Engine break in period

Mixing it up without pushing it to extreme's IS going easy on it. There is nothing wrong with flexing the engine a little by partaking in brisk acceleration, cruising some, accelerating lightly and quickly, etc, etc. You don't need to redline it, you don't want to redline it at every stoplight, you don't want to cruise for hours on end at a constant speed....

500 - 1,000 miles is sufficient, at which time, change your oil. You are seating the rings and developing wear patterns on bearing surfaces by doing this.

As a side note, LS1's don't fully "loosen up" until about 5,000 - 6,000 miles though. And all of these break in procedures are in your owners manual.

The other item I was told is after taking delivery of the car, is drive the car to get it up to temp, park it, let it cool down, then change the oil. Something to do with the engine lube oil.

No, you do not need to heat cycle it. That is more for gears.

I always reply to break in questions by referring to a website that exactly mirrors my experience with breaking engines in:
http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

The only dilemma is that the cars have already been started up and putzed around in during delivery. It would be nice if they treated them like Lamborghini and thrashed each car on a 20 mile drive right off the assembly line.

Ive been driving my car all week trying to add miles to it. Well today I went for a little drive on the highway. I jumped on the highway, stayed in the right lane and went 55 MPH. I had every idiot truckdriver and asshole driver honking and flashing their lights while riding my bumper. I had to go off the highway before someone hit me.

I still have about 200 mile to go before I change the oil.

You can come pick me up and I can help you put some "break in" miles on.

Pick me up and I will but the gas!

I disregarded the 50 mph limit during breakin. Given the wide range of final gear ratios (in general), I don't see how a generic speed based limitation is pertinant.

I did try to stay under 100 .

Tom

I also disregarded the 55 MPH break in speed the manual mentions. On Southern California roads I would be killed if I tried to drive that slow. Most days anything below 75 when traffic is light is unsafe.

no break in

I used to think break in was 1000 mile of normal almost babying a car driving. But this past year I visited the vette plant in Bowling Green KY YOU CAR ARE GIVEN HELL FROM THE MOMENT OFF THE LINE. really they drove a vette off the line and guy guy get literally sideways inside the building around the other cars. Then it goes to a dyno and they make sure the cars are putting out the advertised HP then off the the track to make sure it clicks in the time. Now I know this is with the vet and the Caddy XLT or what ever that car is but both of these have the same engine as the GTO so why would anything be any different. Just thought I would let you guys know how it was in the vette plant.

The Caddy has a Northstar motor ---- The Vette and GTO have the LS1

I just spoke with the salesmen today and he advised me that there is no engine lube oil in the 2004 Pontiac GTO.

The Caddy CTS-V has an LS6 engine from the 'Vette. The convertible has the oil burner, er, ah, um....Northstar engine. Normal 'Vettes do get the LS1, exccept for the next generation which is coming with the LS2 400hp unit that the 05 Goat is rumored to be getting as an option. Here come duh Judge!

I'm thinking 400 miles easy with a throttle-up every once in awhile followed by a road trip 150 miles this weekend then light up the BFG's a couple of times before putting my Bridgestones on. Then yeah I'll light those up too.

scottknight said:

I always reply to break in questions by referring to a website that exactly mirrors my experience with breaking engines in:
http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

The only dilemma is that the cars have already been started up and putzed around in during delivery. It would be nice if they treated them like Lamborghini and thrashed each car on a 20 mile drive right off the assembly line.

Click to expand...

I picked up mine with 18 miles on it. Almost too late to do any good. But considering people are getting theirs with 40+ miles on them, I consider myself lucky.

Wait until the oil's warm and drive it like you stole it! We've had cars on the dyno doing full power runs with under 100miles on the clock. And no, they don't really free up for about 6,000 miles.

Mick

AnoxieGTO said:

I used to think break in was 1000 mile of normal almost babying a car driving. But this past year I visited the vette plant in Bowling Green KY YOU CAR ARE GIVEN HELL FROM THE MOMENT OFF THE LINE. really they drove a vette off the line and guy guy get literally sideways inside the building around the other cars. Then it goes to a dyno and they make sure the cars are putting out the advertised HP then off the the track to make sure it clicks in the time. Now I know this is with the vet and the Caddy XLT or what ever that car is but both of these have the same engine as the GTO so why would anything be any different. Just thought I would let you guys know how it was in the vette plant.

Click to expand...

yeah, anoxieGTO is right. i was at the vette plant this summer. i wached them start up the vettes and drive them around INSIDE the plant like they were stolen. haha. i was sort of questioning this treatment of a BRAND NEW car. but it makes more sense after reading this thread.

speed_demon_fre said:

Ive been driving my car all week trying to add miles to it. Well today I went for a little drive on the highway. I jumped on the highway, stayed in the right lane and went 55 MPH. I had every idiot truckdriver and asshole driver honking and flashing their lights while riding my bumper. I had to go off the highway before someone hit me.

I still have about 200 mile to go before I change the oil.

Click to expand...

idiot truckdriver is redundant

TprGTO said:

I just spoke with the salesmen today and he advised me....

Click to expand...

Lol - This must be your first GM experience???? I would listen more to the board members any day than the dealer. They barely seem to know how many wheels are on the cars these days.

JOUT