Notices
2003-2009 Nissan 350Z

Check up on initial car break-in...

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 09-01-2003, 04:23 PM
  #1  
Conceyted
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
 
Conceyted's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: New Orleans, LA
Posts: 2,311
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Check up on initial car break-in...

How did most of you break-in your brand new Z? There are few ways to do this. One, driving under 3-4k rpms and never above 50% throttle. The other, driving it like you will always drive it, hard if you will. My question to you all is, how did you break your car in, and if you were to do it again, would you do it differently. I was told that back in the day, you had to break your car in, but now it is unnesassary(s/p?) So, let's have it, how did you break in your car and how is it all holding up?
Old 09-01-2003, 05:09 PM
  #2  
mgl
Registered User
iTrader: (10)
 
mgl's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 3,282
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

i never went above 4000 rpm for the first 1200 miles. i don't think i would do anything differently. i'm not sure if its neccessary or not, but it said so in the owners manual so i followed their instructions.
Old 09-01-2003, 06:18 PM
  #3  
PhoenixINX
Registered User
 
PhoenixINX's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Nashville, TN
Posts: 2,237
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Drove it normally... without flogging it.

Once every 100 miles take it to redline through a couple gears. This will help the rings to set properly.

If you don't do this... in years to come you may find the engine to be burning oil more rapidly.
Old 09-01-2003, 08:28 PM
  #4  
350ed
Professional
iTrader: (17)
 
350ed's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: San Diego
Posts: 1,045
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Evil350z,
Why would it matter if you did it through various gears? As the engine sees it, isn't it the same whether 1st or 6th? I guess Neutral is different because of no load.
Thanks!
Old 09-01-2003, 09:19 PM
  #5  
ares
Veteran
iTrader: (2)
 
ares's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: ATL
Posts: 10,816
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

1st is also basicly no load on it, higher gears are more controlled than low gears.

I personally held it under 4000 for 6-800miles(I forget) then went to 5000, for a while, then 6000 by 1000 miles. finally running it to 1200 and driving it as I wanted.

treated it as a curve rather than steps.

wouldnt do anything different, if it didnt help the car, it atleast broke me into feeling that kind of power. Id hate to just sit down in the Z, floor it and go holy crap right before I hit the tree.
Old 09-01-2003, 10:20 PM
  #6  
350ed
Professional
iTrader: (17)
 
350ed's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: San Diego
Posts: 1,045
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Cool, I didn't know that. Thanks.
So far I haven't pushed it very hard. I think I'll wait for a wide open area sans vegitation
Old 09-01-2003, 11:41 PM
  #7  
ragtopz
New Member
 
ragtopz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: honolulu, hawaii
Posts: 1,443
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

basically i am doing like the manual stated...

no quick accelerations, especially from a standstill, no hard braking, no going over 4,000 rpms.
i have personally never heard of the go up to 6,000 rpms thing. i have had the car for 3 1/2 weeks and i have been trying to get over 1,200 miles so that i can see what she can do, but so far i only have about 440 miles. i was on vacation so i was able to drive it alot. now the miles will slow down. it wont be for another 2 months or so before i reach 1,200. the anticipation is killing me... however, i think i will be happy i did it this way in the long run. not sure if it is really necessary, but better to be safe than sorry....
Old 09-02-2003, 12:10 AM
  #8  
KONVERTER
Registered User
iTrader: (2)
 
KONVERTER's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: SoCa
Posts: 2,729
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

i drove it normally.... didnt redline it all the time.. but opened it up every once in a while...
Old 09-02-2003, 08:01 AM
  #9  
zh.guitar
Leave your mark!
iTrader: (1)
 
zh.guitar's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: new mexico
Posts: 861
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

You have to get it up in RPMs once in awhile during break in or the rings won't seat. You don't push the piston through the full excursion and will end up with a slower engine. Start out under 4000 for a few hundred miles and slowly push it. You'll be at redline before you know it!!!!
Old 09-02-2003, 02:05 PM
  #10  
HokieZ
Registered User
iTrader: (1)
 
HokieZ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 1,170
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I'm not disagreeing with you, but if you should take it to redline a few times during the breakin, wouldn't Nissan mention and encourage this?
Old 09-02-2003, 06:17 PM
  #11  
Daytona Blue Z in Bo
Registered User
 
Daytona Blue Z in Bo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 649
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

When I test drove my Z (at the time really did not expect to buy it right away) it had 7 miles on it and I believe I hit about 5500 on it around 10 miles.. But already by 4500 miles I had broke into the 13's and trapped 101 at the strip. I did however for 1200 miles drive 98% under 4k with an occacional 5500-6k run. It seems to get faster with every 1k miles on it and I am getting about 32MPG at 65mph in 6th
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
etkms
Engine & Drivetrain
29
06-19-2022 06:30 PM
Juztin
Forced Induction
16
11-22-2015 07:03 AM
davidm350
2003-2009 Nissan 350Z
37
10-31-2015 02:28 PM



Quick Reply: Check up on initial car break-in...



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 09:55 PM.