How Important Is The "break-in" Procedure

[KeithD]

Hey guys, just picked up a 2010 Sierra, the owners manual states that there need not be an elborate break-in procedure, but to keep speed to less than 88 kph, no cruise, WOT or hard stops....

 

What are your thoughts on break in procedures? Do you guys follow them to the letter? Does any one have any evidence, experience showing their benefits or lack there of?

[700 sportsman]

Some people abide by it and some don't IMO if you baby it and then you're not really "breaking it in" IMO drive it like you normally would, but maybe keep off of the burnouts, WOT runs, etc. but other than that nothin

[Tdeaux45]

I would say drive it like you regularly would. I would also suggest running conventional oil for at least the first 5000 miles before switching to a synthetic. The conventional is thicker viscosity which helps seat the rings in the cylinders. I have close to 8000 now and will switch to Mobile 1 Synthetic at my next change.

[usmc3529]

break in is crucial for anything, motorcycles, cars, trucks, small engines etc. But the factory procedure is a little overboard, for anything.

 

Just dont tow for 500 miles. No hard accell or wot runs. Just drive it normal! If you get on the highway dont punch it and see how fast you can get up to speed. Thats it. You just need to get everything "seated" in properly so you get maximum life and economy

 

I changed my oil at 500 k then every 3 k after that. Thats about it!

[dlstewart01]

I would say drive it like you regularly would. I would also suggest running conventional oil for at least the first 5000 miles before switching to a synthetic. The conventional is thicker viscosity which helps seat the rings in the cylinders. I have close to 8000 now and will switch to Mobile 1 Synthetic at my next change.

 

Just out of curiosity...what would be the difference between 5W30 conventional and 5W30 synthetic, since API sets the requirements for viscosity, and they both are measured the same....

 

And how does a Corvette come from the factory with Mobil 1 synthetic....

 

Just curious...

[Tdeaux45]

I may be mistaken by saying that synthetic is less viscous, but I know it's a lot "slicker" than conventional and is not good for breaking in engines. I read this somewhere, I'd try and find a link but i'm at work right now. I can't account for a manufaturer putting it in a new engine?

[dlstewart01]

I may be mistaken by saying that synthetic is less viscous, but I know it's a lot "slicker" than conventional and is not good for breaking in engines. I read this somewhere, I'd try and find a link but i'm at work right now. I can't account for a manufaturer putting it in a new engine?

 

 

Don't worry about it. I was just messing with you. The gap between conventional and synthetic is getting smaller all the time. And there are around 40 or more vehicles that come with synthetic oil from the factory in new engines and they break in just fine. Improvements in Technology and machining processes have allowed tolerances to be kept to a minimum so the break in process is very short in todays engines.

 

I have changed to synthetic in my last two trucks at 500 miles with no issues.

 

http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/MotorO...x?pg=1#Mercedes AMG

[Tdeaux45]

Cool, thanks for the info. I remember where I heard it now. It was on one of those Car Shows that used to come on TV all the time like "horsepower TV". Their rationale seemed to make sense so I've always done it that way. I'll start running synthetic earlier now.

[68haywagon]

I drove normally for 400 miles. No quick starts or hard stops. Then had fun. My first oil change was conventional at 1000mi by the dealer (free) then at 5000 I switched to M1 synthetic.

 

Mike

[C. Charles Hahn]

I just keep it gentle for 500 miles, then proceed to beat the snot out of it for the rest of the "break in" period before resuming my normal driving style.

[Stex]

Well Shhhh.......oot! Did not read that part of the manual...did all ok except for that 55/88 m/kph thing.....no constant speed, wot, hard brake, no tow etc all common sense...but 55 mph around here will result in serious body work unless you stay to the back roads..and then that may not be enough there..

[jrbartholomew]

drive as you normally would just dont overheat it or tow a heavy load in other words dont abuse it

jeff

[[email protected]]

I bought a brand new Silverado off of the lot back in '03 and left out of the dealership going sideways. I raced everything that I could possibly find and also took it to the track on a regular basis. It even got to experience the truck pull two times in a row. I ran Mobil1 synthetic in it starting at about 1000 miles and never had any problems with it at all. It didn't burn any oil either. When I traded the truck in at 59,000 hard miles, it was still purring like a kitten. I feel that I was extremely lucky with that truck, but it didn't seem to hurt the engine. GM built a good one to put up with that kind of abuse. On that note, I have taken it easy with my current truck and it already has an engine oil leak. Go figure...

 

 

Drive it like you stole it!!!

[Snow White]

don't let the aluminum chips in the oil throw you... lol i'm at 6000 miles and i still have them on second oil change. i swear it must be because steel is less visible in black oil.

 

i put mobil 1 in at 1,000 miles (first oil change)

[fake_usa]

I bought a brand new Silverado off of the lot back in '03 and left out of the dealership going sideways. I raced everything that I could possibly find and also took it to the track on a regular basis. It even got to experience the truck pull two times in a row. I ran Mobil1 synthetic in it starting at about 1000 miles and never had any problems with it at all. It didn't burn any oil either. When I traded the truck in at 59,000 hard miles, it was still purring like a kitten. I feel that I was extremely lucky with that truck, but it didn't seem to hurt the engine. GM built a good one to put up with that kind of abuse. On that note, I have taken it easy with my current truck and it already has an engine oil leak. Go figure...

 

 

Drive it like you stole it!!!

 

 

this might interest you. . .

http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

 

I heard this from a lot of bike riders before as well but they all basicly say put ur engine under full load as much as possible for the first 20 miles and the engine with reward you in the long run...