GT3991

Hi folks,

My car is arriving at the port this month. I should be able to bring her home next month. Should I go with the old fashioned way to " break in " the engine? or drive it the way it should be driven?

Mike in CA

If by old fashioned way you mean strictly by the manual, I think that's overkill. But driving it hard right out of the box isn't right either IMHO. The engines have, at best, been run for 20 or 30 minutes before you got the car which isn't a proper break-in by any reasonable standard. You'll get opinions all over the map about this, and it's been discussed ad nauseam, but FWIW, my engine didn't see redline until after 1000 miles. The first 500 miles were under 5000 rpm, the next 500 under 6500, and I gradually increased from there. Your car, your choice.

blackbull

IMHO the better you break-in the engine the fewer problems you will have down the road.

rockitman

I think you had a prudent breakin plan. I will add for the OP's benefit... no low rpm bogging in manual PDK and short bursts to vary rpm on highway cruising is a good idea. I plan to do most of my breakin in manual PDk so as to control the rpm' in my desired gear.

monkiboy48

I asked the same question to my dealer, he mentioned that the break in procedure in the manual is very conservative (it is the same break in for all Porsches) and that it was put in by the lawyers to ensure that they would be protected from an idiot driving on the freeway at redline in second gear for an extended period of time. He mentioned that driving it normally like you would any car would be fine.

My GT3 on order is my first Porsche so I cannot confirm, but I was glad with his comments.

Like Mike said, up to you, it's your car. For me, I will just drive it like I do all my cars.

aeGT3

"If by old fashioned way you mean strictly by the manual, I think that's overkill. But driving it hard right out of the box isn't right either IMHO. The engines have, at best, been run for 20 or 30 minutes before you got the car which isn't a proper break-in by any reasonable standard. You'll get opinions all over the map about this, and it's been discussed ad nauseam, but FWIW, my engine didn't see redline until after 1000 miles. The first 500 miles were under 5000 rpm, the next 500 under 6500, and I gradually increased from there. Your car, your choice."

Mike what does official Porsche recommendations (the manual)? Is it still 4100 maximal RPM for the first 2000 miles (which seems excessive), as any other Carreras? Just curious because I am getting mine by the end of this month.

Maverick787

200 miles for me, and I will drive it normal. Heck 2000 miles for me equates to one year of driving. My buddy no joking has 40 Pcars, and has owned them for 38 years he laughs at the breakin procedures. By the way he's a mechanical engineer, and works with porsche on projects. He took delivery of a 4.0 RS on the porsche track and the pro driver was doing hotlaps in the thing fresh out of the gate. By the way the car has been problem free. Sorry no real help here, but take a combination of what you hear and use common sense.

You can launch a turbo over and over and it will not break. My 2013 M5 will heat up after two? Porsche motors are tanks, and honestly I think 200 to 500 miles is sufficient. Good luck.

LexVan

And do an early oil change. At about the 1,000 mile mark.

Nizer

Agreed

Jimmy-D

You have to do what will give you a peace of mind because no hard data will give you a definitive answer. I think you take it easy for the first 500 miles keeping below 5500. I have now 825 miles and when she is warm I am taking her up to 8000 here and there. My oil consumption is very low and not seeing any smoke at start up. Only saw smoke at start up the first couple of times- not that it matters. At his point, I consider my car close to broken in. Still, only visiting the high rpms occasionally but that is about to end.

CALSE

I believe it is a brand new motor design thus no historical data. I therefore did what the Porsche manual recommended. Not sure if the car ECU records but I didn't want any motor warranty claim issues in the future just in case.

Mike in CA

You're very close, aeGT3; 4200 RPM for the first 2000 miles per the manual.