Break-in questions, Need assistance!!!

Is it necessary to break in the car for 2000 miles? Can I break it in opn the highway or is that bad? I can't imagine city driving can be much better, must be hard on the engine, no? If I take a 300 mile trip and vary the speed between say 4th and 6th gears will I damage the car or mess up the break-in? Thanks. -LOU

Actually, you can exceed the specified rpm as long as you do not intentionally race the engine to redline frequently.

This repeated question emphasizes the need for it to be in the FAQ. Congratulations on your new car!! Heres a link to a recent thread dealing with the same question. <a href="http://forums.rennlist.com/forums/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic&f=5&t=001266" target="_blank">Breaking-in a Porsche</a>

[quote]Originally posted by Palting: <strong>This repeated question emphasizes the need for it to be in the FAQ. Congratulations on your new car!! Heres a link to a recent thread dealing with the same question. <a href="http://forums.rennlist.com/forums/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic&f=5&t=001266" target="_blank">Breaking-in a Porsche</a></strong><hr></blockquote> Thanks, checked out the link but, it did not answer the above questions regarding highway driving and city driving. Any help appreciated. -LOU

[quote]Originally posted by 1st Porsche: <strong>Thanks, checked out the link but, it did not answer the above questions regarding highway driving and city driving. Any help appreciated.</strong><hr></blockquote> Lou, it doesn't matter where you drive as long as you constantly vary the engine speed.

[quote]Originally posted by Viken: <strong> Lou, it doesn't matter where you drive as long as you constantly vary the engine speed.</strong><hr></blockquote> So I do not necessarily have to switch gears just vary the speed. How many miles would you say between speeds? 10 or even less? I could travel 55 for a while then 65 then maybe 55 again. That is what you mean correct? -LOU

[quote]Originally posted by 1st Porsche: <strong>So I do not necessarily have to switch gears just vary the speed. How many miles would you say between speeds? 10 or even less? I could travel 55 for a while then 65 then maybe 55 again. That is what you mean correct?</strong><hr></blockquote> No, you do have to switch gears to vary engine speed. Vehicle speed doesn't matter.

[quote]Originally posted by Viken: <strong> No, you do have to switch gears to vary engine speed. Vehicle speed doesn't matter.</strong><hr></blockquote> Every how many miles should I vary the speed? If I am on the highway for 300 miles I will only be able to vary the speed between 4th and 6th gears. Is that sufficient? Or is city driving better?Thanks for your help Viken. --LOU

[quote]Originally posted by 1st Porsche: <strong>Every how many miles should I vary the speed? If I am on the highway for 300 miles I will only be able to vary the speed between 4th and 6th gears. Is that sufficient? Or is city driving better?Thanks for your help Viken.</strong><hr></blockquote> Yes, it is OK to switch between 4, 5 and 6. I'd do it as often as I can. Personally, I don't pay too much attention to break-in techniques and drive as I normally would. Then again, I am constantly moving that shifter at all times.

Lou, It's great that you want to care for your car so much. NEVER lose that feeling! I will say this: you'll be fine however you drive it as long as you don't floor it and run over the rec'd. RPMs for too long. It will not hurt to go to 5K RPMs every now and then for a second. Basically, break-in is good. Do it, but it's not going to ruin your car if you just drive on this trip w/o even thinking about it. I would just drive normal (except for the high revs). Break in is important, but not as important as most people think. Again, I'm not saying don't do it. I'm just saying normal driving, even on a long highway stretch, will break it in just fine.

How am I going to break in my new car???? I only drive maybe 3000 miles per year. The car should be here in End of August. I have a DE event scheduled in the end of Sept. Maybe I will have 300 miles on it, unless I make a project out of just taking out to drive it to break it in. Even at that, there is no way I will have more than a 1000 miles on it. What to do? How do you handle the break in on a cup car or other race only type car? I see cup cars for sale with 3000 miles on them, obviously not a 3000 mile break in. <img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[burnout]" />

Race cars don't need to be broken in, mainly because the engines and cars are not for multiple years of use. Between major races, the whole race car gets broken down into its component parts. Same with the engine. Each component is then inspected, cleaned or replaced. It is then put together, maybe some dyno runs, then flat out racing. Then the cycle starts again. If we do this to our street car even once every three months, we won't need a break-in period.

Just drive the car like you would normally whilst not exceeding the rpm limit stated in your handbook. It doesn't matter whether it is highway or traffic because both will 'benefit' the engine in different ways. Stop being so **** and get out there!!

Race cars do not need break-in because their engines are extensively run on a dyno for testing. As such, they would be broken-in before they go into the cars.

I assume that dynoing before installation is typicall on GT3R type cars, but also cup cars? Still does not help me with what to do with my car. I hate to DE it with only a few hundred miles on it, I am sure it will not be good for the motor.

[quote]Originally posted by Ed Newman: <strong>I assume that dynoing before installation is typicall on GT3R type cars, but also cup cars? Still does not help me with what to do with my car. I hate to DE it with only a few hundred miles on it, I am sure it will not be good for the motor.</strong><hr></blockquote> I thought the 03's didn't start getting built until August with delivery at the end of Sept. -LOu

Ed, I'm reluctant to suggest that you postpone your fun, but I would not track my new car with only a few hundred miles on it. Heck, I wouldn't track my car with only a few hundred miles on new street tires. In addition to worrying about doing harm, I'd be concerned with keeping my warranty intact. Please try to be patient.

When I got my car my break in stage was hitting 6K rpm once awhile(2-3 times a day) just to make sure the engine if there's a problem would be apparent when I rev at that range but never did go to redline(would be a warranty issue if engine did blow) during the break in period. IMO I rather have the problem occur early on then after 2k miles on the car. Besides those engines have gone thru much testing ie dynos at factory that going up on the rpms(not redline) should be fine. Regards. Mike

Mike: Taking a new engine up to 6k rpm a few times a day is one thing; spending several hours between 5k and 7k rpm is quite another. In my view the latter would constitute extreme disregard for the letter and spirit of the recommended break-in procedure, and Porsche would be fully justified in not honoring any warranty claim having to do with engine and drive train. But just how would they know? Our cars' computers can't keep our little secrets anymore. Of course, it's Ed's choice; I'd just prefer that he make an informed one. Ok, ok, I'd actually prefer that he didn't track his new car during the break-in period.

I'm agree with reference to Jim about tracking early on during break-in period. It's a whole different ball game on the track since your continually keeping revs around 5-7k rpms. Definitely would wait on that til after break in stage. Regards. Mike