Breaking in C7
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: MN
Breaking in C7
I could use some advice. I will be taking delivery of a new C7 at the museum in Bowling Green. I live in MN so I have about an 800 mile drive home. I do not have the time to do the back road thing and really would prefer using the interstates. Will I hurt the engine by breaking it in this way? I have read all about varying the speed, not exceeding 4000 rpm etc but in the interest of safety I am not going to be able to put much variability in speed when I am on the freeways. Thoughts? Thx!
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 11,825
Likes: 2,477
From: Ft Lauderdale
Tech Contributor
I could yes some advice. I will be taking delivery of a new C7 at the museum in Bowling Green. I live in MN so I have about an 800 mile drive home. I do not have the time to do the back road thing and really would prefer our the interstates. Will I hurt the engine by braking it in this way? I have read all about varying the speed, not exceeding 4000 rpm etc but in the interest of safety I am not going to be able to put much variability in speed when I am on the freeways. Thoughts? Thx!
Get up to interstate speed for cruise, go to your top gear for 15 min, then shift down to next lower gear for 15 min, then next lower for 15... Then do the same back up. Its all sbout changing rev's, not speed. Do for 500 miles....done.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: MN
Auto or manual....whatever do this.
Get up to interstate speed for cruise, go to your top gear for 15 min, then shift down to next lower gear for 15 min, then next lower for 15... Then do the same back up. Its all sbout chsnging rev's, not speed. Do for 500 miles....done.
Get up to interstate speed for cruise, go to your top gear for 15 min, then shift down to next lower gear for 15 min, then next lower for 15... Then do the same back up. Its all sbout chsnging rev's, not speed. Do for 500 miles....done.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,940
Likes: 43
From: shavertown Pa.
Probably driving home "without" using cruise will do it for you, if you don't use cruise your speed will vary, just keeping up with the traffic should give you no choice to drive at all speeds.
I broke mine in around town then I took a little 300 mile trip at the end, your just taking your trip at the beginning.
I broke mine in around town then I took a little 300 mile trip at the end, your just taking your trip at the beginning.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: MN
Probably driving home "without" using cruise will do it for you, if you don't use cruise your speed will vary, just keeping up with the traffic should give you no choice to drive at all speeds.
I broke mine in around town then I took a little 300 mile trip at the end, your just taking your trip at the beginning.
I broke mine in around town then I took a little 300 mile trip at the end, your just taking your trip at the beginning.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 136,140
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From: I live my life by 2 rules. 1) Never share everything you know. 2)
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '16-'17-'18
with all the advice above except pick up a couple rolls of painters tape (the blue "masking tape") and cover the vulnerable areas with that. It'll take less than 30 minutes to apply and cost less than $20 to do. Oh yea, don't forget the mirror fronts and front quartersI drove mine home 430 miles...
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Drifting
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,319
Likes: 436
The engine is ready to go out the door. Engine building has came a long way. You can lay a 100' burnout out that parking lot. No break in is needed. With todays oils and advanced rings, pistons, crank balance and better tolerances. It's ready.
Now are dealers going to say "it's good, go for it" probably not, but it is.
Example I just built a 750 HP 406. Started it ran at 3k RPM 2 minutes drove for 1 mile. Did a tune on it and then to the track for a 8500 rpm pass at 130 mph at 10.6 seconds.
Now are dealers going to say "it's good, go for it" probably not, but it is.
Example I just built a 750 HP 406. Started it ran at 3k RPM 2 minutes drove for 1 mile. Did a tune on it and then to the track for a 8500 rpm pass at 130 mph at 10.6 seconds.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 136,140
Likes: 2,432
From: I live my life by 2 rules. 1) Never share everything you know. 2)
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '16-'17-'18
The engine is ready to go out the door. Engine building has came a long way. You can lay a 100' burnout out that parking lot. No break in is needed. With todays oils and advanced rings, pistons, crank balance and better tolerances. It's ready.
Now are dealers going to say "it's good, go for it" probably not, but it is.
Example I just built a 750 HP 406. Started it ran at 3k RPM 2 minutes drove for 1 mile. Did a tune on it and then to the track for a 8500 rpm pass at 130 mph at 10.6 seconds.
Now are dealers going to say "it's good, go for it" probably not, but it is.
Example I just built a 750 HP 406. Started it ran at 3k RPM 2 minutes drove for 1 mile. Did a tune on it and then to the track for a 8500 rpm pass at 130 mph at 10.6 seconds.
The OP would be well advised to follow GM's recommendations about breaking in his new C7....
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,759
Likes: 4
From: Texas
with all the advice above except pick up a couple rolls of painters tape (the blue "masking tape") and cover the vulnerable areas with that. It'll take less than 30 minutes to apply and cost less than $20 to do. Oh yea, don't forget the mirror fronts and front quartersI drove mine home 430 miles...
.I won't have to drive that far home this time and will be taking back streets when I pick up my C7. I do have to drive about an hour to where I plan to get the clear bra installed so I'll have to do the drive of shame with the painters tape one more time.
The Consigliere
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 22,998
Likes: 6,045
From: 2023 Z06 & 2010 ZR1
The engine is ready to go out the door. Engine building has came a long way. You can lay a 100' burnout out that parking lot. No break in is needed. With todays oils and advanced rings, pistons, crank balance and better tolerances. It's ready.
Now are dealers going to say "it's good, go for it" probably not, but it is.
Example I just built a 750 HP 406. Started it ran at 3k RPM 2 minutes drove for 1 mile. Did a tune on it and then to the track for a 8500 rpm pass at 130 mph at 10.6 seconds.
Now are dealers going to say "it's good, go for it" probably not, but it is.
Example I just built a 750 HP 406. Started it ran at 3k RPM 2 minutes drove for 1 mile. Did a tune on it and then to the track for a 8500 rpm pass at 130 mph at 10.6 seconds.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 2,299
Likes: 466
From: Long Island New York