19_hole

I hate to be negitive, but I would never follow any advise other than the manufacturer's when it comes to break-in. As a design engineer, I know that the best person to tell you how to properly use a device is the engineer that designed it. I Porsche engineers tell you 4000 RPM MAX for the first 2000 miles then I would follow that method. Afterall, if they told you 5000 RPM or Redline as soon as your got your car, who do you think would be out of a job when the complaints about engine life or failure start to get to the factory???

1999Porsche911

When was the last time a design engineer for Porsche actually tore apart a few engines to see what damage their recommendations have caused? Even they don't have any confidence in their design as illustrated by their riduculas statement that it is normal to burn as much as a quart of oil every few hundred miles. I'll match my 35 years of experience against any deisgn engineer who has never gotten his/her fingernails dirty..

texas911

Hello! That's the stupidest thing I've read. Porsche designed, developed and built your car. I would do as they outine in the manual, not some heresay someone posts on the internet.

What's next, don't change your oil because that's what the manual states? And guess what, yes the computer does keep track of your rpms. So the dealer will surely know how many times you venture to redline. I believe its also date stamped. And no disconnecting the battery won't erase it. Its also where the real mileage counter resides.

1999Porsche911

If you do not have any experience in something, I guess you have to rely on what other's say. I rebuilt by first engine the year you were born. For those of us that have extensive experience in rebuilding and working on engines, we are able to determine what is best for our engines. I guess you wait for 15,000 miles before you change your oil? This is what Porsche calls for, so you must. You never modify your car in anyway since Porsche recommends that you don't. Make sure you follow their recommnedation of only using Porsche fluids and parts. Check your fluid levels and tire pressur before EVERY drive. You aren't, by chance, running non Porsche approved tires, are you. God forbid that you track your car against Porsche's recommendation. Or are you selective on what you consider "must follow" Porsche' recommendations?

To say that someone's statement is stupid when you have less experience with the subject than that person does, is in itself, a stupid statement. If you want to use these forums to exchange ideas and opinions, do so, but don't be an a-hole at the same time.

AeroSmith

I don't claim to be a specialist. I just try to give my personal experience. I think these cars are very personal, much more so than any other car on the road. Porsche built the cars but WE own them and drive them day in and day out.

Of course I think Porsche wants us to take it easy with our cars. But I also think Porsche is happier when these cars don't burn any oil. Now I don't track my car and I haven't performed any mods. But I do think full throttle/full vacuum runs under load help to seat the piston rings very nicely. My father-in-law rebuilds Ducattis and Motto Guzis and he tells me this is how top end bikes are broken in. So during break-in, while I kept it under 4,200 RPM 95% of the time I would definately warm the car up and take it to 5,000 or 6,000 or 7,000 RPM on the loacal I-375 ramp. At 14,000 miles she burns not a drop of oil and she has been 100% reliable. So far I've changed the oil once and changed the rear tires once.

The funny thing is that in my daily driving I still do 95% of my shifting before 4,200 RPM. I think the key to longevity is to drive these cars smoothly.

texas911

How many 997 engines have you rebuilt? Do you have access to computerized milling machines and other high tech manufacturing technology tha Porsche uses on the 997? Time and technology marches on.

Well, going contrary to the written manual is not a good recommendation. What's the saying that everyone posts, RTFM? Why would Porsche make up things in the manual?

1999Porsche911

Yes I do have access and use computerized milling machine and other machine shop tools, but what in the world does that have to do with anything? Any skilled machinist can match the tolerences produced by the computer millers and lathes using a 40 year old Bridgeport milling machine. I guess there computerized millers aren't as good as advertised since their tolerences are so off at times that some of these engines burn as much oil as gas.

Explain to me the benefits of keeping your oil in the engine for 15,000 miles. I assume that there must be a benefit to the engine since it is recommneded.

By the way - Porsche does NOT recommend a breakin procedure, but gives a HINT of one. Literally in the manual.

AeroSmith

LOL, I hadn't noticed they call the section "Break in hints..."

wross996tt

I love this board! I think it is hilarious that folks think the design engineers have anything to do with what goes in the manual. Are you kidding me! Have you ever worked for any company that gets their design engineers working on the manuals (I've worked with over 500 companies in design engineering). The manuals (as far as I can tell) are developed by technical writers, marketing and lawyers. If you were selling a product, the last thing you want is for the product to fail in early life (in reliability we call this "infant mortals"). Imagine the JD Powers surveys (Hahaha). So...tell folks to be very gentle...get through the warranty period...then charge them to fix the reliability failures post warranty. Sounds like a good strategy to me. I will suggest that design engineers are not spending their time developing appropriate break-in procedures...they are designing the next generation of cars (drive train, suspension, engines, etc.). Just my HO.

Leader

Let's assume that more people follow Porsche's recommendations for engine break-in than take the more liberal approach advocated by some. Therefore, given the advice of those who favor a more strenuous break-in, the majority of late model Porsches should be experiencing some form of engine trouble at best and perhaps total failure at worst because they were "babied" for the first 2000 miles. Is this actually happening? No.
While Porsche's recommended break-in regimen is certainly over conservative, the more drastic approach presented in this thread may swing too far in the opposite direction. Like most things in life, moderation might be the best policy on this issue.
I've never "babied" my cars, but I've never pushed them exceedingly hard in the first few miles, either. (Pay no attention to my avatar.) I find driving the car a little harder as the early miles pile up works pretty well. It certainly didn't hurt my '88 911, which is now with its third owner in 17 years.

texas911

Wow, so the manual is just a made up contrivance to what, make ownership of a Porsche difficult? I knew I could use 87 RON as fuel, those greedy lawyers and marketing guys are just out to get us. Probably, I don't need to use the seat belt either. OH and add oil if it gets low? No freaking way, they must be in cahoots with the oil companies! Ridiculous!

If you think that Technical writers, marketing and lawyers were the only ones who had input in the manual, then you've got some serious conspiracy theory issues! Design engineers are not spending time deveolping break in procedures? Yea they developed them when they designed the current engine! Duh.

Go ahead and do what you want with your car. More power to you. I'll stick to the manual those big bad Porsche guys wrote.

jboyko

Break-in question again. I can't believe that the fight has moved from one bar, to the next. See you guys later on the Flat6 forum.

jb

nkhalidi

Darn tootin'. Put aside Stuttgart for right now, think about your local dealer and the test-drives on demo cars. I got into a demo 997 last week with 1,600 miles and you bet I wound it up. Didn't hit redline or overrev or hit the rev limiter, but it definitely went above 5k. And guess what, I'm not the first person to do that to that particular car either.

These cars - like all other passenger cars - are engineered to lowest common demoniator customer. For people who zing them off dealer lots and drive them like mad. I'm not saying any of are those people (or are not), but the point is that every Porsche is road-tested before it gets on the boat, and the zero mile odometer that you see when you pick up the car DOES NOT show the miles your car experienced while in testing.

Doug H

Drive like you stole it.

I don't know. I have never followed a proper break in on any car and I have never had any problems. I have had 4 996 models and put perhaps 70,000 miles on 996s and never had even an RMS leak. Maybe I have been lucky, but I am too imature to wait that many miles before having fun.

You will hear stuff both ways. In the end, do what you are comfortable with. Has anyone ever heard of a dealer denying warranty claim because break not followed.

wross996tt

I can't stop laughing. Do you know any design engineers? In most cases they don't even use scientific method (that's induction and deduction). Made my day...thanks. Oh yeah, where did you say you got your PhD. in Reliability?