How important is it to break in the engine? Is it really that bad to rip on the car? Just was wondering what could go wrong if you dont do proper break in.

I was curious, I'm at aboug 430 miles right now, and I really haven't been doing much horseplay with the car. But, my gas mileage still hovers around 14 MPG. I do little freeway driving, but I'm not driving in the city either. I'm in a suburb. I'm not sure when the car will get better mileage, but I thought I would be in the 17 or 18 area by now. If anyone has any suggestions, please letme know.

I was curious, I'm at aboug 430 miles right now, and I really haven't been doing much horseplay with the car. But, my gas mileage still hovers around 14 MPG. I do little freeway driving, but I'm not driving in the city either. I'm in a suburb. I'm not sure when the car will get better mileage, but I thought I would be in the 17 or 18 area by now. If anyone has any suggestions, please letme know.

lol im averaging 10.9 mpg with 240 miles on my car.

lol im averaging 10.9 mpg with 240 miles on my car.

Something tells me you drive the way I do.

How important is it to break in the engine? Is it really that bad to rip on the car? Just was wondering what could go wrong if you dont do proper break in.

Actually there's some data that suggests the best break in occurs by driving it hard. Do a web search but it had something to do with pressure on the piston rings.

GM says not to exceed 68 for the first 500 miles.

I say drive it like you stole it but try and follow GM's advice. Go easy on the brakes.

Actually there's some data that suggests the best break in occurs by driving it hard. Do a web search but it had something to do with pressure on the piston rings.
Loading the rings a bit during acceleration and deceleration is said to help the rings seat on fresh engines. But these have had a bench run-in, and truth be told I have no way of knowing other than what the owner's manual recommends so that's what I'll do.

GM says not to exceed 68 for the first 500 miles.

In second?:gears:

Proper break in procedure....

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r109/spblouin/IMG_1444.jpg

I keed, I keed... I didn't do that until it had 700 miles on it.

lol im averaging 10.9 mpg with 240 miles on my car.


wow,man.I beat on my car for the first time tonight-out with my buddies for 2 hours and still averaged 15 mpg.

As far as the break in,definitely go easy on the brakes for the first couple hundred-my gp's brakes made a grinding noise the last 20 feet before every stop for 10k miles because I didnt follow that rule.And the mileage for break in is about right(usually 500-1000)600 says the manual.I'm at 500-ooops!:angel:

Just don't Granny it!!!!!!

SO, I guess putting 20+ dyno pulls on ours before it reached 150 miles on it is bad ;) :D

How important is it to break in the engine? Is it really that bad to rip on the car? Just was wondering what could go wrong if you dont do proper break in.

Whole school of thoughts on this one. With the modern day motors its not so much as breaking in the motor as it is breaking in the running gear - rear end and transmission. First 200, easy on the brakes. First 500 easy on the running gear, keep her under 3000 and vary your speed and the gear you are in. Worst way to break in a car is to drive a steady speed with no varying rpm and gears, like on an interstate. To me around town driving, continually slowing and speeding up under 3K rpm is perfect for it. That is my opinion, everyone has one!

One of the worst things you can do when your breaking in an engine is LETTING THE ENGINE IDLE TOO LONG!!!...