Official Porsche recommendation for break-in period
07-25-2014, 05:35 PM
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Official Porsche recommendation for break-in period
I apologize for bringing up this topic which has already been discussed ad infinitum.
Being the owner of a new 2014 911, I'm struggling with maintaining the limits recommended in the owners manual. This is particularly true for the maximum engine RPM of 4200.
I downloaded the user manual for several new Porsches. All the way from the diesel Cayenne to the 918. The "hints for break-in period" are the same for all these vehicles. It is remarkable that engines that produce maximum power close to 4200 RPM have the same recommendation as those that barely get going at that RPM.
In some prior posts, there has been discussion about engine heat so that the lower RPM restriction is to avoid excessive heat buildup and to allow the metal to "cure" properly. The heat characteristics of the engine bay in these highly varied set of vehicles, is likely to be quite different.
This further makes me wonder if the recommendations in the user manual truly are based on legal/financial reasons as opposed to engineering reasons.
I would welcome any comments from other forum members.
Being the owner of a new 2014 911, I'm struggling with maintaining the limits recommended in the owners manual. This is particularly true for the maximum engine RPM of 4200.
I downloaded the user manual for several new Porsches. All the way from the diesel Cayenne to the 918. The "hints for break-in period" are the same for all these vehicles. It is remarkable that engines that produce maximum power close to 4200 RPM have the same recommendation as those that barely get going at that RPM.
In some prior posts, there has been discussion about engine heat so that the lower RPM restriction is to avoid excessive heat buildup and to allow the metal to "cure" properly. The heat characteristics of the engine bay in these highly varied set of vehicles, is likely to be quite different.
This further makes me wonder if the recommendations in the user manual truly are based on legal/financial reasons as opposed to engineering reasons.
I would welcome any comments from other forum members.
Last edited by Sask997; 07-25-2014 at 05:56 PM.
07-25-2014, 05:50 PM
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It's all in your owner's manual. Very simple. Either follow it, or not. With all the other posts like you stated, that you have already read, why another one?
07-25-2014, 06:00 PM
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Agreed. I just had not noticed or seen any comment about that the fact that the recommendation is the same for all Porsches regardless of the engine type or application. Seems odd from an engineering perspective.
If this horse has already beed beaten to death, moderator please close the thread.
If this horse has already beed beaten to death, moderator please close the thread.
07-25-2014, 10:30 PM
#7
I downloaded the user manual for several new Porsches. All the way from the diesel Cayenne to the 918. The "hints for break-in period" are the same for all these vehicles. It is remarkable that engines that produce maximum power close to 4200 RPM have the same recommendation as those that barely get going at that RPM.
This issue is dead. Balaclava drove a stake right through the heart. Didn't mean to. Perfectly nice guy. Till he unwittingly went all Van Helsing on the break-in crowd. Oh sure, we still got to put up with a few of the undead, least till we get 'em properly good and buried with separate head coffins and all.
But for those with intact heads with functioning brains, nothing beats the truth!
https://rennlist.com/forums/991/8250...ery-diary.html
Scroll down for this gem of a quote straight from Porsche Stuttgart:
I did ask about break-in, and got the following answers: “for American customers, we must recommend you to keep it below 4200rpm, for everyone else we suggest use it as you normally would: careful while cold, then flat out.”
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07-25-2014, 11:22 PM
#8
The endless debate present in many threads on every car forum known to man!
Half the people will tell you to follow the manual to a tee. Bathe the car in angel tears, use gasoline only extracted from carnivorous dinosaurs(herbivores are clearly deficient in octane content) and have the engine massaged by virgins at the end of every run.
The other half will tell you to flog it like a mule. Drive it like you stole it - Grand Theft Auto style. They will show you proof that cars treated in such a manner will make higher horsepower further down the line.
This is obviously all mostly tongue in cheek. I've yet to see one shred of concrete evidence pertaining to a vehicle I own or have owned in the past that either method is superior to the other. At the end of the day it's your money and you should do as you see fit. I fall somewhere between the two methods. My personal feeling is that the manufacturer set limitations on these vehicles for a reason and as long as I stay within those bounds I shouldn't damage the vehicle. Right, wrong? I don't know, but it's my money and I'll be stuck with the bill if I'm wrong. So I'll enjoy it as I want to and if I'm wrong then it will be my problem.
Half the people will tell you to follow the manual to a tee. Bathe the car in angel tears, use gasoline only extracted from carnivorous dinosaurs(herbivores are clearly deficient in octane content) and have the engine massaged by virgins at the end of every run.
The other half will tell you to flog it like a mule. Drive it like you stole it - Grand Theft Auto style. They will show you proof that cars treated in such a manner will make higher horsepower further down the line.
