Engine break in period - how necessary is this?
 

I was wondering, what is everyone here going to do for engine break in on their new car? I have an autocross a few days after I am supposed to get my FR-S but I am worried about going too hard on the new engine. Is this still really necessary to baby it for the first 600-1000 miles or should I just rip on it?

Why risk it? Per your manual:

■New vehicle break-in driving (the first 1000 miles [1600 km])

The performance and long life of your vehicle are dependent on how you
handle and care for your vehicle while it is new. Follow these instructions
during the first 1000 miles (1600 km):

●Do not allow the engine speed to exceed 4000 rpm except in an emergency.
●Do not drive at one constant engine or vehicle speed for a long time,
either fast or slow.
●Avoid starting suddenly and rapid acceleration, except in an emergency.
●Avoid hard braking, except in an emergency.

The same break-in procedures should be applied to an overhauled engine,
newly mounted engine or when brake pads or brake linings are replaced
with new ones.

two schools of thought :

1) Break it in as you would drive it. Go for it baby!

2) Follow manufacturer's instructions which is to keep it below 4k RPM for first 1000 miles.

I'm following the second method but I hold no grudge against people who follow the first method.

Mods please lock thread.

OP please search there are atleast 2 multi page topics on this

It's hard to say. There are tons of cars of different makes, models, engines, etc. and there are crowds who have done both without many engine-related problems. However, most of the people asking these questions (and also answering them) are usually talking about it with a car that likely hasn't been around very long, so while their cars are running just fine at the moment while bragging about having "driven it like I stole it" from the day they bought it, it's not as if the cars are already at 100,000 miles with no signs of problems.

Personally, it's best not to risk it, especially if you plan on keeping the car for a while. Just break it in properly, and if you really need to use your car at that upcoming event, then just put on the miles beforehand. Schedule a trip somewhere, it's not too difficult to rack on those miles, and it shouldn't be detrimental to do it that quickly. Motor Trend currently has a 2013 Nissan GT-R in their long-term test fleet, and that car's break-in procedure is a bit stricter than most cars (talking about certain rpms that you shouldn't exceed during certain periods, then going up another 2000 rpm for the next couple hundred miles, etc.), but they just drove the car up and down PCH until it was done.

Yeah no reason to risk it for the event, maybe I'll take an under 4K roadtrip somewhere 500 miles away. Thanks!

Please see:

This: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5618

and this: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1036

Closing this thread.