engine break in
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,606
Likes: 115
From: Chandler, AZ
engine break in
new 09 coupe AT....owners manual states take it easy for 500 miles....talked to many people and ive gotten 2 stories
1) the engine doesnt need a break in, go out and have fun, and at 2000 miles your engine will be at full performance
2) the engine should be babied the first 1000 miles...nothing over 3000 RPM, and no hard downshifts...change the engine oil at 1000 and the engine is ready to go hard
im new to the vette world, but i know when i had my ram srt10 with the viper engine i hammered that thing from minute 1 and never had an issue.
any advice would be appreciated
thanks beforehand
GB
1) the engine doesnt need a break in, go out and have fun, and at 2000 miles your engine will be at full performance
2) the engine should be babied the first 1000 miles...nothing over 3000 RPM, and no hard downshifts...change the engine oil at 1000 and the engine is ready to go hard
im new to the vette world, but i know when i had my ram srt10 with the viper engine i hammered that thing from minute 1 and never had an issue.
any advice would be appreciated
thanks beforehand
GB
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,151
Likes: 69
From: Odenton MD
I will be honest -- I did not do more than a 4000rpm shift for the first 1,000 miles and had my first oil change at 2,500 miles and my car runs perfect. Since the 1,000 mile mark I have done about 5 6,000rpm shifts and the car still runs great at abut 4,700 miles. I am going to have the second oil change done at 50% life. With a 100K power train warranty they don't make these engines that ultra sensitive!!!
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,352
Likes: 568
From: Ventura County, Calif
The Break-In procedure is not really for the engine. It's for the rest of the driveline components to allow gears in trans and rear end to get a proper wear pattern without undue loads. The main thing is don't drive on the fwy at a sustained speed for long periods of time. Vary the engine and car speed for the first 500. If you want to hammer it early it's probably fine. Many here subscribe to the "hammer it the minute you get it" routine and have not had problems. Do what you are comfortable with. 
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 10,089
Likes: 14
Rick is right. The break in procedures are so the gears develop full mesh before being heavily loaded. This reduces the problems of chipped or broken gears and the rear end whine that often develops when proper break in procedures aren't followed.
Instructor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 112
Likes: 24
From: Paducah Ky
Picked my new 08 up in Jaspher Florida with 2 miles on it. Dealer told me to stay under 70 mph for 500 miles and do not use cruise control. I drove 640 miles home with the top down and loved it. The manual does say to give it a break in period so I took the advice. Congrads on your car!! Eddie
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,606
Likes: 115
From: Chandler, AZ
thanks for the advice guys....i think ive hammered it once getting on the freeway and the longest sustained speed drive so far has been 50 miles...ill go to 1000 soft, change the oil, and then have fun!
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
The Break-In procedure is not really for the engine. It's for the rest of the driveline components to allow gears in trans and rear end to get a proper wear pattern without undue loads. The main thing is don't drive on the fwy at a sustained speed for long periods of time. Vary the engine and car speed for the first 500. If you want to hammer it early it's probably fine. Many here subscribe to the "hammer it the minute you get it" routine and have not had problems. Do what you are comfortable with.
GM engineering person who said with modern machine work that
engine is fine but for best results with diff to minimize whine, be gentle
for 500 miles.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 21,502
Likes: 461
From: Southern Utah
Why not take it easy for the first 500 miles...it couldn't hurt....
For some on here, 500 miles will take three months, but you could just actually drive it for a week and then banish it to the garage to wash and wax it for the rest of its life...
Seriously though...its only 500 miles...why not go easy on it?
And just because some people do dumb things and then don't have any problems...that really shouldn't be an endorsement of doing dumb things. Ask Wolfdogs about the tire plugs...just because some people have plugged their 186mph rated tires, and then have not had problems....this is not going to get me to plug my 186mph rated tire when the entire industry says it shouldn't be done. Sheesh....
For some on here, 500 miles will take three months, but you could just actually drive it for a week and then banish it to the garage to wash and wax it for the rest of its life...
Seriously though...its only 500 miles...why not go easy on it?
And just because some people do dumb things and then don't have any problems...that really shouldn't be an endorsement of doing dumb things. Ask Wolfdogs about the tire plugs...just because some people have plugged their 186mph rated tires, and then have not had problems....this is not going to get me to plug my 186mph rated tire when the entire industry says it shouldn't be done. Sheesh....
Last edited by cclive; Sep 16, 2009 at 09:27 PM.
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Drifting
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,540
Likes: 4
From: N.E. GA
I don't listen (so says the wife) and I was on the strip the week I bought the Vette at about 100 miles on the odometer. The car has done nothing but improve ever since. This was my decision but I don't recommend it to anyone else.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 27,420
Likes: 64
From: San Clemente CA
The Break-In procedure is not really for the engine. It's for the rest of the driveline components to allow gears in trans and rear end to get a proper wear pattern without undue loads. The main thing is don't drive on the fwy at a sustained speed for long periods of time. Vary the engine and car speed for the first 500. If you want to hammer it early it's probably fine. Many here subscribe to the "hammer it the minute you get it" routine and have not had problems. Do what you are comfortable with.
I wouldn't hammer it early but it's not a big deal. 
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,009
Likes: 2,707
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
"See the USA in Your Chevrolet", and be kind to your new drivetrain, too.
Remember that you'll be able to turn up the wick as you get more miles on the car, won't need to featherfoot for the entire distance.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,248
Likes: 4
From: Palm Beach County, Florida
The LS3 should be handled gently for at least 1000 miles.
Do an early (500 mile) oil change to get rid of break in crap in your oil.
Doesn't matter to me if you flog it from day one, but if you're playing the odds, take it easy and let it break in slowly.
Mine is still changing at 5000 miles and getting better all the time!
Do an early (500 mile) oil change to get rid of break in crap in your oil.
Doesn't matter to me if you flog it from day one, but if you're playing the odds, take it easy and let it break in slowly.
Mine is still changing at 5000 miles and getting better all the time!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 5,353
Likes: 100
From: And then it was said... "let there be blue Corvettes and yellow Camaros" Ft Worth Texas
Cruise-In IV Veteran
St. Jude Donor '09
Sheesh, some of you guys should have bought Volkswagons instead of a Corvette.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,606
Likes: 115
From: Chandler, AZ
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 939
Likes: 38
From: Riva MD
I went easy for the first 500 miles, then gave it a couple of rolling acceleration runs up to about 90 mph. I just did my first oil change at 1K miles and will do another at 4K; after that I'll follow my oil life monitor down to about 40% and change.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 419
Likes: 1
From: La Crosse Wisconsin
new 09 coupe AT....owners manual states take it easy for 500 miles....talked to many people and ive gotten 2 stories
1) the engine doesnt need a break in, go out and have fun, and at 2000 miles your engine will be at full performance
2) the engine should be babied the first 1000 miles...nothing over 3000 RPM, and no hard downshifts...change the engine oil at 1000 and the engine is ready to go hard
im new to the vette world, but i know when i had my ram srt10 with the viper engine i hammered that thing from minute 1 and never had an issue.
any advice would be appreciated
thanks beforehand
GB
1) the engine doesnt need a break in, go out and have fun, and at 2000 miles your engine will be at full performance
2) the engine should be babied the first 1000 miles...nothing over 3000 RPM, and no hard downshifts...change the engine oil at 1000 and the engine is ready to go hard
im new to the vette world, but i know when i had my ram srt10 with the viper engine i hammered that thing from minute 1 and never had an issue.
any advice would be appreciated
thanks beforehand
GB
