Specific breaking-in engine question

From what I've gathered from this site, when breaking in the engine... For the first 2,000 miles: 1) Do not go over 4200rpm 2) Do not stay in one gear for too long 3) Similar to #2, do not stay at one RPM for more than 2-3 minutes My question is, during break-in period is it okay to cruise on the highway at high rpm (e.g. 3800rpm) as long as I follow the guidelines above? I am thinking of doing something like, cruise 2400rpm, then 3600rpm, then 2800, then 3200, then 4000, etc. Or am I only supposed to cruise under 3000rpm during high highway speeds?

[Image-only or quote-only post; no author-written text.]

This question came up the other day and I too have been trying to do some research into this exact question. From what I gathered in the other thread, taking a road trip is a good idea to assist with the break in period. During that trip, do not use the cruise control. Now if you are on the highway without cruise on, you will obviously be varing the RPM's to some extent. Now changing them on purpose every couple of minutes to the point that they are not in the same 1000's of RPM range seems like a lot of work on a long distance drive. I gathered that if you use your foot as the speed controller on that long drive, it would be sufficient. This is just what I have been able to gather, not a specific incident I have done personally.

Nice, but that doesn't say if its okay to cruise at highway speeds at 4000rpm. Does that just fall under "Do not exceed maximum engine speed of 4200 rpm"?

4,000 RPMs won't hurt anything. But you don't want to keep it there. You really want to vary the engine speed, which is a major pain in the butt. It's better to cruise around 4,000 RPMs than it is to lug the engine (1,800 RPM).

Yea I will keep it at 4000rpm for 2 minutes, then bring it back down, then up, etc. It will take work and patience but it will be worth it.

Break-in instructions from manufacturers always confuse me, because in general they make no sense. Does break-in occur 50% faster if you generally keep rpms around 3000 rather than 2000? Varying engine speed and throttle are understandable, because at higher engine speeds the pistons are reaching ever so slightly higher in the bores (due to mechanical stretch), and varying the throttle causes different loads on the moving engine parts, so that's understandable too. The 4200 rpm limit I don't understand, because it would seem you'd want to gradually increase rpms here and there to get the wear patterns established from those loads too. Some folks say don't use the cruise control during the break-in period, but I'm not so sure about that. Yeah, on a flat straight road I can see the issue, but for any road that isn't flat or straight the cruise control is probably varying the throttle as much as your foot would. I get a kick out of the lugging comments Porsche makes. Having been in a Tip car once or twice it would seem they don't follow their own advice. Then there's the question, often asked, should I change out the lubricants after 2000 miles? One indicator - BMW pays for it on M cars at 1200 miles. Another indicator - Porsche doesn't recommend it. Hmmm... I say do what makes you feel better. On cars I plan to keep awhile I change the fluids early, so when I get my CS I plan to change them sometime between 1200 and 2000 miles. I do my own work, so it's relatively cheap. If I had to pay hundreds of dollars... I'm not so sure what I would do. I tend to break-in all of my cars, regardless of brand, the same way. For the first 1500 miles or so I don't drive aggressively, I don't cruise at constant rpms for very long, and I do early fluid changes. I generally limit engine speeds to 80% of the redline, which will be about 5500 rpm for the CS. I've seen nothing from Porsche, including their recommendations, that will cause me to act differently with the CS. For those of you that want to be boy or girl scouts regarding break-in procedures I say cool, but for me things have got to make logical sense or I can't follow the rules.

marlins - Maybe you took my advice on that other thread too literally... when I said not to use the cruise control, that was because you want to vary the RPMs as much as possible... this can be done two ways while driving on a long trip on the interstate - 1) use your foot... 2) change from 6th to 5th gear for a bit, then back to 6th... the best way is really a combo of both, but you definitely want to vary the RPMs in a manner samwY describes. Yes, it can be a PITA, but you want to change the RPMs by 200-400 or so every couple of minutes. You can also find some backroads instead of the interstate. brad

BMW may use a break in oil that needs to come out? Read this thread: http://www.planet-9.com/cayman-tech/19356-should-i-change-my-oil-2-000-miles.html

Thanks for helping me clear it up in my head Brad. Sooner or later I will get it. "I'm not a smart man Jenny."

