Given the advancements in manufacturing some people say that the traditional break in period is now just a precaution rather then a necessity.

What are your thoughts on this with the new TL. What type of engine usage would you expect to be “idle” while breaking it in? Avoid prolonged use in a fixed RPM, don’t acceleration too quickly but touch all RPM ranges? What do you think?

BTW a little off topic but is anyone in the Seattle area knows someone who might want a 98 GSR with 41.8k miles on it let me PM me.

http://www.anthonyfernandez.com/GSR/vtech.htm

 

First, the manual has (very minimal) instructions on break in.

Second, your suggestion below is pretty consistent with current practice across the board -- ie not just for Acura...

Regards,
<TED>

 

I wouldn't floor it for at least 600 miles. I never go over 4,000 rpm until the engine temp gauge starts rising, broken in or not. I'd vary the engine speed on the highway until breakin. A lot of people don't feel you need to break them in anymore. I don't really agree with this. A lot of people believe that you shouldn't put synthetic oil in until you have several thousand miles on it. But how do you explain the manufacturers that put Mobil 1 in at the factory? I don't think MB AMG would put Mobil 1 in a $110,000 S55 AMG if it were going to damage it in any way.
I also wonder about the magical "break in oil" that people feel is in the engine from the factory. What the hell is it? I don't think there is such a thing.

 

I did take it easy on my car for a couple hundred miles, but not because of the break in period, more because I was trying to get a good feel for the car before going full throttle and playing around a little more. I do not think that the break in period is critical based on what the dealer and many mechanics I have talked to have told me. I'm not saying that your opinion is wrong, but just that people "in the know" don't seem to agree.

 

That's fine. A lot of people say that the engines are broken in at the factory because they actually start them up dry, with no assembly lube. I find this hard to believe. Cams can get really damaged if you start them dry, or they used to back in the day.
I just take it easy for the first 600 miles just to be carefull. It may not matter at all. Some people say to break them in as you intend to drive it. Anyway, the first 600 is no problem for me, as when I purchased the car, I spent most the weekend just driving the thing around... 600 miles came up quick!!
Ask 10 different people, you probably get 10 different answers.
It's all good.

 

i just followed the manual from acura. just said no full throttle and hard accelerations until past 600 miles. i did vary the engine speed while breaking it in. its really hard to resist cause the engine keeps wanting to pull harder but i am just feathering it. i had the car for less than a week and i have 600 miles. (100 mile round trip commute to work). so the miles racked up pretty quickily

 

I take it easy (well under 4000 rpm) for 1000 miles or more. I hear many say that this is not needed, but I dispute this. Car makers certainly dont run the engines for a few hundred miles' worth of hours at the factory - this would be impossible. AND - how about the transmission, pumps, alternator, wheel and U-Joint bearings, etc. etc. etc?

All these parts need some time to "get to know each other" before being submitted to heat and stress. Once they are galled or overheated, they are damaged for life, causing extra resistance and more heat, etc.

I DIDN'T do this 3 cars ago - the salesman said it wan't necessary, so I drove it normally and even hard from the beginning. That car gave me piss-poor gas mileage the entire 3-year lease - not even making the EPA minimum. The next car (a Lexus ES) was CAREFULLY broken in for 1000 miles and gave me more than 30 mpg on the highway! The same with my Solara, and now the same with my TL. At a steady speed of around 70 - 75 I have gotten 34 mpg ( acording to the computer).

It is CHEAP insurance. Take it easy for as long as possible. RESIST the urge to unleash those ponies - it is worth it!

 

This brings up another good question - Does anyone hand pick the oil used or do you just take whatever the dealer is using?

With my GSR I used to change the oil myself (as a student you have the time) but now I think I will be taking it to the dealer.

 

I have my own theories on break-in. I feel that you should go easy on the car for the first few hundred miles. During this time you should generally keep RPM's on the lower end with a few higher ones mixed in. You can do this by occasionally accelerationg moderately, as opposed to rapidly. Secondly, make sure to vary RPM's and accelate and slow down, accelate and slow down. This will allow both the engine and transmission (an often neglected, and possibly more important part) to not be overtaxed, yet still worked some.

In short, what I am trying to say is you need to be easy on the engine, but not too easy, or you may not induce some of the wear and breaking-in that is advantageous for the car.

Once your car gets into the higher miles (2000 or so) I would make sure you floor it on occasion to induce wear and smooth out the cylinder walls and help the tranny gears smoothen out.

Also, keep the oil in until the car indicates to change it. If you change it too early there will be no debris in the oil to help with engine break-in. Not breaking in the car is as bad as breaking it in improperly, or too much.

Again. Just my take on things. Others will have different ideas and counterpoints. Do what you feel best. It is your car and you ultimately have to live with what you choose to do.

TheNip

 

My impression is that you would want as little debris in the as possible. Very small debris can add ware between the pistons and the cylinder walls which can decrease compression etc.

I was always taught to strain the oil in the first oil change to make sure there wasn't too much in the oil. The less you find in that first oil change the better off that engine is.

 

I think this is the good way to follow.

 

I am now a big fan and supporter of the "Hard-Breakin" as noted on the following site:

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

If you understand how an engine operates the procedures make sense.

The number one worst thing to do to any engine is put high engine speeds on a cold motor.

I really believe that the engine break in debate has gone a bit too far. I also believe that, as owners, we are responsible for how "healthy" our engines run and a hard break in may very well be the reason for factory freaks.

Just think about all the demonstration vehicles that get driven at random times and abused.

I fully believe that, while it is not bad to follow break in via that manual, but it is not beneficial to a person looking for the strongest performing motor.

Dustin