Dude-

Has anything change or do we still need to break in our cars.

roberga

maybe wait until the first on ramp

0Q991

+1

I gotta say--I'm happy that this thread is now up...instead of yet another one about stick versus PDK, Mezger, etc.

frayed

Gentle drive to the track then let her rip.

Mike in CA

I have a friend on the 991 GT3 development team that I asked about this a couple of months back. Since there are no secrets involved, I don't think he would mind if I reprinted his response here:

Funny as it seems, but I was talking to AP about breaking in just last week. Let's put it this way : even if a manual might not say anything about breaking in, every engine is going to be thankful if you give him time to "wake up".

I agreed with AP that you shouldn't rev over 7000rpm for the first maybe 400 miles and then step up slowly and (sure you do that anyway) always give the oil a chance to get proper temperature.

By experience I can tell you that the complete car might need up to 800 miles until everything is "broken in" right and the ride feels like it should. Picked one up in Zuffenhausen the week before last with 15km on the clock, changed half an hour later to the EM 3800 with over 20k km and it felt like a different world in the "older" car. Hope this answers you question at least a little bit.

Serge944

The best way to brake in an engine is to provide variable driving conditions. 65mph on the freeway for 500 miles isn't going to get it done.

You need a good mix of going through the rpm range, including just as much engine braking as acceleration.

997TTMeteor

Not exceeding 7k RPM for those first miles will be challenging…..

Jaypod

Agreed!

frayed

Engine break in is likely one of the most hotly contested topics on car boards, right after auto v. manual, LOL.

Materials technology, including all things tribology, has evolved significantly in the past 20 years. I think most modern engines need very little break in especially with the protections offered by modern synthetics.

JFA65

I broke in both my 06 and 09 Carrera S as directed in the manual, 2000 miles under 4000rpm and varied speed. I have no oil consumption and clean exhaust pipes unlike many reports. Regular track use and never added oil between changes.

LexVan

Manifold

I'd do it per the manual. That'll take some discipline, but the process will be over soon enough and IMO the peace of mind is well worth it. Remember that this car is at least US $130K.

Serge944

True, but the form factor of piston rings has changed little, and when you take it to the dealer for excessive smoke on start up, they'll tell you it's a normal "gt3 thing."

When I built my 4 liter engine, I carefully broke it in for the first 500 miles.

Nick

Are the engines bench tested and run before installed? I believe Ferrari runs their engines several hours before installation. If so, much of the break in occurs at that time. Never babied a car and it has never been an issue regarding reliability.

Mike in CA

No, not really.

2/3 of the way through the engine assembly process, before the intake and exhaust manifolds are installed, every engine goes through a cold test where it is turned over and spun electrically on a test bench while monitored by a computer for proper operation. The engine is fired up for the first time under it's own power as the car leaves the assembly line, just before two dyno-style rolling test beds where a bumpy road is simulated and the car is run at speeds up to 75 for a few minutes. The only exception to the above is that, randomly, about 1 in 100 engines is also hot tested before installation for quality control purposes.

FWIW, despite what my friend suggested for a run-in procedure above, I'll do what I've always done with a new Porsche, which is to follow the manual break in pretty religiously for the first 1K miles, then gradually increase RPM over the next 1K. It will indeed be hard with this car, maybe I'll cheat just a little....