Break-In Procedures
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Joined: Mar 2023
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Break-In Procedures
For those who took museum delivery, or delivery a great distance away, how did you follow the break-in procedure for your new C8?
Obviously there's no use of cruise control, hard braking, tight cornering, etc. But another recommendation is to avoid driving at constant speeds. Highways lend themselves to such driving conditions. Did you take backroads, exclusively?
Any other issues a new buyer should be aware of when going through the break-in phase?
Obviously there's no use of cruise control, hard braking, tight cornering, etc. But another recommendation is to avoid driving at constant speeds. Highways lend themselves to such driving conditions. Did you take backroads, exclusively?
Any other issues a new buyer should be aware of when going through the break-in phase?
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Advanced
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 95
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What was your mileage coming back? I'm looking at roughly 900 if I opt for the museum experience. Also wondering if I'm "in the clear" to drive at a more constant highway speed beyond 500 miles or if I should wait the full 1500.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 499
Likes: 389
I'm sure you're fine too hit the highway, just vary speeds and gears. Remember, you're breaking in the DCT more so than the engine in a lot of respects. I would just encourage you not to miss out on the drive home experience - it's a great thing when you're in your new toy!!!
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 184
Likes: 153
From: Jasper, GA
I drove backroads for the 280 miles home. Varied rpms and speed using Drive and Manual shifting. Varied between Touring, Sport, and Track throughout. Stopped about every 1.5 hours and shut it down while on a stretch and pee.
If I had to do a long distance I would use combo interstate and backroads.
If I had to do a long distance I would use combo interstate and backroads.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 381
Likes: 180
From: Gilbert, AZ
Wife and I drove the car back from the museum to the Phoenix area--1800+ miles. We kind of took our time... We drove back over 6 days. Almost all highway miles... We drove around the Bowling Green area for a few hours. Stop and go traffic.... Stopped for a bite to eat. On the highway I tried to keep it out of V4. Probably not necessary, but I thought that it would be best to break it in while in V8 for the first 600+ miles. After that I started to use cruise control on the highway. We stopped a lot, not trying to time food, fuel and bathroom stops. A little bit of heat cycling I suppose. Car runs great. If I do this again in the future, I'll probably drive it the same way.
2nd thought of sorts.... If V4 was bad during the early part of break in, GM probably could have programmed it to not activate until after 500 miles or whatever number they wanted.
2nd thought of sorts.... If V4 was bad during the early part of break in, GM probably could have programmed it to not activate until after 500 miles or whatever number they wanted.
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Race Director
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 13,602
Likes: 12,865
From: Virginia
It' easier using back roads, and less chance of flying debris damaging your C8's finish, especially if the highways on your route are very busy where it can be difficult varying your speed.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 758
Likes: 263
From: West Michigan
I was 530 miles to home from Bowling Green up to West Michigan. Other than hopping on I-65 to get across the Ohio River near Louisville, I took two lanes all the way back and we had a wonderful drive. 25 mph? Check. 60 mph? check. 45? check. 55? check. Stopping in Smallville USA? Check. 20 mph through Anytown USA? Check. We hate interstates anyways, so this was right in our wheelhouse.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 564
Likes: 239
From: Greenville SC
And for break in I did a good bit of driving in manual so I can make sure to shift at the limited RPM range and to be able to shift around different RPM's when on interstate.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 486
Likes: 302
From: Centerville, OH
Yet another who drove back roads virtually all the way home. (Southern Ohio.) The direct route, using interstates, is about 250 miles. I figured out a non-direct route that made use of some twisty roads I know in KY and IN and stretched the trip to just under 400 miles, only about 15 of which was on I-75, and that was in the last 20 miles. Kept it in manual mode the whole way and tried out C8 style paddle shifting. (My only prior paddle shift experience was my C6, which wasn't really the same thing at all, including paddle operation.)
