar?. I am actually) and on the first day I put it over the revs and over 80 after leaving the dealer for a very brief moment, oops, my bad. Then I slowed it down until after breakin. Did I do it again by accident, yes. But not by much. Especially since OnStar rats you out.

I had the free dealer oil change at 1700 miles.

To be safe and "warranty and stuff", I wouldn't beat on it until after BI. Then after that, nail it!!!!

[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by kwav8r

...Also changed the diff. fluid at ~1800 and highly recommend you do the same - old fluid did not look good and the sludge on the magnetic fill plug ends was like axle grease (very fine but dense).

Originally Posted by BMWM.D.

Yep... my diff oil was pretty nasty at 500 miles.

I had initially planning on replacing it BEFORE that first track day for the reasons above...nasty stuff...but owners manual said after the first track day....so there goes...

[Can'tHave2MuchHP]

Eh don’t really have to worry about warranty. You can probably figure out why. Looks like I’ll atleast get her to the first 500 miles and oil change then I’ll start getting after it a little more. For whatever reason, I never “beat” on any of my cars. None of them have ever seen a drag strip or a road course. I never launch any of them even when taunted at red lights. But I do like to put the hammer down on express way entrance ramps and feel the America.

[k20attack]

Originally Posted by BMWM.D.

Yep... my diff oil was pretty nasty at 500 miles.

Does anyone know why the diff oil is nasty at 500 miles? That's crazy low miles to have to replace diff oil. What oil did you use? I'm going to be close to 500 in the next couple of weeks.