1. Take longer trips, not short journeys 2. Don't use the highway, take the scenic route, preferably with some hills 3. Make sure the engine is fully warm before working it (warm oil not water, so 15 minutes or so at 20 degrees C) 3. Use the torque - make the engine work hard in the mid-range - you want to build cylinder head pressure to fully seat the piston rings 4. Don't worry about using full throttle or the full rev range, but don't do it for long - you don't want to overheat the bearings 5. 'Breaking-in' isn't just about the engine, but the suspension, gearbox brakes, tyres etc. as well. Treat all with respect, but use as the makers intended. 6. Change oil/filter afterwards if it gives you peace of mind 7. Have fun. SS7

Keep in mind that Porsche is one of the only manufacturers to spend the loot to give us Lokasil bore liners. These liners break in much differently than other materials. Change your oil at 2000 miles and you may never seat your rings.

Why? Are you saying the oil changes in some way that helps seat the rings?

I ask this question from my sales person--he said no

Sales ppl just sell cars. I wouldn't go to them for car advice. I've been breaking in the car carefully. I need to find some more hills though, thanks for bringing that up.

Actually, it very much depends on the individual salesperson. Some I've met have been selling Porsches for many years and are extremely knowledgeable about the cars - new and old, almost as much as some mechanics I know... others I've also met don't know as much... PCNA is pretty picky about the sales people, and provides training programs, too... so, I don't think it's fair to make a blanket statement like this. brad

Just did a google on LOKASIL and found a good discussion on engine breakin on a RennTech.org thread, post #16. It seems newer aluminum block cylinder coatings require a modified and extended breakin period than older technologies. The basics precautions often sited though still apply. Reman engine break in? - RennTech.org Forums

swamwy had some good advice to my earlier question about engine break-in...looks like there is a bit more. I'm the same...if it's too complicated, I won't remember to do it. Base on all your advise sounds like if you keep the rev's varied, do some highway, do some back roads and do your best not to throttle it too much...till 2000K miles...you'll be fine. Thanks for all the info, Newbie Porsche CS owner Jeff

Here's some good reading on Lokasil (but a little old): The Boring TruthEverybody's got ideas about treating cylinder bores; strong ideas For the real propeller heads: http://www.kspg-ag.de/pdfdoc/kspg_produktbroschueren/a_druckguss_u_squeeze_casting_e.pdf Here are some pictures of the Lokasil liners in a Porsche block. As you can see, this is much more substantial than the 50/1000ths of an inch of plating (Nickasil) that you find in many other cars.

For the real propeller heads: http://www.kspg-ag.de/pdfdoc/kspg_produktbroschueren/a_druckguss_u_squeeze_casting_e.pdf Thanks, Gator Bite. THIS "propeller head" appreciated it!

hey guys, re: breaking in. my new CS (w/ 900 miles) still has this "engine/metal" smell when i turn on the defroster or kinda drive faster than normal (under 4200 rpm). im thinking its just the break-in period ..... hope i am right, no?

You are smelling cosmoline. Has nothing to do with break-in. Try reading about it here: http://www.planet-9.com/faq.php?faq=miscellan#faq_idios

Hey Santa Fe, maybe were on to something with the cosmoline smell. Mine smelled like that for at least 2,000 - 3,000 miles. Maybe we should coin a new break in slogan. How about this: "When the smell goes away, you can rev all day....."

Where do they slather the cosmoline for protection, and do any of you folks that live on planets with hostile environments (non-M class places like Manitscolditoba) apply cosmoline on a regular basis? Anyone just use it for the smell?

+1 on that. Porsche's ARE special. You took the sting out of this month's payment.

Only required by those who routinely transport their Cayman across salty oceans in boats (or believe they do...).

I freaking love this!!! I must admit that during my break-in period I followed the metric system. I got to 3000 km before I got to 2000 miles.

glad to read/hear it burns off, i think my last Pcar had same thing and eventually burned off. anyone remember how long? thanks!