Break-In period - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

hkoh · #1 07-21-2003, 10:10 AM

I'm taking delivery of a new '03 E55 AMG this weekend. I was wondering if a break-in period is really necessary. My friend never went above 5000rpm until he hit 3000km. I'm really impatient and I can't wait to let it loose..

omegabenz · #2 07-23-2003, 01:00 AM

so I hear, AMG takes them around the block in Affalterbach for a test drive, but it is always a good idea to let a car break in at least 1500 km. If I was to break in a car, I would drive for 20 minutes at 4000 rpm, then for 20 minutes at 3000, then 20 minutes at 2000, or any variation like that. I probably wouldnt go over about 5000 when its new.

Maddog · #3 07-23-2003, 10:19 AM

The only thing that is important when breaking in a motor is to vary engine speed. Don't cruise for a long time at a constant engine speed.

#4 07-23-2003, 11:19 AM

You might read here for a very interesting alternative view on this subject. Actually the whole web site is rather informing.

Keep in mind that todays newer engines do not necessarily follow the old rules of babying an engine the first several thousand miles, the Dyno run the AMG engines go through before leaving the factory give evidence to this.

manny · #5 07-23-2003, 07:34 PM

A friend of mine used to work in an engine research lab.
When I asked him about proper break-in procedure, he told me to drive the vehicle the same from day one, as it will be driven for the rest of it's life.

daveCT · #6 07-23-2003, 09:09 PM

Proper engine break in a high perforance engine , is NOt to keep any steady RPM for to long, go through the revs, ( up to redline)
You want all of the rings to wear in on the top as much as the bottom, also you want rings to machine themselves into the cylinder wall for the whole stroke of the piston ,so don't mind hitting the red sometimes.

16vwannabe · #7 07-24-2003, 02:02 AM

Interesting. This reflects the same way that we break in piston aircraft engines. They actually reccommend a steady 75% power setting to keep the pressure up so the rings expand. So perhaps a supercharged car breaks in faster than a normally aspirated engine?

Darryl

#8 07-24-2003, 07:50 AM

Drive it like you stole it for the first 1000 miles. I've done this with over 13 new automobiles in the last 15 years and never had a problem with any of them. My father is a retired state patrol officer, they used to get new cruisers every 2 years and that was always the recommended method to break in the new cars, and this is going back 30 years to present!!

I know it's not the most recommended method but believe me, it works. The other side of the coin is if anything is going to go wrong or let loose, you might as well get it over with in the first 1000 miles.....

Ashman · #9 07-24-2003, 03:41 PM

Break it in!!! Don't be impatient. My brother got impatient with his 03 C320 Coupe, and blew out the cams and some of the valves within 600 miles!!!! They had to rebuild the engine, and now he has a noise in the engine that they say is normal that wasn't there before.

Alon

Edit. Also. My brother did drive it like he stole it, and thats why he blew out the cams and some of the valves!!!

Take it easy for a little while. Put some mileage on it, then open it up.

Personally if it were me, I'd drive it for 2000 miles, then gett he oil changed, then drive it for another 500, then change the oil once more, just to be safe.

Let my brothers lesson be a warning to you all. Take care of it, and it will take care of you. Abuse it like he did, and you'll be asking for lots of problems.

omegabenz · #10 07-24-2003, 03:42 PM

Alon, I was waiting until you posted...

speedybenz · #11 07-25-2003, 01:20 AM

I also believe the Motoman breakin procedure is the best method. Just remember to change your oil at like 20 miles and then change it often over the next 2000 miles.

Maybe a lack of an oil change caused Submans brothers engine to have trouble.

If you are going to breakin the motor hard, then you must change the oil at 20 miles or less.

Jeff

Ashman · #12 07-25-2003, 11:28 PM

Its Ashman first of all.

Breaking in a car hard is not going to make it any better than breaking it in slowly.

The difference is that breaking it in hard and driving the hell out of it, can void your warranty. Read the warranty information. One of the cancellation items is abuse. and they could classify it as abuse.

My brother is in the process of trying to get benz to replace the car or the engine with a new one, because of the problems he has had due to his abuse of the car.

Don't be stupid, be patient and break it in right. I know several people who swear by the drive hard break in, and have had no problems, but they got lucky if you ask me.

My dad's sl500 was broken in slowly and surely, and the thing drives amazingly.

The reason for slow break in is to let everything seat in properly, I.E. Piston rings and such to the cylynder walls etc as far as I know. Driving it hard could be a problem if the piston rings arent worn into the cylyder walls properly, you could cause problems.

plain and simple, call you dealer and ask them for their recommmendation on breaking in the car. Thats what I would do.

If I every bought a new car, I would take the time to break it in slowly, it only takes a short time, and changing the oil is a good idea.

After breakin, regardless of what the dealer says, change the oil every 2500 miles. Don't listen to them about how the FSS will tell you when to change it and blah blah blah. I know plenty of members who swear by changing it often, and their cars have lasted for well over 100,000 miles with no major issues or having had any major work done.

Alon

speedybenz · #13 07-26-2003, 06:09 PM

Ashman,

Breaking your car in quickly using more than the recommended rpm's is not abuse.

Abuse of an engine is running it slowly and never getting enough pressure behind the piston rings to fully push then against the cylinder wall to wear in properly. If this is not done then it is most likely your engine will burn some oil.

If your engine is burning a quart of oil every 3000-5000 miles then you did not break in the engine right. The piston rings did not seat.

I do agree with you about changing the oil often and if you are driving hard you will get more engine protection from synthetic oil.

I guess people have some pretty steadfast rules they prefer to follow on break-in, just remember you have some options it's up the individual to decide the best method for there car based on research and experience.

Jeff

mbtjc · #14 07-27-2003, 12:38 AM

Since Mercedes designed and built the car, I'm sure they know what the proper break-in procedure is for the car. If there was a special and crucial break-in procedure for this car, I am almost certain that there would be a mention of it in the owners manual. I doubt that if there was some crucial procedure, that they would not say anything and hope that the new owner made a good call based on "research". On the other hand, of there is no mention of any break-in procedure anywhere in the car, then I would say that it is safe to assume that there is no specific procedure and just drive it normally. So just look at the manual. If it's in there, they didn't put it there for fun and just follow MB's guidelines, ya can't go wrong.

Or.... call MB themselves and ask.

Just an idea