Proper Engine Break-in

[Jinba ittai]

Break it in like you're going to drive it.

That’s certainly not my interpretation, so the manual must not be that clear.

 

[David s]

So I've got a somewhat unique situation, though it is more common in the U.S. My drive home from the dealer will be 750 miles!

Since these are the recommendations from the factory, they seem like the best we will get.

Regarding the following statement, I could use some help/info "Don’t get on motorway and do very long distances at same rpm - vary speed or gears to allow engine to bed in at different revs". Highway speeds will mostly be in the 70-80mph range, but what I don't know is this...

• How many RPM is that in 6th gear in Tour mode?
• How many RPM is that in 5th gear in Tour mode?
• I assume 4th gear would get me well above the 4,000 RPM threshhold.

Appreciate any answers or advice on making my trip while adhering to the break-in guidelines. This is a 12-hour trip under normal driving conditions and unfortunately I will need to make it in a single day.

Just relax and drive it.

 

[djprov431]

Right, my previous point was simply to show there is no 4,000 hard stop, and even in the manual Lotus is saying to occasionally give it the beans -- why? Because the engine should experience the full range of pressures to be broken in well! Just make sure it's at operating temp, you don't sit at 6000 rpm for 3 minutes, and don't beat it like you're at a race track -- but DO drive it, and DO push it to the red line on occasion, and DO run up in all gears - your engine will thank you.

 

[tnbuilder]

I really hope that folks don't believe this "don't go above 4000 RPM" stuff - break in is documented clearly in the Lotus manual. My brand new Emira has been to the red line mulitple times already and it has only 200 miles on it...of course this is only after it's at proper operating temp and I vary what I do. Break it in like you're going to drive it.View attachment 54585

Thank you...so tired of people saying don't go over 4K for the first 1K miles. I would not want a car that was just beat on in the first 1K miles, but no way do I want one that was absolutely babied in the first 1K either. I agree varying loads and rpm, and important to let come up to temperature. I still take it very easy till car is up to temp and I am currently at about 6K miles.

 

[Jinba ittai]

I varied the speed and RPMs (occasionally above 4000), but I kept to half throttle until 1600 km. That definitely felt like babying compared to how I’ve driven it since. I’m happy I did it, but no judgment to those who didn’t. Its your car, do what you want.

 

[seriously]

Heard the Porsche GT3 guy talk about break in and it was the same deal. Don't bog the engine. Go easy on it in the beginning. Gradually increase the RPMs - you should in fact exercise the engine. Then when you're past break in drive it like you stole it. I agree and think this is the best way to prepare an engine for a long healthy life. You are also breaking in the rest of the drivetrain and suspension, etc. The numbers are all guidelines to achieve this.

Maxing it out day 1 is not good. Babying your car and never putting load or exploring higher RPMs is also not good. I think never driving your car is the biggest contributor to problems.