Break-in

The recommendations in the manual for break-in are 2000 miles keeping rpm < 4200. Curious whether most of you plan to follow that. It's like asking teens not to have sex. I have heard through word of mouth that the break-in period for Porsches is more of a public demand issue. If they don't recommend one, they will be assaulted by calls by concerned customers, so the easy way out is to stick with the old ritual. After all, as soon as the car comes off the assembly line they run the car flat out on the track for several miles to make sure all is right. Those first few miles would be the most critical.[/quote]

scopa, I seriously doubt that very many owners will follow that break in recommendation. I think we all agree that we will not violate the warmup procedure, but I am sure I will take it up past 4200 rpms in the first 500 miles. I will not hold at high revs for prolonged periods, but I know I will not be able to keep it below 4200 rpms for long. Everyone will find there own way to rationalize whatever they do. I found lots folks that said break it in hard and others say no. So we will have to be our own guide on this one. There is a thread that you can go back and find that covers this topic quite well. Aloha Russ

sorry I didn't search first. For those interested, the link to the prior thread is: http://www.planet-9.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=849&FORUM_ID=1&CAT_ID=1&Topic_Title=New+Owners+Breakin+Rules&Forum_Title=Cayman+Chat

scopa, What I didn't say was that you will probably MORE CONDFUSED after you read all the opinions. Good Luck! Russ

You're absolutely right. Sounds like you were a little nervous too. You didn't have your car yet and said you had no idea what you were going to do when you got it. So, did you get your car yet, and what did you do? Did you 'put it in just a little' as one poster put it?

Ive had 2 is300's and broken both in differently. The first one, I didnt care for breaking it in, so I was hard on the throtle the second I pulled out of the dealership. I hit redline a good 10 times the first night (first 30 miles). With my second is300 I took it easy until the car had 300 miles on the odo. I would be aggressive on the throtle but I would shift gears before it hit 4000rpm's. After 300 miles I couldnt hold back anymoreso Iredlined it regularly. Both cars drove fine without any sign of problems. But strangely enough thereis a difference between the two. the first oneis faster at lower rpms but the second one is faster at higher rpms. The first one does better against my friends 330i on rolling starts from 5mph and my second one does better on the freeway. I dont know why but thats just the way they are. IMO the best way to break in the engine is to drive easy the first 50 miles. after about 50 miles or so, become more aggressive on the throtle but shift gears before 4200rpms. Once youve hit 500 miles take it up to 6000-7000 rpms every now and then. Take it all the way up to redline a few times once youve hit 750 miles. And after 1000 miles, drive however you please. Also keep in mind, that the engine might be broken in but the drivetrain is not; especially the clutch.

I've already given my views on this. My dealer said stay below 4000 rpm for 800 miles and bed the breaks in. However he also said that the engines are already bench run-in. In the UK the manual mentions nothing about an break in period (just USA). Anyway, I couldn't help but red line in after about 90 miles. Unless you have incredible self control you won't be able to help yourself. After a month of having the car I take it pask 5000rpm every day just to hear the terrific noise!

Russ K (or anyone) - my first post here - picked up my Cayman S last night - just incredible! One thing I didn't hear from my dealer that you mention is a 'warmup procedure' - do you just mean the break in concepts, or are you reeferring to something related to normal everyday startup? Thanks for any response. scopa, I seriously doubt that very many owners will follow that break in recommendation. I think we all agree that we will not violate the warmup procedure , but I am sure I will take it up past 4200 rpms in the first 500 miles. I will not hold at high revs for prolonged periods, but I know I will not be able to keep it below 4200 rpms for long. Everyone will find there own way to rationalize whatever they do. I found lots folks that said break it in hard and others say no. So we will have to be our own guide on this one. There is a thread that you can go back and find that covers this topic quite well. Aloha Russ [/quote] Edited by - RCayR on 01/12/2006 06:02:20 AM

Warm-up procedure means: don't go into high revs and don't put the pedal to the medal, before your engine has warmed up to normal operating temperature, which usually takes a couple of mins after starting a cold engine. At normal operating temperature, the oil/lubricant in the engine will be thinner than at cold temperature, which means less frictions. This isn't specific to Porsche, but to any engine. Cheers.

Page 76 of the owner's manual says to drive at moderate speeds and avoid engine speeds above 4,200 rpm for the first 5 minutes.

scopa, I haven't got my car yet, but when I do I will let you know what I do. Freestyle makes a good point about, unless you have incredible will power, I don't think I will. RcayR, hwelvaar's post is exactly what I was talking about. Never go hard on the engine until oil temps are at proper levels. Aloha Russ

I have been driving my car for one day now. When I left my dealer said to keep it under 5500 for the first 500 miles and let loose after that. He said that the engines were run at the factory but it would be wise to still keep it under that range. He also said to go through all the gears and dont stay at a constant speed.

The manual does say to jump in the car and drive it - not let it sit there warming up for a few minutes. I still think it is very strange that US and Europe should have different procedures for breaking in the engine as per the manual.

You are right but what you should do is let it warm up while you drive and open it up after the engine has reached its normal runing temp. Actually you should do that for any car.

Thanks to all for the quick response. I am pleased that it is just the 'standard' deal - let the car get warm before doing anything extreme - that I'd do for any car. Guess the more formal phrasing of 'warm up procedure' spooked me! Thanks again.

http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns/Archive/2001/November/05.html

I agree it is very stanange that there is something in one manual and not in the other - as was speculated before this most likely comes about due to the US legal system, or it could be the other way around - Porsche always wanted to have that RPM restriction but UK ( or EU ) laws don't allow for it ( we all know how much Brits like their cars ) /fckeditor/editor/images/smiley/MWPX/thumbsup.gif Would be interesting if someone from Germany could tell us if it is there or not.

