Initial "Break-In" procedure

[grsams]

I saw that someone commented in a thread about a "break-in" period for their new Genesis. Is there a procedure or a threshold that one should abide by to get the maximum performance from their car in years to come?

 

[NSXNEXT]

There is no set mfgr procedure however what most people do is for the first 500 or so miles vary the speed and rpms throughout your normal driving routine.

So use sport shift (or whatever we call it on the Genny) to switch between gears occasionally on highway drives to give each gear in the trans some work.

Again it's not a set procedure but bottom line take it easy on the car the first 500 miles.

 

[grsams]

Thank you.

 

[PSL]

I believe the owners manual has a break in procedure listed. Although not complicated, there are a few items to consider, such as keeping the rpm between 2000 and 4000 for the first 500 or 1000 miles and not letting the car idle for long periods of time? I would have to go back and look it up in the manual...

 

[PMCErnie]

The manual mentions not to drive at constant speeds for a period of time. Look it up in the book. It is also critical not to mash the brakes until the rotors and pads have had a chance to get to know each other well. Brake gently for a few hundred miles, or you risk warped rotors.

 

[427435]

There is a section in the owners manual about break-in. Not idling for long periods is one of the things that shouldn't be done. I had asked the dealer to call me when the transport with my car showed up. He did. They had it off-loaded before I got there. The car was sitting in the dealer's lot idling!!!!

I did avoid driving at constant engine speeds for the first 500 miles and did some full throttle runs to about 5000 rpm during those 500 miles. After 500 miles, I ran an occasional full throttle run to the automatic shift points!! So far, there is little oil consumption.

 

[homeofstone]

The following is what I do for the first 800 miles. Keep it under 70mph. Vary the speed. No quick stops. Let engine warm a minute or so before putting car in gear. No jack rabbit starts. No long trips at constant speed. Basically the same what others have stated.

 

[Potty_Pants]

anything you do will be wrong...

anything you do will be right...

follow the owners manual.

too many different trains of thought.

personally i feel the owners manual is not accurate but i did try to adhear to it.

ppp

 

[grsams]

Thanks for all of the responses. The reason I asked also is because with other cars I have owned, it was my understanding that they adapted to your style of driving. I was not sure if this was the case for this particular vehicle though.

 

[PMCErnie]

Thanks for all of the responses. The reason I asked also is because with other cars I have owned, it was my understanding that they adapted to your style of driving. I was not sure if this was the case for this particular vehicle though.

My car brings me coffee in the morning.

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[my2wins]

Serious question: How big a deal is it to honor the break in period? I know it seems from this thread that its a matter of opinion as to whether it matters, but I'm still really wondering.

I didn't read that part of the manual till I was at around 750 miles, and although I have been really gentle on the car for the most part, I didn't vary the RPMs like the manual said, as I didn't know how to use manual mode until the last week.

And once or twice I let it idle longer than normal, while monkeying around with the DIS for about 15 or 20 mins.

I'm at ~900 miles now. Can I throw caution to the wind vis-vis the break in period? Or should I give it a few hundred extra miles of break in type driving, just to be sure?

BTW I am so grateful for this forum. I lost my dad last year unexpectedly to the big C, and aside from being a genuine car expert, he was an answer man for even the most obscure of inquiries. So thanks for your patience as I run all my new-car newbie queries by this community.

 

[WowCool]

Hi, for the first 500miles I always keep the heavy acceleration & braking
to a minimum. On the freeway I run with a 10-20mph variation each side of 50-60mph. This allows the engine to spread its wings.. Usually at 1000 miles I change oil & filter..These modern engines are a beautiful work of art..
I doubt very few of us will ever Use to the Maximum/Full Potential either the engine/transmission/suspension..

 

[EXBMWGUY]

Hi, for the first 500miles I always keep the heavy acceleration & braking
to a minimum. On the freeway I run with a 10-20mph variation each side of 50-60mph. This allows the engine to spread its wings.. Usually at 1000 miles I change oil & filter..These modern engines are a beautiful work of art..
I doubt very few of us will ever Use to the Maximum/Full Potential either the engine/transmission/suspension..

^ Ditto. However, when she's broken in and you have a deserted road, she loves to run.

 

[WowCool]

^ Ditto. However, when she's broken in and you have a deserted road, she loves to run.

Oh Yeah

 

[Mark_888]

Serious question: How big a deal is it to honor the break in period? I know it seems from this thread that its a matter of opinion as to whether it matters, but I'm still really wondering.

I didn't read that part of the manual till I was at around 750 miles, and although I have been really gentle on the car for the most part, I didn't vary the RPMs like the manual said, as I didn't know how to use manual mode until the last week.

And once or twice I let it idle longer than normal, while monkeying around with the DIS for about 15 or 20 mins.

I'm at ~900 miles now. Can I throw caution to the wind vis-vis the break in period? Or should I give it a few hundred extra miles of break in type driving, just to be sure?

BTW I am so grateful for this forum. I lost my dad last year unexpectedly to the big C, and aside from being a genuine car expert, he was an answer man for even the most obscure of inquiries. So thanks for your patience as I run all my new-car newbie queries by this community.

The worst thing you can do is to baby it during the break-in period. The piston rings need to seat properly, and they need a certain amount of friction to do that. That is why they say don't idle it, try and stay within 2000 - 4000 RPM, and vary the RPM (they say vary the speed, but they really mean RPM). Worst that usually happens is you get a little oil consumption and end up with slightly poorer MPG. At 900 miles, its not too late to run the engine more briskly than normal to do a proper break-in. But in most cases, I wouldn't worry about it. Check your engine oil level frequently to make sure there is not excessive consumption during the first 6 months.