This is obviously all mostly tongue in cheek. I've yet to see one shred of concrete evidence pertaining to a vehicle I own or have owned in the past that either method is superior to the other. At the end of the day it's your money and you should do as you see fit. I fall somewhere between the two methods. My personal feeling is that the manufacturer set limitations on these vehicles for a reason and as long as I stay within those bounds I shouldn't damage the vehicle. Right, wrong? I don't know, but it's my money and I'll be stuck with the bill if I'm wrong. So I'll enjoy it as I want to and if I'm wrong then it will be my problem.
07-26-2014, 06:37 AM
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The endless debate present in many threads on every car forum known to man!
Half the people will tell you to follow the manual to a tee. Bathe the car in angel tears, use gasoline only extracted from carnivorous dinosaurs(herbivores are clearly deficient in octane content) and have the engine massaged by virgins at the end of every run.
The other half will tell you to flog it like a mule. Drive it like you stole it - Grand Theft Auto style. They will show you proof that cars treated in such a manner will make higher horsepower further down the line.
This is obviously all mostly tongue in cheek. I've yet to see one shred of concrete evidence pertaining to a vehicle I own or have owned in the past that either method is superior to the other. At the end of the day it's your money and you should do as you see fit. I fall somewhere between the two methods. My personal feeling is that the manufacturer set limitations on these vehicles for a reason and as long as I stay within those bounds I shouldn't damage the vehicle. Right, wrong? I don't know, but it's my money and I'll be stuck with the bill if I'm wrong. So I'll enjoy it as I want to and if I'm wrong then it will be my problem.
Half the people will tell you to follow the manual to a tee. Bathe the car in angel tears, use gasoline only extracted from carnivorous dinosaurs(herbivores are clearly deficient in octane content) and have the engine massaged by virgins at the end of every run.
The other half will tell you to flog it like a mule. Drive it like you stole it - Grand Theft Auto style. They will show you proof that cars treated in such a manner will make higher horsepower further down the line.
This is obviously all mostly tongue in cheek. I've yet to see one shred of concrete evidence pertaining to a vehicle I own or have owned in the past that either method is superior to the other. At the end of the day it's your money and you should do as you see fit. I fall somewhere between the two methods. My personal feeling is that the manufacturer set limitations on these vehicles for a reason and as long as I stay within those bounds I shouldn't damage the vehicle. Right, wrong? I don't know, but it's my money and I'll be stuck with the bill if I'm wrong. So I'll enjoy it as I want to and if I'm wrong then it will be my problem.
07-26-2014, 02:02 PM
#10
This guy has photo's of piles of pistons from engines that were babied following manufacturer's advice, alongside ones that followed the correct full-throttle regime needed to achieve good piston ring seal. http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm
Talk to race engine builders, there really is no question- lots of full throttle early on is required to fully seat the piston rings. In other words, follow the advice Porsche gives in Germany, "careful when cold, then flat out." For the full quote: https://rennlist.com/forums/991/8250...ery-diary.html
I'm at work where I don't have access to my saved list of all the RL'ers from all over the world who have reported NO similar rev limiting language in their owners manuals. The Porsche rep quoted by balaclava could hardly be more clear. The only question is, are we willing to listen?
Talk to race engine builders, there really is no question- lots of full throttle early on is required to fully seat the piston rings. In other words, follow the advice Porsche gives in Germany, "careful when cold, then flat out." For the full quote: https://rennlist.com/forums/991/8250...ery-diary.html
I'm at work where I don't have access to my saved list of all the RL'ers from all over the world who have reported NO similar rev limiting language in their owners manuals. The Porsche rep quoted by balaclava could hardly be more clear. The only question is, are we willing to listen?
07-26-2014, 02:26 PM
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I suggest you not break the engine.
07-26-2014, 02:51 PM
#13
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Chuck we went through this on another thread - didn't the moto tune guy base his assumptions on testing hundreds of lawnmower engines (read cheap with inferior material)?
07-26-2014, 04:18 PM
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07-26-2014, 04:30 PM
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Well for me it's not really a question. I got a pretty nutty look from the dealership when I picked up my GT500 and stripped the supercharger muffler in the parking lot before driving it away. Once it started building boost 12 miles later(built in safety so car porters don't get fully functional cars)I left a good strip of rubber on the road. I'm not patient and don't feel like waiting. That's my way. Right or wrong? As I said, I don't know. But it's my money and I'll take responsibility for the consequences of my actions if there are any.
As I said I've seen this type of evidence on 3-4 car forums I belong to of vehicles I own. I'm not sure I'd call it concrete and I don't really care. It's worked well for me and while I certainly don't flog new vehicles I like to run them through the RPM ranges, vary my speed, and go hard on the throttle.
I would also like to see this just because I'm curious.
As I said I've seen this type of evidence on 3-4 car forums I belong to of vehicles I own. I'm not sure I'd call it concrete and I don't really care. It's worked well for me and while I certainly don't flog new vehicles I like to run them through the RPM ranges, vary my speed, and go hard on the throttle.
I would also like to see this just because I'm curious.