My dealer has advised that my C4 Cab is scheduled to arrive in Baltimore on 8/16 and then delivery to me a few more days after that. Already I am wondering how I am going to get through the Break In period.

The engineer in me says that if PAG agrees that the car can be revved to 4200 RPM when new and agrees that it can go to 7200 RPM at 2000 miles, then there should be a gradual increase to max RPM spread over 2000 miles. It doesn't make sense to me that the car can only go to 4200 RPM at 1999 miles and then suddenly be capable of 7200 RPM one mile later.

So I am proposing the following that spreads the 3000 RPM increase over 2000 miles:
New - 4200 RPM Max
500 Miles - 4950 RPM Max
1000 Miles - 5700 RPM Max
1500 Miles - 6450 RPM Max
2000 Miles - Let her rip

What do you think?

 

I think you should follow the manufacturer's recommendation. That's the engineer in them.

 

I followed the book. Used 0.4L oil ( one segment on the indicator)the first 2000 miles.

 

I am at 750 miles so far in 1 week. Dang, it is hard if not totally impossible to keep the car under 4200rpm with a Tiptronic. Trying to merge onto the Interstate or out into traffic is impossible to keep it from reving over 4200rpm. I was going to pass a dangerously slow car in the accel lane and the Tiptronic was in 3rd gear at around 35mph lugging the engine as it does and I just stepped on the gas about a 1/4-1/2 throttle and it shifted down to 1st gear and reved to 6000rpm. Nothing I could do about it. I talked to my dealer about it and the service manager said," just drive the thing...I have a lot of customer that buy a Carrea GT or C2S and it's off to the track the next day and there cars run perfect year down the road". He said "try" to keep it under 4200rpm but do not sweat it".

 

Proper breakin must be done in the first 100 -200 miles and below is the proper procedure:

1. Always bring engine to FULL operating temperature before high revs.
2. Drive the car easy for the first 10 miles or so, varying the rpm's from 2,000 - 5,000.
3. Then, start bringing the engine up to maximum rpm's and letting the engine bring the revs back down by coasting in gear.
4. Repeat several times in order to create maximum heat in the cylinders.
5. Drive around at lower RPM's for several more miles, remembering to vary the speed of the engine every couple of miles.
6. Repeat number 3, 4 and 5.
7. Park car and let the engine cool down overnight.
8. Repeat all the above 2 more times.

Your engine is now fully broken in correctly and can be driven hard from here on.

The above procedure will also benefit engines that were not broken in properly. As with all engines, it is necessary to periodically drive the car to redline and engine brake back to stop to insure properly maintaining ring to cylinder wall fit.

 

You got that from that motorcycle guys website I've seen on the net for years. I think Porsche engineers are also trying to break in more that just the engine.

 

DO a ROAD TRIP!!!!

Long runs are much nicer to the engine components than multiple short haul stops and starts.

 

I have been posting this procedure for several years now. Whether there are web sites that also endorse it or not makes no difference to me. This is a procedure that has been proven to work best for me for more than 35 years of engine building and car ownership.

Those that follow the suggested procedure (and it is only a suggestion) from Porsche, are wasting their time and encouraging oil leaks and burning as well as, mentioned above, dangerous on the road. ALL Porsche engines are run at redline several times and for several minutes before they are even put in the car, so why not after it's put into the car?

And, just what other componants needs 2,000 miles for breakin and why?

 

Modified break-in recommended to me:
1000 miles be cool. 1000-2000 miles do whatever you want except avoid long wide open highway runs.
I followed this plan....I'm approaching 4000 miles, have added 1 Qt of oil...the car just screams!

 

Actually, that's the lawyer in them. Ask Edgy01 - if you take delivery of the exact same car in Germany (where they are less of a litigous society than we are), they will tell you the break in period is for the driver - not the car. When I picked mine up and asked about the break in period, my dealer said "What break in? Just drive the car."

If following the break-in "as is" or in some psuedo-version you devise makes you feel better, then do it. Otherwise, just follow the basic tenets of drive the car easy until at operating temps and you will be fine.

 

I think it's unrealistic to conscientiously adhere to those limits during breakin. But your rationale is sound.

 

A trick I use for when you are on the interstate is just change gears every once in a while, so your not going along at one rpm. With the tiptronic, just shift down and it will shift up by itself.

 

That is exactly what I did on my long road trip home (Cleveland to Las Vegas) for the break-in. I was altering RPM's so much the car didn't know where it was. By the time I pulled into my driveway, I had the break-in miles completed. Changed the oil, and now I just drive.

I used 1/4 qt of oil on that trip, and haven't burned any since. I did not however stay at 4200 RPM's. I intentionally let the engine rev above that via downshifting with the tiptronic. The most I went however was 5500 R's for a couple of seconds, then back to 4200 or below. I also varied my RPM's from one end of the spectrum (1000 or so) to 5500 (very briefly).

A long road trip like I took is a perfect domain for doing this. I also had the time to learn every system on the vehicle. It is an amazing car to say the least.

 

I think you will find as many answers and opinions as there are posters on this board--and ironically, depending on the country in which you live, Porsche's recommendation is a little different--e.g., the 4200 RPM recommendation appears in the North America owners manual but not the manual in other countries. But the rest of the break in procedures are similar, and give the same general advice without a specific max RPM limit.

I followed the 4200 RPM limit (subject to a few exceptions and I never exceeded 5500 RPM's during the first 2000 miles--it is very hard with a 997 S X51 with a Tip to keep it below 4200 RPM's unless you really drive with a light foot). But that's just my opinion

 

The engineer in me agrees with the theory that nothing magical happens when you go from 1999 to 2000 miles. And so I agree in principle with what you are saying. Up to 1000 miles I've kept the car under 4200. After 1000 miles, I've let the car run as high at 5000 a couple times but no higher. What I am doing though is beginning to drive the car more aggresively that includes more full throttle starts..

In a 1000 miles, I've used <1/4 of a quart of oil.