Hella-Buggin'

I have a friend who just bought a new GTI and he wants to join me in some DE events. How many miles should he log on the engine before getting it out on the track?

I was thinking 3k but maybe that's overkill.

rlm328

That is a personal decision. I have seen cars out there with paper tags.

Yellow996

I've had a student who had 600 miles on a McLaren and another student who had 800 miles on an R8. So, everything is relative.

Frank 993 C4S

In the long term, it is best to properly break in the engine before redlining it at the track for the sake of longevity and getting the rings to seat for good power delivery. You only have one chance at seating the rings.

For a race car, I typically use special break-in oil and a specific procedure that my engine builder subscribes, avoiding full throttle for the first 200 - 300 track miles. For a road car, most manufacturers call for avoiding high RPMs for the first 500 - 600 miles.

gbuff

I've had good luck simply following the break-in procedure in the (Mini) owner's manual which in my case has been, in part, to not use max revs and to keep speed below 100mph (really!) for 1200 miles. I've always timed it so I reach the 1200-mile threshold on a trip to the track--then I air it out!

Gary

Coochas

Drive it like you stole it.
For superstitious reasons I have always kept the revs below around 4k on any new Porsche for 1000 miles and then go bananas.
We have had new motors in both our Atom and FM and basically do a few laps at low speed to make sure there is nothing funny in the gauges and then go wild. Oil gets changed after first event on new motors.

With a stock motor like the OP has asked about, I think there is much greater tolerance for early hammering. So, tell him to enjoy!

m3bs

I'd do as VW suggests. It's only 600-1000 miles. Break-in these days is more for the gearing than engines. BMW says it is the differential that is most sensitive to proper break-in.

mark kibort

yeah, thats overkill . most engines are broken in , in a few hundred miles. depends on the engine and what the components are.
most just run an easy session on the track and thats breakin. Some, on the dyno for 30mins for varying speeds. (RPM) and light load and acceleration.
i have a nicasil enigne, and i drove it 60 miles to sonoma race way, ran it easy in the practice session and beat it in the race! its still running strong, near 100 race hours later!

mark kibort

depends on what the engine is made off as far as components and its design. alusil engines for example , need no break in for the pistons and rings. howevrer the bearings and seal surfaces need to become friendly.

that seems to be a little excessive, but certainly not going to hurt anything by waiting 1200miles on the street , or 10-15 hours of driving


thats really what its about. but a transmission and its bearings is going to be ready to beat on in a few 100 miles of street driving.

Hella-Buggin'

Thanks for the info guys. I've suggested he ask when he picks up the car and expect them to say somewhere between 500 to 1000 miles of low rev easy driving and to do an oil change for good measure.

gbuff

I remember when the dealerships did a free 1000-mile break-in oil change....in the last century I believe

997rs4.0

Just did 1000miles on my gt350, changed oil/filter and then Road Atlanta DE.

DTMiller

From the 2015 GTI owners manual:

Hella-Buggin'

Man, you guys are awesome.

Thanks for all the help.

KOAN

The new Corvette GS recommends 500 miles not about 3k rpm. Then oil change and a total of 1500 before taking it to the track.