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The torque limiting in low gears stops after the first 500 miles. The launch control "caution" statement seems to imply that after 500 miles you can use it. The manual also says do not participate in track events, sport driving schools, or similar activities until 1500 miles. My take away is this - the caution about track and sport events suggests that between 500 miles and 1500 miles there is some additional "wear in", and that during that period, aggressive driving such as tracking could result in some problems. That being the case, I decided that it would be prudent avoid aggressive driving, such as launch control and rapid exit (from double paddle de clutch) until 1500 miles. But I think the manual seems clear enough that launch control can be used after 500 miles if that is what someone wants to do.
From 500-1500 you are still breaking it in - especially the transmission from articles I've read. I'm in the same camp as @Andybump: "similar activities" is lawyer-speak for anything GM can trace back to hard driving in the first 1500 miles that they might use against you in a warranty claim.
Youre going to have worse wear in and clutch wear driving the transmission in touring mode for 1500 miles then you will launching it a few times.
In touring mode the clutches have more slip and you'll experience more that 100 percent more gear changes in a drive. the car will upshift to 8th gear at simple 55mph speeds and in track mode may still be in third. This will also lug the engine and transmission continuously. This could be literally thousands and thousands more slipping gear changes in 500 miles vs track mode.
Ive kept my three c8 transmissions in track mode during break in and never had a single issue.
From 500-1500 you are still breaking it in - especially the transmission from articles I've read. I'm in the same camp as @Andybump: "similar activities" is lawyer-speak for anything GM can trace back to hard driving in the first 1500 miles that they might use against you in a warranty claim.
Yes, I noticed that after my just above post. Yes, the "caution" statement about launch control says "after the break in period", not "after 500 miles" and that is right, the break in period goes up to 1500 miles, so at the very least it not "clear" as I first said, but rather "ambiguous", since "similar activities" is not very specific. Either way, my take away is that there is additional "break-in" wear from 500 t0 1500 miles, and out of an abundance of caution I chose not to do any seriously aggressive driving until after 1500 mile.
I did not run exclusively in tour mode, instead mostly in Z mode with powertrain setting to track. I did use tour mode - I wanted to be sure I was exercising all the gears - that is - I did not want to go for 1500 miles before shifting into 7 or 8 gear. I pretty much varied everything - speed, RPM, gear selection, Drive Modes etc. I just did not use launch or rapid exit. And I did use full RPM after the 500 miles.
Last edited by Andybump; Jun 12, 2022 at 10:43 AM.
I did not run exclusively in tour mode, instead mostly in Z mode with powertrain setting to track. I did use tour mode - I wanted to be sure I was exercising all the gears - that is - I did not want to go for 1500 miles before shifting into 7 or 8 gear. I pretty much varied everything - speed, RPM, gear selection, Drive Modes etc. I just did not use launch or rapid exit. And I did use full RPM after the 500 miles.
Same here. In fact I ran primarily in My Mode most of the time and used the paddle shifters a lot. There is a very twisty county road that I have to use to get to my road and I hardly ever drive it without using the paddle shifters. 4100 trouble free miles.
For what it’s worth, Corvette’s chief engineer (Tadge) said at a bash a year or two ago that he will wait until after 1500 on his personal C8 before doing launches.
Ok.. If you want to call a launch control a track event, then you must do all of the other necessary items for a track event to do launch control. Adding the 2L trans fluid, install the rear brake ducts and front alignment.
Ok.. If you want to call a launch control a track event, then you must do all of the other necessary items for a track event to do launch control. Adding the 2L trans fluid, install the rear brake ducts and front alignment.
Nobody is calling a launch a track event that I've seen here. A few of us agree, along with what Tadge said, that it could be considered a "similar activity."
If a launch or two after 500 blows up the trans, then it's truly a garbage design. The car is built to be a track car, and driven like you stole it. If anything, I agree with some others that driving it too softly does more harm then good. I've seen more than one carb-locked performance engine that grandma never drover over 4k RPM to the grocery store and back. It's either a high performance vehicle or a gentle snowflake for show - it can't be both.
I'm not saying do WOT off the dealer lot, or to go over the rev limiter, but you should mix all styles of driving (with an edge towards more aggressive) to properly break in this type of car. Just my 2cents.
