Anyone have any tips for breaking in a new engine? What to do/what not to do?

My builder said to start with a good conventional dino oil (in my case, Delo) for the first 1500 miles/break in period, and replace the filter every 500 miles. He said to do city driving, and avoid excessive idling (keep the RPMs varying) for the first 500 miles. Then for the next 1000, be easy on it, but freeway driving would be OK for this period.

Does this sound OK? Or should I be doing something different?

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-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

Is this a manual trans?

How about running it up to the red line as long and as often as you can and keeping it there? If it breaks, well buddy, that’s what warranties and AMEX cards are for.

Seriously new engine break in suggests lower RPMs for about the first 300 miles and varying the speed a lot and definitely don’t lug the engine. After that go to gradually higher RPMs for the next 300 miles, and like most, after that, forget that the engine is new.

Last new engine for me, I swapped out the original oil with synth at about 100 miles and did regular changes after that. During the first several hundred miles I drove only surface streets and didn’t let the tach get beyond 3000 rpm. It appears to have worked ok as the engine now has about 160K miles on the odo and doesn’t use any measurable oil between 5K mile oil changes.

Autotragic.

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-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

That is a very good breakin outline. Only thing I would add is use a magnetic drain plug and drive it like you stole it. One should never lug an engine, but especially a fresh one. Of course with auto transmissions this is rarely an issue anyway.

Let us know how it comes out.

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2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

I would go with whatever the builder recommends. That way if something goes wrong, you can honestly go back to him and say "Well, I did it exactly as you asked and this is the result.". That way he can improve the process and build a better one next time.

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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

Mostly just keep a real close eye on it. Watch the oil pressure and temperature. Watch for leaks, open the hood. Look for anything working loose.

I'd keep the rpm down until you have a few hundred miles on it.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I've seen numerous suggestions for break in procedures and their accompanying justifications. What I haven't seen are much in the way of data pertaining to the long term results of those methods on the engines. I like Aklim's idea of going by the builder's instructions just in case anything goes wrong.

Did you get my PM?

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

Beat me to it. I would totally go by what he says so that, if anything goes wrong, you won't feel guilty about it or give him a reason to throw you out the door.

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"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

Aw man. I just don't see it. I think you're screwed.

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Sent from an agnostic abacus

2014 C250 21,XXX my new DD ** 2013 GLK 350 18,000 Wife's new DD**

- With out god, life is everything.
- God is an ever receding pocket of scientific ignorance that's getting smaller and smaller as time moves on..." Neil DeGrasse Tyson
- You can pray for me, I'll think for you.
- When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.

Check the oil level fairly often.

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"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

Yes, there are so many different schools of thought on the subject, it could be almost like an oil thread.

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2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

your builder meaning the guy whos putting the engine in, or the people who sold you the motor?
id go with the source of the motors advice if there was any discrepency in break in procedure, as they are who will warranty the engine if there are any issues

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