I have pretty much made up my mind as to how I will attempt to break in my car and I will try to take it easy for the first 50 miles and then keep it below redline for the first 500. I will not hold it at high revs, just some up and back down quickly. In a week I will be able to tell you a lot more. Russ

From what I understand from the tech experts in the PCA, the factory does test drive the cars after assembly, but they do not by any means run them 'flat out.' They do run-in the engines on a bench, but it's not a torture test, nor do they run them 'flat out' in that instance either. For those that might be unfamiliar with Porsches, the engines are oiled in a 'dry sump' type system (although the new water-cooled engines are called and 'integrated' dry sump) but basically the oiling system is very intricate, uses a lot more oil in volume than most other production motors, and routs the oil to very specific spots like putting oil straight onto the main bearings, into the cylinders and onto the pistons, etc. then returning the oil to a tank. When starting the car cold, you should avoid RPMs over about 4,000 until the engine reaches operating temp because the oil is thick and won't circulate well enough when the engine demands more oil for the higher RPMs. The engine's operating temp is 185 degrees, and will be at that temp when the needle on the gauge is about the needle's width to the right of the 180 degree mark. This doesn't mean you need to sit while it warms up, but you should stay at reasonable RPMs until the oil warms up and can do its job when higher stree is called for. After that you can dive it like you stole it. brad

I like that comment Brad - "drive it like you stole it". RussK - I think it would be extremely hard to drive the car like your grandmother for 2000 miles in Hawaii - that's an awful lot of circles. But at least it's warm there and the engine will never be freezing cold - it seems to me like that ought to help the break-in process go smoothly. Edited by - K-Man-sculpture.net on 01/12/2006 09:35:43 AM

<p class="MsoNormal"> My first post here and do not have a Porsche yet and certainly not sure I know what I am talking about. [/quote] <p class="MsoNormal">Just curious about your statement on the oil is being thick when cold. [/quote]Cayman uses 0w oil; it pours like water. [/quote]The oil should be able to reach anywhere in the engine within seconds. [/quote]Therefore it should be an issue. [/quote][/quote]I can understand that we should wait until a proper operation temp for the engine has been reached, so that all thermo-expansion subside. [/quote]I am thinking out loud, so I am not quite sure. [/quote] <p class="MsoNormal"><o ></o >Cheers

Here a quote from the Porsche web site: The engines are first of all heated up to operating temperature and then subjected to a functional test including full-throttle testing. http://www.porsche.com/usa/aboutporsche/virtualfactorytour/porschezuffenhausen/2e99a78c-475c-48da-8c1d-339343e1298b/d2b70996-47ad-4d4e-a589-f64229f6bd09/

Hey Conrad, I understand what you're saying. I guess the term 'thick' is all relative. Yes, the oil does reach the areas, but as the car warms up, it does thin out, and flows to those areas much better. When I first start my turbo, or any other Porsche that I've owned that have had oil pressure guages, (and I find it weird that the Cayman doesn't have a pressure guage) at idle, the pressure is showing maximum, and stayes there... as the car warms up the pressue actually goes down, then rises and falls as the the engine RPMs go up and down as needed. brad

Hey Brad, I see Ihave the simlar experience with oil pressure too. One the engine gets warm up, the oil pressure drops a little. In the very hard summer days, oil pressure is lower than in winter. I guess it must be the density thing. Thanks.

Just got back from my dealer in Houston. They have their own test track in the back and on Saturdays have a former Formula one driver take you out on the track. That in itself is amazing to be out therein the carwith some one who nows how to drive hard. I asked him about break in since the Cayman he takes you out on is new. He is originaly from Italy and said that in Italy it took him three tries to pass his drivers test at 18. Europeans take drivers education much more seriously than here (I'm originaly from Croatia and agree. It's a 30 day or more process. It's very rare that you will pass the first time). The discrepency between US and European manuals on break in is more for the US driver than for the car. If you ever have had the opportunity to drive in Germany especiall on the autobahn you will see how much more precise they drive. No driving in the left lane - strictly for passing. Using signals for lane chages is a serious matter. If you don't use them you will get ticketed. Knowing how the Germans viewour process of getting licences plus the age we start driving is sixteen compared to eighteen in Europe, the break in is targetting us rather than the car. With this much performance they want the driver to have time to adapt to the car. I think that falls in line with somebodies comment on legal issues. He thinks Porsche is worried that someone is going to injure themselve and want the driver to have time to adapt to the car. His philosophy is take it easy for the first 200 to 500 miles after that don't baby it. He even goes as far as saing that driving it hard actually improves the performance of the car. The engine can learn early on as he sais. Drive it hard the engine will settle in that mode and drive it too soft it will also settle in that mode after brake in. He does say don't take a long freeway drive to the next city but letthe rpmsgo up and down through their range more often during the first 2000 miles. What car does he own? He has at his disposal BMW, Porsche, Jaguar and others that the dealership owns. He test drove the Cayman for the first time last year. After a 10 minute test drive he put his oder in. It will be the first Porsche he has ever owned as apposed to just driven. He sais it is the best performing car he has ever driven. He is in his lat 40's or mid50's so he has driven a lot of cars. Keep in mind he is only their track driver he does not sell any of the cars at the dealership.

Skup. Thanks for telling us this story. It's great to have the European perspective from Houston!