lazlo9

Quick question. Dealer suggested keeping it under 5,000 rpm for first 1500-2000 miles and to really be gentle on first gear til then as well. Is this correct information or can I start pushing it now? I have 350 miles right now and I've been a very good boy.

Tedder Bear

There are many posts on this forum regarding the break-in period. There's also several differnet opinions too. You may want to search and then review them. Lot's of good info and comments.

The manual states to keep it under 4,200 RPM for 2,000 miles. I'm in the camp you should listen to the manufacturer, so I did. I'm over 4,000 miles and haven't had any issues. Suggest you follow the break-in schedule. It's tough, but I believe it's worth it.

cvazquez

I believe you should follow the manual break-in period process and change the oil at 5K. Enjoy!

crg1717

I went to PDE in Birmingham before i bought my C4S and although those cars only had 500 or so miles we were able to take them to redline without worry. That being said I did not take it over 5m rpm on my new car til it had 1500 miles . Although it probably is ok to push it a little it is probably more important to warm up the car (oil temp 200 plus) than any thing else. Waiting until 1500 plus miles also gives you time to familarize yourself with your new car. Take a couple weekend trips and you will be ready and confident to have many miles of smiles down the (winding) road. good luck CRG

Edgy01

As you will learn elsewhere in this forum it's not just the engine that has to break in together. Take it easy with the car. Are you new to Porsches? New to 911s?

Some have said that more of that break in is for the driver, instead of the motor.

I kept it under 5000 for about 2000 miles but was not fearful of pushing it quickly to that artificient redline once warmed up.

Keep in mind that in 6th gear at 4200 rpm you're still about to run about 130mph.

Deven

Not to sound contradictory, but I am of the belief that if you are to go 'by the book' then why not follow all the suggestions including the recommened oil change frequency which would take you up to 20 000 miles (depending on driving conditions) before change .

As a side note, as somewhat of a science major, we have been taught to never believe what we read without evidence to back up a statement. I have yet to read a scientific explaination as to why the 4200 RPM and 2000 miles were picked as breakin numbers (especially since in 1998, the milage amount was 1000 miles for a similar (but smaller) boxer engine). On the other hand the other camp of 'drive it like you stole it' (provided appropriate warm up) has tried to show engines/pistons/seals/rings broken in this manner to be better than limiting the RPMs during the breakin period. Their evidence seems scientific, and though not double blinded, does make sense (especially the point of the 1st 50-200 miles being the most important/critical period of break-in). That being said, I think that if the engine is appropriately warmed up, taking the car to 5000, 6000 RPM will do no damage (I mean really, what scientific basis is there in limiting RPM's when the engine is warm? Similarly doesn't Porsche red line the engine during the engine oil bath during the factory build?) The best suggestion is to do what you feel most comfortable with. If the aggressive breakin is what you want to do, just follow the suggestions that were in the previos threads.

500

Patience is a virtue!

JohnnyBahamas

I broke in my '05 C2S by the book. Strictly followed the RPM limit. And she had an RMS replaced (easy, painless) after dipping oil basically from day one.

While waiting for my C4S to come in I read in AutoWeek that the Porsche break in period is a "CYA" policy by the manufacturer after years of data showed a very high incidence of new 911 driver error under 2000 miles. It is a very precise car. It does exactly what you tell it... and garbage in, garbage out after all.

So, after 16000 + miles in the C2S and a successful PDE master's class, as well as some careful thought about the matter, with the C4S I have driven her like I stole her. She likes it. I like it. Beautiful music.

Personally, I believe that far, far worse than exceeding the RPM limit under 2K miles is "lugging" these flat sixes at low RPM in too high a gear. Do not "lug" the motor... live happy.

mdrums

My service manager at my dealer said he would rather me run the engine up in rpms than lug it around under 2200rpm's. With a tip in auto it is hard not to lug it so I shift with the steering wheel buttons or run it in sport mode all the time. I basically did not exceed 4200rpm for the 1st 1000 miles and now at 1500 miles have gently hit 7200 a few times and hit 5000-5500 a lot. No oil loss yet.

kauai_diver

A religiously hot topic here...

I followed the breakin for the most part, redlined it a couple of times around 1000 miles. Now at 4700 miles I have yet to put in a full quart of oil.

The worst things you can do to this engine (well any for that matter) are overfilling it with oil, lugging it, and high rpms when cold.

cosmos

Make sure engine is warm, that is secret.

Drive it like you stole it.

Use lots of Engine braking down hills.

Make sure you let engine settle before shuting off.

Change ALL fluids, diff, tranny, engine after 1000 miles and again at 5000.

Good Luck.

Haku

As most have stated warm engine, and not to lug the engine at low revs is super important.

I've only done 400 miles and for the most part I have kept the rev's below 4200rpm... but have to admit to going over that a few times for the odd spurt and short distance! It's that "something comes over me sydrome" and the right foot goes down and .... rasp off I go!!!! I am now on camomille tea and it's calmed me down somewhat... the manual doesn't mention that.

The other thing to not do is keep the car at constant revs over long periods of time... frequent gear changes are the way to go.

Rolf Stumberger

I tell you what:
Lets put two engines on a test stand.
Run one at a constant.....say ~ 4000 RPM
Cycle the other continuously from 2000 to 7500 RPM

Which one do you think will last longer ?

MJones

Did a road trip...Break-in completed in 3 days..

No alot of heat cycles from short hop driving.

Un-scientific result: Oil consumption in 26,000mi...<2qt

Dariof

I did the road trip. 2,000 miles in 3.5 days. Oil consumption: 1/2 qt. Since then: 0.

Kept it at or below 4,200 RPM's, with momentary spurts to 5,500 RPM's or so. I used the tiptronic shifting to vary RPM's throughout the trip, so while on the highway the RPM's were pretty much being altered. I also used engine braking.

Changed the original oil at the 2,000 mile mark.


Time will tell.