Cal Club Autocross Forums

Kurt Rahn wrote: Interesting. Sounds similar to what Keith said. But here's the big question, Mr. I'm-Not-An-Engine-Guy Guy: If someone handed you the keys to a brand new Evo and said, "It's yours, but you have to drive it for the next ten years," would you follow this method?

the last engine was actually broken in like that on the dyno by the engine builder. I did the other two based on someone elses recollection of that article.

Keith Brown wrote:

Kurt Rahn wrote: Interesting. Sounds similar to what Keith said. But here's the big question, Mr. I'm-Not-An-Engine-Guy Guy: If someone handed you the keys to a brand new Evo and said, "It's yours, but you have to drive it for the next ten years," would you follow this method?

the last engine was actually broken in like that on the dyno by the engine builder. I did the other two based on someone elses recollection of that article.

I'm actually thinking I might try it try it. Need to do more research and ask some smart people a few more questions.

My last two new cars, I drove them like I normally would every day. The only things I avoided were WOT and high rev until after the recommended break-in periods.

Kurt Rahn wrote: Interesting. Sounds similar to what Keith said. But here's the big question, Mr. I'm-Not-An-Engine-Guy Guy: If someone handed you the keys to a brand new Evo and said, "It's yours, but you have to drive it for the next ten years," would you follow this method?

haha. yes.

although it's not a free pass to beat the piss out of your car from day one, because you still have to wear in the transmission, clutch, brakes, which does take some time.


although it's a trick question because they break in evo engines at the factory before it even gets put in the car much like corvette engines and i imagine many others.

Thanks Marshall ... I was wondering about that. So the Vette engine, which uses Mobil 1 ... might have been pre-broken in with a more specific, less slick, "break-in" lube ...

Marshall Grice wrote:

Kurt Rahn wrote: Interesting. Sounds similar to what Keith said. But here's the big question, Mr. I'm-Not-An-Engine-Guy Guy: If someone handed you the keys to a brand new Evo and said, "It's yours, but you have to drive it for the next ten years," would you follow this method?

haha. yes.

although it's not a free pass to beat the piss out of your car from day one, because you still have to wear in the transmission, clutch, brakes, which does take some time.


although it's a trick question because they break in evo engines at the factory before it even gets put in the car much like corvette engines and i imagine many others.

Cool. Makes pretty good send, so I think I'm going to try it. I think I'm going to do it closer to Keith's way, rather than beating the car mercilessly from Day One.

FOLLOW THE OWNERS MANUAL.
After 1000 mi. you're okay to go with synthetic. I wouldn't change oil until you go to the Mobil 1. Some manufacturers factory is fill designed to assist break in.
In general, you want to avoid lugging it and extreme high revs during break in. You should also be varying the load and RPM, so don't just put it on cruise control for 1000 mi. and consider it broken in.
Then it's time to party.
BTW I broke in my S2000 with a 1000 mi. round trip, La to Phoenix. Concentrated on varying load and RPM. It has performed flawlessly since. Now if we could only do something about the driver.

Marshall Grice wrote:
although it's a trick question because they break in evo engines at the factory before it even gets put in the car much like corvette engines and i imagine many others.

I saw a few spectacular blow-ups when I was working for Volvo!

Alright.... Who torqued the rod bolts?