According to the service manual:

1) "During the first 1,200 miles (2,000 km), follow these recommendation to obtain maximum engine performance and ensure the future reliability and economy of your new vehicle. Failure to follow these recommendations may result in shortened engine life and reduced engine performance."

Ok...so a 1,200 mile break in...that's fine. Does anyone recommend changing the oil at the 1,200 mile mark? Or, just wait until the 3,500 mile mark where the oil is supposed to be changed? It seems as if it would be better to change the oil more often at first in a new engine?

2) "Avoid driving for long periods at constant speed, either fast or slow. Do not run the engine over 4,000 rpm"

What does the "fast" or "slow" mean? Does this mean variable type of driving? Taking city street and avoiding the freeway since the freeway is more of "constant speed" type of driving?

3) "Do not accelerate at full throttle in any gear"

So no pushing down the pedal all the way to accelerate (just baby the pedal)? At stop lights, give the people in the cars surrounding me an aggressive look, and then when the light turns green allow all of the cars surrounding me to take off at high speeds while I gently accelerate my new car?

4) "Avoid quick starts"

No racing of other vehicles. At a stop light, watch all the cars pass you and slowly allow the 350z to accelerate to the desired speed limit.

5) "Avoid hard braking as much as possible".

I take it that this one is more towards automatics and not manuals? Otherwise, what's the point of not hard braking (how does that affect my new engine)?

6) "Do not tow a trailer for the first 500 miles"

Has anyone ever seen any 350z tow a trailer? HEHE that's a funny one.

Are there any additional break-in recommendations? Perhaps when to change the oil and what else to avoid doing so that I can enjoy the full life of what my car has to offer?

Thanks!

 

1. I changed mine at 1500. FWIW.

2. You can take the freeway. But I wouldnt stay at the same speed for more than 10 miles. Say, 10 miles @ 60MPH, 10 @ 65, 10@70, 10@65, etc.

3. Right. No PTTM (pedal to the metal).

4. Yep.

5. Helps break in the other components (brakes, suspension, etc).

6. Yes, it has been done.

At 1500 miles, I changed mine to Mobile1 5w-30 w/ OEM filter. You will find many different opinions on this. But that is what I did. 10,000 miles later, no problems.

 

1) Personally I changed oil at 1200 miles or so but going to 3500 is probably okay.

2) Freeway is fine but not 300 miles, for example, at constant speed or rpms.

3 & 4) No drag racing is what I get.

5) Damn if I know.

6) Hold off on that houseboat you want to pull with Z for first 1200 miles!!!

 

I'll add a little (tons and tons of breakin threads already)...

The oil is supposed to be changed at 3750 miles intervals.. not 3500... and yes you can wait until 3750 if you want.

You want to vary your cruising speed... basically just accelerate gradually...then engine brake....accelerate....engine brake.... over and over....... you don't want to hold a steady RPM constantly... and you don't want to accelerate and fail to engine brake....

Avoid hard starts to make sure the clutch is broken in. Casual stop and go driving is good for breaking in a clutch... highway driving is not.

 

Buy A 350Z And All Your Questions Will Be Answered.


https://my350z.com/forum/search.php?searchid=2711377

 

I hit over 4K RPMS a few times today =[ on my new 07 w/ 310miles on it, IM SCARED.

I also went over 70 mph a couple of times DOH!

I did not PTTM or start quickly or anything though. The people on the highways here are crazy =[

 

dude your engine is going to blow LOL
youre fine dont worry about it and enjoy the car. so what you might loose a couple of tenths in acceleration time since it wasnt broken in properly. maybek not who knows.

 

Lol, yeah I want to hit that 1200 mark bad =[

But I plan on keeping this as my daily driver for a few years heh...

I just want to step on it just a little bit :P

But I was reading that guy's website who talks about the best way to break-in the car is to run it hard and the first 20miles are the most important. It's a very debated subject, I will post the link for it when I get home.

 

i drive it the way i want to,period.

 

Isn't there a rule in the manual saying not to drive more than one mile a day during the break-in period?

 

You have nothing to worry about , there are many theories on how to break a motor in , some run hard , some drive like granny . My personal preferance is to drive it the way its going to be driven.

 

That motoman link has been floating around this website for the past 5 years. We don't need to see it again. There are already countless threads on breaking our cars in(not just the engine).

https://my350z.com/forum/2003-2009-nissan-350z/1527-running-in-breaking-in-your-new-350z.html
https://my350z.com/forum/2003-2009-nissan-350z/2355-asking-for-opinions-on-best-way-to-break-in-my-z.html
https://my350z.com/forum/2003-2009-nissan-350z/10772-break-in-mostly-bogus.html
https://my350z.com/forum/2003-2009-nissan-350z/10998-engine-break-in-secrets.html
https://my350z.com/forum/2003-2009-nissan-350z/19879-check-this-break-in-procedure-out.html
https://my350z.com/forum/2003-2009-nissan-350z/17654-break-in-really-necessary.html
https://my350z.com/forum/2003-2009-nissan-350z/38039-read-this-article-on-break-in-process-is-this-true.html
https://my350z.com/forum/2003-2009-nissan-350z/50605-engine-break-ins.html
https://my350z.com/forum/engine-and-drivetrain/51748-proper-break-in-question.html
https://my350z.com/forum/2003-2009-nissan-350z/51346-2004-changes-break-in-period.html
https://my350z.com/forum/2003-2009-nissan-350z/54283-how-do-you-break-in-a-car.html
https://my350z.com/forum/engine-and-drivetrain/61206-engine-break-in-period.html
https://my350z.com/forum/2003-2009-nissan-350z/66131-finally-broken-in.html
https://my350z.com/forum/2003-2009-nissan-350z/74113-break-in.html
https://my350z.com/forum/2003-2009-nissan-350z/80188-yet-another-break-in-thread.html
https://my350z.com/forum/2003-2009-nissan-350z/81633-what-happens-if-you-do-not-properly-break-in-your-z.html
https://my350z.com/forum/2003-2009-nissan-350z/113433-how-to-break-in-your-new-engine.html
https://my350z.com/forum/2003-2009-nissan-350z/114145-quick-help-breakin-engine.html
https://my350z.com/forum/2003-2009-nissan-350z/56934-break-in-period.html
https://my350z.com/forum/2003-2009-nissan-350z/125771-engine-break-in-an-age-old-question.html
https://my350z.com/forum/forced-induction/126974-what-are-you-thoughts-on-this-break-in-method.html
https://my350z.com/forum/2003-2009-nissan-350z/142404-best-rpm-range-to-shift-for-new-z.html
https://my350z.com/forum/engine-and-drivetrain/192016-interesting-read-on-break-in-methods.html

 

People who auto-cross and track tow small trailers with tools and tires, but nothing usually more than a couple hundred lbs. There was a group buy last year I think for trailer hitches designed specifically for the Z.