Son_Of_Eniac

Hi

I'm the proud new owner of an 04 TSX 6M

I've done several searches on the break in period and just recently reached 600 miles WOOO HOOO

Now are my questions :

When I was at the dealer I was told by the salesman not to redline the car before the first 2000 miles ???

Is there any truth to this?

Please keep in mind that this is the salesman that told me that there is no break in period for Acura motors... LOL The Bastard !

Thanks !

ClutchPerformer

Welcome.

1. Don't listen to the dealer.

2. Break-in period officially lasts 600 miles (according to the owners manual).

3. It's OK to redline it, but I'd recommend slowly working up to it (i.e. raising your rev limit about 500 RPM each time you drive the car or each day or something). Doing it all at once at full throttle as soon as you pass the 600mi mark seems harsh to me.....

4. Enjoy!

AirJordan23922

hey, i was told by my salesman not to exceed 70 mph for the first 1000 miles, i dont think i can wait that long, does anyone agree with that the salesman says? or is it ok jus as long as i dont redline. I currently have 300 miles on it and idk if i can stay under 70 mph's for another 700 miles. Also, when im driving at around 65 mph the car is at like 4 rpm's, is this normal for the TSX, because on my parents cars they all have a crusing RPM of around 2 to 3. Thanks for the help.

Dan Martin

1000 miles should be more than enough. There are a hundred posts on the break-in procedure if you do a search.

4000rpm @ 65mph is a little high. What tranny do you have?

lukatmyshu

On my 6MT I am usually around 3500 RPMs @ 65 MPH in 5th gear. So if you're driving the 6MT you might want to use the 6th gear.

observer

Wow, I think 3500 RPMs in 5th gear is 90+MPH in a 5AT?

Son_Of_Eniac

Thanks Clutch

knthornt

3400 in 6th = 80 MPH for me.

PixelHarmony

I redlined my car after 600 miles. My uncle never broke in his 4s, he just started enjoying the ride after he took it off the lot.

3000rpm = 70MPH

ClutchPerformer

Wow. I wish I had a top gear that tall....







































Oh, you mean 4 THOUSAND RPMs? That's a little high. If you have a stick: use the 6th gear next time. If you have auto, don't drive in D3. 4000 RPM in top gear should be ~85 MPH in a 6MT. Even more in an auto.

Dan Martin

I tried to see where 4000rpm would get me in 6th but I couldn't get there without exceding the speed rating on my snow tires. It's somehwere around 100mph.

sauceman

That would be in the areas of 153.85kph.

Jim Holloman

While the owner's manual gives 600 miles as the break-in period, I believe that it doesn't hurt to extend it to 1,000 miles. My engine was still tight at 600 miles and did not begin to loosen up until around 1,000 miles. It has shown slow, but consistent, improvement since then. I am now at 4,000 miles.

A good break-in requires that the engine be treated neither too gentle nor too rough. I live in a mountain area, with the ability to get around very well using only two lane roads. Where you live can limit your options for break-in. But, MY procedure with the TSX was:

For the first 1,000 miles:

1) Stay off the Interstate roads. Vary speeds and loads frequently.

2) Do at least 50 percent in-town driving.

3) Go easy on the brakes for the first 200 miles -- Use SportShift to downshift when approaching Stop Signs and Red Lights.

4) For the first 600 miles, stay below 4,000 RPM's -- but don't lug down the engine. Downshift, and reduce speed if needed, to maintain a moderate load on the engine.

5) Between 600 miles and 1,000 miles, get into WOT (Wide Open Throttle) for about 3-4 seconds at a time, and allow RPM's to approach 6,000, about twice a day. Do this under load (going uphill).

6) After 1,000 miles, kick it into the VTEC range about once a day for a week.

After 1,000 miles, I begin driving without consideration for break-in.

The first few miles on my TSX were registered driving up to the top of Mount Mitchell (the highest peak East of the Rockies). The owner's manual would consider it to be a strenuous driving condition. But, my speed was generally under 40 MPH and I maintained enough RPM's to avoid putting a heavy load on the engine. The temperature was about 50 degrees F.

I achieved 26 MPG on my first tank of gas, and 27 MPG on the second tank. Recently, my mileage has dropped to around 25 MPG because I am no longer as gentle with the throttle. I will now accelerate out of the apex of a curve and will sometimes get into WOT when leaving a Stop Light on an incline (the TSX is plenty fast on level roads -- but from a standing start on inclines the weight of the car and the lack of low-end torque really tells). I very seldom get above 6,000 RPM's or into VTEC.

There are other approaches to break-in. Some of the techniques used today would have ruined an engine in the distance past. The break-in has been reduced because of improvements in engine design, manufacturing tolerances, and materials. One fellow's approach is to too frequently get into WOT during the first 100 miles (the idea is that maximum cylinder pressure is needed to properly seat the rings). In regard to brakes, one technique is to follow a very precise procedure that is intended to remove some of the pad material and deposit it onto the rotors. The rotors are intentionally allowed to get very hot -- but supposedly not so hot to cause them to warp. I don't buy such aggressive techniques.

As a sidenote, I do recall a Sprint Car race where one of the drivers broke his crankshaft while practicing late at night. One of the local machine shops opened the shop at around midnight and sold him a stock 350 short block. He changed the engine overnight and won the race the next day. Naturally, the engine was subjected to max boost -- and the stock block stood up to the treatment.

lukatmyshu:

If I recall correctly, I am turning between 2,000 and 2,100 RPM's at 60 MPH with the 5AT. If you are turning more than about 2,050 in 5th at 60 MPH, then use Sportshift to shift to 4th and then check the RPM's at 60 MPH. And, then do the same for 3rd. If you get almost the same RPM's in 3rd, or 4th, as you do in 5th, then the transmission is not actually going into 5th gear. Be sure you are on a level road and that the torque converter has had enough time to "lock up". The high RPM's you noticed might have been because of a load that prevented the torque converted from "locking-up"; allowing the engine to increase power and RPM's. When the converted is not "locked-up", around 3,500 RPM's at 60-65 MPH seems about right.

Some images are at:
http://www.psiprograms.com/cImages/TSX
http://www.psiprograms.com/cImages/TSX/page2

knthornt

Dan,
you are right. On my drive this monday I hit 100 in 6th at exactly 4000 rpm. I love this car.

knthornt

Dan,
you are right. On my drive this monday I hit 100 in 6th at exactly 4000 rpm. I love this car.

lukatmyshu

Jim Hollman:
I have a 6MT.

dzuy

enian - electronic numeric integrator and computer.

for being a son of a supercomputer you should know the answer!

i cant remember the break in, just read your owner manual. take it easy, and your car will last loinger.

and btw, do you know that there is research to place the functionality of the eniac into a single chip soluion? hehe

http://www.ee.upenn.edu/~jan/eniacproj.html