Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community - FT86CLUB - View Single Post - FRS Break-in guide

eikond · 05-14-2012, 09:36 AM

As with all opinions on this forum and especially on this topic.. take this with a grain of salt..

I spoke with a friend of mine yesterday. He is a mechanical engineer with Nissan.
I asked him about break-in procedure for Nissan's and whether he had any knowledge of similarities with other manufacturers in Japan (ie. Subaru).

He told me that he believes that the piston rings are seated reasonably well prior to delivery of the vehicle. He agrees with the motoman break in theory for a newly assembled engine, but said that the engine in your new car that you pick up from the dealership has already been subjected to a number of tests and exercises that have put enough load on the motor to seat those rings pretty well.

He told me that each engine is tested as it comes off the line by the engine manufacturing facility. They are hooked up to a jig that simulates load conditions and reved throughout different ranges to ensure the motor was properly assembled and functions well. If all checks out they are sent to the vehicle assembly line.

At the end of the vehicle assembly line each vehicle is tested. The motor is run again to test power delivery to the wheels. This ensures the full powertrain is assembled and functioning properly.

After being driven off the line, the car is moved to a parking lot outside the factory, then onto truck, train, ship, etc.. to transport to the dealers in the states. He smirked at me and said, don't worry about putting load on the motor the first time you drive it.. it's already been done.. Apparently the guys who transfer the cars from assembly line to parking lot to shipping trucks/trains/boats don't mess around. He said they are very "efficient".

It's tough to know what to do with this topic.. There are some compelling arguements on both sides.

Having spoken with someone I deem an expert on the subject, I'm finally comfortable with a decision. While he doesn't work for Subaru and hasn't observed the BRZ/FRS engines or vehicles coming off the lines.. I still trust that he's close enough to a subject matter expert that I trust his opinion.

I plan to follow the owner's manual instructions with one small deviation. I like the idea of an early oil change to clear the oil and filter of any small debris. So I plan to do an oil change sometime around 500 miles.

05-14-2012, 09:36 AM	#72
eikond Wish Nissan made one Join Date: Feb 2012 Drives: '13 WRB BRZ Premium Location: Lake Orion, MI Posts: 886 Thanks: 129 Thanked 360 Times in 189 Posts Mentioned: 18 Post(s)	As with all opinions on this forum and especially on this topic.. take this with a grain of salt.. I spoke with a friend of mine yesterday. He is a mechanical engineer with Nissan. I asked him about break-in procedure for Nissan's and whether he had any knowledge of similarities with other manufacturers in Japan (ie. Subaru). He told me that he believes that the piston rings are seated reasonably well prior to delivery of the vehicle. He agrees with the motoman break in theory for a newly assembled engine, but said that the engine in your new car that you pick up from the dealership has already been subjected to a number of tests and exercises that have put enough load on the motor to seat those rings pretty well. He told me that each engine is tested as it comes off the line by the engine manufacturing facility. They are hooked up to a jig that simulates load conditions and reved throughout different ranges to ensure the motor was properly assembled and functions well. If all checks out they are sent to the vehicle assembly line. At the end of the vehicle assembly line each vehicle is tested. The motor is run again to test power delivery to the wheels. This ensures the full powertrain is assembled and functioning properly. After being driven off the line, the car is moved to a parking lot outside the factory, then onto truck, train, ship, etc.. to transport to the dealers in the states. He smirked at me and said, don't worry about putting load on the motor the first time you drive it.. it's already been done.. Apparently the guys who transfer the cars from assembly line to parking lot to shipping trucks/trains/boats don't mess around. He said they are very "efficient". It's tough to know what to do with this topic.. There are some compelling arguements on both sides. Having spoken with someone I deem an expert on the subject, I'm finally comfortable with a decision. While he doesn't work for Subaru and hasn't observed the BRZ/FRS engines or vehicles coming off the lines.. I still trust that he's close enough to a subject matter expert that I trust his opinion. I plan to follow the owner's manual instructions with one small deviation. I like the idea of an early oil change to clear the oil and filter of any small debris. So I plan to do an oil change sometime around 500 miles.