I had expected that the question I posed a couple of weeks ago << https://my350z.com/forum/2003-2009-nissan-350z/276259-new-2007-350z-a-concern-and-a-question.html >> regarding the guidelines for breaking in my new 350Z, would result in a handful of straightforward answers including, of course, at least two or three different points of view.

Little did I suspect the widely varying differences of opinion; and not only that, but most have plausible explanations or justifications for their reasoning. How fast and when should the engine be revved up is the main diverging issue, and if you have the time, you can read all sorts of reasoning for each in the following links.

Some issues, however, appeared to be more widely accepted by most; namely:
1. The car should be driven at varying speeds during the first several 100 or perhaps 1,000 miles or so; and definitely not a constant speeds for any length of time..
2. The engine oil should be changed very early in the life of the engine. Whether it is driven nice and easy, or ‘fast and furious’ in its infancy, everyone agrees that there is a lot of wear of mating parts occurring for perhaps the first 2,000 miles, and being heaviest during the first few 100’s miles. This generates a lot of metal particles that are carried away by the oil, and although it is filtered before being put back in circulation, it would be wise to change the oil after several 100 miles instead of waiting 3K or 4K miles for the first oil change.
3. The cam shaft may require as much or perhaps even more attention as the piston rings for proper breaking-in. (Read the Eng-Tips)

The following links have very interesting and rather well substantiated information. The last link, Eng-Tips, is an engineering forum I use for my work, mostly electro-mechanical in nature. In this particular subject, a number of engineers, some of whom work in this field, voice their opinions, and as you will see, they do not all agree either!

http://www.enginesonly.com/break-in.html

http://www.cartalk.com/content/colum...tember/02.html

http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

http://www.aircooled.net/gnrlsite/re...s/engnbrkn.htm

http://www.motortrend.com/features/e...e_performance/

http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.c...=132558&page=1

 

could always play it safe and do what nissan engineers/service manual recommends.

 

Manual says this.


Do whatever you want.

 

What an itchy lead foot you will have.

 

All those threads are swell but how about just reading your manual. (Clue: it was written by the same guys that built your car).

 

I'm just driving it like I normally would except for having the shift light set at 3600rpm. Only 750 more miles to go.

 

Most important thing IMO is letting the car warm up properly

 

^ Yup. Don't let it sit too long. As soon as the needle moves online with the C, it's ready to go. Just don't open it up until fully warmed up.

I find it laughable that the manual say "Avoid hard braking"... you gotta break in the pads/rotors, as I'm pretty sure they don't come pre-broken in. Case in point... I broke in my rotors on a downhill run in my Evo after "thinking" they were good to go. Got brake fade like a **** (with Brembos, mind you) and smoke was pouring out of my wheel wells. I've since run that road about 7-8 times with not one issue, with MUCH harder braking.

Everything else the manual points out makes sense, and if that's what they recommend, that's usually the way to go (minus the brake thing).

 

Do what the manual says.