What did you guys decide on Break in?
#46
Race Director
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The PSDS cars are on the track right from the beginning too. On my 07 I had it at the track at 800 miles. That car never burned oil an dran great. My 09 I took it easy and varied the rpm's and did mid throttle accell and held the gear for decell just like I did in my 06 and 07 but I waited till 5000 miles to go to the track. My 09 burns oil...go gifure huh?
#47
Miserable Old Bastard
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Paul, I would love to, but no can do due to prior commitments.
#49
Race Director
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The PSDS cars are on the track right from the beginning too. On my 07 I had it at the track at 800 miles. That car never burned oil an dran great. My 09 I took it easy and varied the rpm's and did mid throttle accell and held the gear for decell just like I did in my 06 and 07 but I waited till 5000 miles to go to the track. My 09 burns oil...go gifure huh?
NOOOO, not possible. Porsche's lawyers(who wrote the manual) said this can't happen.
#50
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I never understood this line of thinking. If lawyers concocted the break in procedure, you'd think it was to protect Porsche, thus, they would recommend the best method for not being sued, for things like, less HP than advertised, oil usage, break downs, longevity. So basically, this premise is, FAIL.
#51
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no, not really.
1) The owner's manual is written for the dumbest person you could imagine. They can't really suggest that new owners do 4 3rd gear pulls to redline, let it engine brake, cool down, repeat, etc.
2) A soft break is not going to cause noticeable engine damage aside from maybe some extra oil burning. Thats the "safest" version. But if you want max performance, you break it in hard.
3) Just like the manual says don't rev the engine to redline or don't let it idle over grass, etc, they are trying to avoid liability. If they say beat the snot out of it, some guy manages to overrev it on a misshift, throws a rod from the block, douses the rear tires in coolant, and the car hits a tree, that person will be the first person to file a lawsuit. Its simply their way of avoiding liability.
1) The owner's manual is written for the dumbest person you could imagine. They can't really suggest that new owners do 4 3rd gear pulls to redline, let it engine brake, cool down, repeat, etc.
2) A soft break is not going to cause noticeable engine damage aside from maybe some extra oil burning. Thats the "safest" version. But if you want max performance, you break it in hard.
3) Just like the manual says don't rev the engine to redline or don't let it idle over grass, etc, they are trying to avoid liability. If they say beat the snot out of it, some guy manages to overrev it on a misshift, throws a rod from the block, douses the rear tires in coolant, and the car hits a tree, that person will be the first person to file a lawsuit. Its simply their way of avoiding liability.
#53
Race Director
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Imagine if the average non enthusiast sees this kind of in depth procedure for engine break in, there will be a ton of new cars at the dealer with owners going "huh??????"
How many porsche owners do you know that dyno their cars? Furthermore, Porsche can easily claim that the cars with lower power are within production tolerances.
This is not going to result in a difference of 20rwhp. More like 5-10rwhp. Most people would never notice, but it may be the difference between 140mph and 135mph on the back straight and passing that annoying F360 owner.
#55
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This break in debate has been ragging for years and years and will go on for ever just like the Holy wars in the middle east. The is no resolution to it!
#56
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Again all hearsay, third/fourth/fifth hand information. In this world of instant internet access, why hasn't anyone found an official "hard" break in policy from the factory? Because there isn't any. Just RTFM.
#57
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I have a new 2008 Carrera S with ( now ) 475 miles. I have been breaking it in "by the book" ( as I have done with all new cars). Today, as I was preparing to start the car, I could see that the oil level was down one bar ( I guess this is about 1/4 liter or quart). It looks like I am consuming oil at the rate of roughly 1 quart per 1800 miles at the moment. Hopefully the consumption will subside. I have been keeping the rpms between 2000 and 3000 with a relatively light throttle. We shall see.
#58
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In my line of work I have overhauled +/-4000hp diesel engines (I know we are not talking diesels here but break in recommendations) a number of times and the one thing the different mfrs. all have in common is the break in procedure we use. Basically you do not want to go 100% straight after the first start. We typically start out at low rpms bringing them slowly to max rated rpm's and then apply varying loads on them for the first 6-10 hours or so.....making sure not to stay at one load percentage/speed too long. Up load, down load etc... (prop pitch % changes). It seems to me that this same type of procedure (or damn close to it) could be used for a new cars break in period as well. I do know that sustained rpm's in a brand new engine will not allow for proper ring seating which is one of the critical break in points. Really it seems that if you do not beat the hell out of it the minute you leave the dealership and apply varying loads for the first 12-24 hours or so of engine operation this should seat the rings properly.
#59
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I just took tourist delivery in Stuttgart last month of a new Carrera S coupe w/PDK. FWIW, when asked about break in, the factory rep insisted that while it was highly recommended to vary engine speeds and not to lug the engine, that it was both impractical (esp in Germany) and unnecessary to observe the 4200RPM limit. Being cautious, I was pretty conservative 90% of the time anyway, but allowed myself and the car a few trips to 6000 while overtaking on rural roads or getting up to speed on the Autobahn. Once the car gets back to the States I've got another 600 miles to get to 2000 and then I'll do that first oil change.