Thread: Break in period
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Old Aug 4, 2008 | 05:12 PM
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+fireamx
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Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Akron, Ohio
Default Re: Break in period

When I first started using synthetic oil back in 1979, the oil companies literature said not to use their oil until the engine was adequately broke in. But they didn't say exactly when that was. So I wrote to them and asked when should I put their oil into my new 280ZX that I had driven only 2500 miles. They wrote back and told me not to use their product until I had 7k on it.
On a trip to Wisconsin that spring I drove very conservatively on the Interstate on my way up and I checked my gas mileage. Then on the way home I turned over 7k and drove the car quite differently on the way back. While using secondary roads, I drove much harder with a lot of down shifting and upshifting, and holding it in gear longer. I also ran about 10 mph faster every chance I had, and the car seemed to just "loosen up". It also got better mpg.
Now that was nearly 30 years ago, and as we all know, high performance cars come with synthetic oil right from the factory. So how that one simple fact changes the whole equation, I really just don't know.
I suppose the best thing to remember while you have very few miles on your car is to simply alternate your speeds while not "lugging" your engine, or keep from using your high gears until your on the highway at highway speeds. It's better to keep your RPM's up in the lower gears, than it is to get into overdrive at too low of a speed.
I've always been a believer of driving a new car pretty much the way you will always drive it, just don't abuse it, and it should "break-in" OK. I've broke-in about 20 brand new cars since I started driving over 40 years ago, and I've never had one to ever give me any engine trouble, or be an "oil burner". Just enjoy your car, and it should break-in just fine.
 
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