Posted: 4/29/2007 3:36:46 AM EDT
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A mechanic told me how long a car lasts depends on how it was driven in the first 500 miles, how it was "broken in" so to speak. So, that would mean that if you buy a used car, that you are taking chances not knowing how the previous owner drove the car (unless you knew the prior owner well). |
So, did you go over 55 in the first 500 miles? |
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Break in is important and can affect the overall life an performance of a engine. Time must be given to an engine for all the parts to wear in together, kind of like a final fitting. RPM or how high you rev the engine is the key here, don't rev the engine too high for the break in period. Full throttle or being heavy on the gas is OK as long as you don't RPM the motor too high. Long periods of steady highway speeds is also bad, you want to vary engine speeds and include long periods of off throttle. Change the oil at 1000 miles to get rid of all the tiny metal chips generated by the break in process. Then beat the hell out of it after that. |
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I went through this with my first new high performance car. The manual said not to go over xxxx RPM for the first 500 miles... My mechanic <factory certified mechanic> said that it was a load of hogwash, a myth left over from the old days of UNhardened valves and LEADED gasoline. Back when valves had to "marry-up" with valveseats. He said that the real reason that factories perpetrate the old "Don't go over..." rumor is that IF they screwed up and left something loose or floating around inside the engine, it's a lot easier to repair if you find it while you're going slow. To the contrary, he said that that LAST thing you want is for them to try to "Repair" a new engine. If it's gonna blow then let it blow and make them give you a new one. Just my humble .02, nothing more. |
| If you saw how your new car was run up to 100 mph or so at the plant after it was assembled, and stomped around a bit on the yard as they run them around to load onto rail cars, it kinda makes you question the "break in" thing. That said, I didn't beat on my truck very hard for the first thousand miles or so, but I think that was just because of the wow factor of a new vehicle, not necessarily for break in. |