An advantage to back roads as a route home is that if there is a problem, it is a lot easier, and safer, to find a place to pull over and stop. Safer to proceed at a slow, careful pace too. I didn't need that, and hopefully you won't either, but it is a factor worth thinking about. I found a convenient station for a fill up at about half way (wasn't confident in the gas gauge as of yet) and found it was accurate. And when I lifted the engine cover to check the oil, I suddenly found half a dozen new friends. (All of them very curious as to why I was checking the oil with the engine running.)
Which reminds me of another advantage to back roads: The number of people that will smile, wave, and give a thumbs up.
An advantage to back roads as a route home is that if there is a problem, it is a lot easier, and safer, to find a place to pull over and stop. Safer to proceed at a slow, careful pace too. I didn't need that, and hopefully you won't either, but it is a factor worth thinking about. I found a convenient station for a fill up at about half way (wasn't confident in the gas gauge as of yet) and found it was accurate. And when I lifted the engine cover to check the oil, I suddenly found half a dozen new friends. (All of them very curious as to why I was checking the oil with the engine running.)
Which reminds me of another advantage to back roads: The number of people that will smile, wave, and give a thumbs up.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 5,767
Likes: 2,968
From: Rural NW Georgia. GO DAWGS!
2024 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I only checked my oil once during the first 500 miles but I was driving around town and don't remember stopping to fill up more than twice. I never checked it again until I hit my one year mark and took it in for an oil change. It was fine.
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 39,115
Likes: 17,972
From: DFW Area TX
I drove backroads for the 280 miles home. Varied rpms and speed using Drive and Manual shifting. Varied between Touring, Sport, and Track throughout. Stopped about every 1.5 hours and shut it down while on a stretch and pee.
If I had to do a long distance I would use combo interstate and backroads.
If I had to do a long distance I would use combo interstate and backroads.
I was 530 miles to home from Bowling Green up to West Michigan. Other than hopping on I-65 to get across the Ohio River near Louisville, I took two lanes all the way back and we had a wonderful drive. 25 mph? Check. 60 mph? check. 45? check. 55? check. Stopping in Smallville USA? Check. 20 mph through Anytown USA? Check. We hate interstates anyways, so this was right in our wheelhouse.
Yet another who drove back roads virtually all the way home. (Southern Ohio.) The direct route, using interstates, is about 250 miles. I figured out a non-direct route that made use of some twisty roads I know in KY and IN and stretched the trip to just under 400 miles, only about 15 of which was on I-75, and that was in the last 20 miles. Kept it in manual mode the whole way and tried out C8 style paddle shifting. (My only prior paddle shift experience was my C6, which wasn't really the same thing at all, including paddle operation.)
An advantage to back roads as a route home is that if there is a problem, it is a lot easier, and safer, to find a place to pull over and stop. Safer to proceed at a slow, careful pace too. I didn't need that, and hopefully you won't either, but it is a factor worth thinking about. I found a convenient station for a fill up at about half way (wasn't confident in the gas gauge as of yet) and found it was accurate. And when I lifted the engine cover to check the oil, I suddenly found half a dozen new friends. (All of them very curious as to why I was checking the oil with the engine running.)
Which reminds me of another advantage to back roads: The number of people that will smile, wave, and give a thumbs up.
An advantage to back roads as a route home is that if there is a problem, it is a lot easier, and safer, to find a place to pull over and stop. Safer to proceed at a slow, careful pace too. I didn't need that, and hopefully you won't either, but it is a factor worth thinking about. I found a convenient station for a fill up at about half way (wasn't confident in the gas gauge as of yet) and found it was accurate. And when I lifted the engine cover to check the oil, I suddenly found half a dozen new friends. (All of them very curious as to why I was checking the oil with the engine running.)
Which reminds me of another advantage to back roads: The number of people that will smile, wave, and give a thumbs up.
You can read our story here: My C8 Experience - Updated with Xpel, Ceramic Coating and Tint