981 Break-In Period
03-02-2013, 04:55 AM
#16
Like i said... It's all voodoo... Nobody can prove that their break in regimen actually was of any benefit. My non scientific gut feel tells me that break-in procedures don't really have any benefit other than making people feel better. I still like to break my cars in because it makes me feel better. 1000 miles on the BRZ? Time to take it to the track.
only the U.S has the 4,000rpm limit, ROW doesn't. go figure
03-02-2013, 06:34 PM
#18
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Well, took a road trip to Sarasota on my first day with the car. Almost 600 miles on it now. 
I'll post pics in a separate thread. What a great car!
I'll post pics in a separate thread. What a great car!
03-04-2013, 12:22 AM
#20
03-04-2013, 12:28 AM
#21
Burning Brakes
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: CURRENT: Audi TT / Audi A3
Posts: 1,219
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
If Porsche recommends a 2K break-in with a limit of 4K RPMs, why are you looking for a way to escape their recommendation? Because it's "harsh"? What am I missing?
03-04-2013, 03:18 AM
#22
Rennlist Member
Because Porsche refuses to explain why US cars are best broken in by driving under 4200 RPM for 2000 miles, while identical cars sold in the rest of the world are magically free of any RPM limits during break-in.
03-04-2013, 07:40 AM
#23
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
03-04-2013, 10:29 AM
#24
Nordschleife Master
Really? I never knew that! That is interesting. Thanks for the tidbit.
03-04-2013, 10:53 AM
#25
No matter what school of 'break in' you belong to, either the "drive it like you stole it" school or the "drive it like your grandma" school, the most important thing is this - do not put any undue stress on the engine until the oil is up to operating temperature. And don't start the car and let it sit there to 'warm up'. Start it up and drive. Once the oil reaches operating temperature, drive it as you see fit.
03-04-2013, 11:22 AM
#26
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
No matter what school of 'break in' you belong to, either the "drive it like you stole it" school or the "drive it like your grandma" school, the most important thing is this - do not put any undue stress on the engine until the oil is up to operating temperature. And don't start the car and let it sit there to 'warm up'. Start it up and drive. Once the oil reaches operating temperature, drive it as you see fit.
03-04-2013, 11:44 AM
#27
Race Director
Furthermore the EPA constantly brings in privately owned used cars -- through various contractors -- to test for emissions compliance.
No automaker wants to have its fleet have an emissions problem even though its liability may have expired.
I note my 02 Boxster with now over 264K miles still passes CA emissions testing. There is a minor problem: One converter is weak but so far not weak when the engine is being tested.
Thankfully the engine is still healthy and runs good and clean. A new converter I can afford. A new engine I can't afford. Well, I can but I don't want to have to buy a new engine or have this one "rebuilt".
Limiting the engine to under ~4K rpms for a few thousand miles given the engine has now covered over 250K miles is a small price to pay to have a car 11 years old with an original engine that still runs well and runs clean.
03-04-2013, 03:18 PM
#28
Rennlist Member
An interesting point. Is there any supporting evidence for it, though? I'm sure we can find stories from owners who thrashed their car from day 1 and now have 300,000 miles on their original engines and cats.
03-04-2013, 03:47 PM
#29
Intermediate
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Chapel Hill, NC
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
working an engine hard, as distinguished from thrashing it to death, could lead to ring, valve, guide/seat leakage, resulting in excess oil consumption, but (imho) nothing else. if so, you get oil in the exhaust and a failed smog test. but wouldn't that lead to a highly undesirable reputation for oil-burning, whether or not the government tests tailpipe emissions? that would argue for consistent breakin recommendations worldwide.
03-04-2013, 04:40 PM
#30
Race Director
Because in the USA cars must meet/adhere to emissions limits for up to 7 years and 80K miles or the factory can be liable.
Furthermore the EPA constantly brings in privately owned used cars -- through various contractors -- to test for emissions compliance.
No automaker wants to have its fleet have an emissions problem even though its liability may have expired.
I note my 02 Boxster with now over 264K miles still passes CA emissions testing. There is a minor problem: One converter is weak but so far not weak when the engine is being tested.
Thankfully the engine is still healthy and runs good and clean. A new converter I can afford. A new engine I can't afford. Well, I can but I don't want to have to buy a new engine or have this one "rebuilt".
Limiting the engine to under ~4K rpms for a few thousand miles given the engine has now covered over 250K miles is a small price to pay to have a car 11 years old with an original engine that still runs well and runs clean.
Furthermore the EPA constantly brings in privately owned used cars -- through various contractors -- to test for emissions compliance.
No automaker wants to have its fleet have an emissions problem even though its liability may have expired.
I note my 02 Boxster with now over 264K miles still passes CA emissions testing. There is a minor problem: One converter is weak but so far not weak when the engine is being tested.
Thankfully the engine is still healthy and runs good and clean. A new converter I can afford. A new engine I can't afford. Well, I can but I don't want to have to buy a new engine or have this one "rebuilt".
Limiting the engine to under ~4K rpms for a few thousand miles given the engine has now covered over 250K miles is a small price to pay to have a car 11 years old with an original engine that still runs well and runs clean.
You have no idea what your car would do if you ran it hard from day one. It might be just as good or better.
without a direct comparison, its just an anecdotal story.
Furthermore, you are arguing that your engine life is the result of your soft break in, which you really have no basis for.