controversial way of breakin in the engine...good read..
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Registered User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 36
From: seattle
controversial way of breakin in the engine...good read..
http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm
i dunno if you guys have checked this out, but it's a good read on a non traditional way of breaking in the engine... riding it rough in the beggining actually will improve your engine in the long run...or so it says...
anyway GOOD READ, tell me what you guys think
i dunno if you guys have checked this out, but it's a good read on a non traditional way of breaking in the engine... riding it rough in the beggining actually will improve your engine in the long run...or so it says...
anyway GOOD READ, tell me what you guys think
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 52
From: San Pedro
Car Info: 2004 STI
I've always said break it in hard it will run hard. Just goes to show if you look hard enough you can find information to back you up even if you're not right . I broke mine in hard.Runs great no detination. I am very happy.
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the rebuttal
So I guess I'm the first one for the rebuttal. Basically the counter argument is this:
Who the heck made this guy the definitive word on breaking in Subaru STi engines? I mean everywhere I got it's always the same link to the same article about the same guy. I've never seen one single guy get so much acclaim for something everyone else disagrees with.
Read the owners manual, it says under 4k for 1k. Since they built the car and since it's not exactly in their best interest to have you break it in the wrong way why wouldn't you trust them?
Just a thought.
Who the heck made this guy the definitive word on breaking in Subaru STi engines? I mean everywhere I got it's always the same link to the same article about the same guy. I've never seen one single guy get so much acclaim for something everyone else disagrees with.
Read the owners manual, it says under 4k for 1k. Since they built the car and since it's not exactly in their best interest to have you break it in the wrong way why wouldn't you trust them?
Just a thought.
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 173
From: New York
Car Info: 2002 WRX wagon
I agree with simon13elmont: Do it by the book. The one thing that I do (did, actually) was to change the oil and filter 3x in the first 5k miles. If you take samples of the oil and run it through a fine mesh drip filter you will see "glints" of metals. These diminish each time the oil is changed. When you see race engines on a dyno, they use a constant flow of fresh oil, for this very reason. Even so, NASCAR builders will change an engine and give up a pole spot if there is stuff in the oil after practice or qualifying. And those good 'ol buy know a thing or two about HP.
Originally posted by nypatrick
I agree with simon13elmont: Do it by the book. The one thing that I do (did, actually) was to change the oil and filter 3x in the first 5k miles. If you take samples of the oil and run it through a fine mesh drip filter you will see "glints" of metals. These diminish each time the oil is changed. When you see race engines on a dyno, they use a constant flow of fresh oil, for this very reason. Even so, NASCAR builders will change an engine and give up a pole spot if there is stuff in the oil after practice or qualifying. And those good 'ol buy know a thing or two about HP.
I agree with simon13elmont: Do it by the book. The one thing that I do (did, actually) was to change the oil and filter 3x in the first 5k miles. If you take samples of the oil and run it through a fine mesh drip filter you will see "glints" of metals. These diminish each time the oil is changed. When you see race engines on a dyno, they use a constant flow of fresh oil, for this very reason. Even so, NASCAR builders will change an engine and give up a pole spot if there is stuff in the oil after practice or qualifying. And those good 'ol buy know a thing or two about HP.
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 113
Car Info: Blue STi +Red del Sol VTEC
I had read an article about aviation motors breakin and it's not to beat it hard. No abrupt acceleration, No overrevving,No lugging the engine. But also like Simon said why would Subaru steer you in the wrong direction when they don't want to fix stuff on warranty and they want your next car to be a Subaru.
Also maybe it doesn't mean anything but my friend's best time w/ his Evo is 13.8@100mph(he broke it in hard) I saw one at the same track run 13.4@102.5(he broke it in easy)
A couple of weeks ago before i got my STi i saw one run a 13.54@102mph on a 1.900 60'(he broke it in hard) then the next week i seen one run 12.89@106 on a 1.76 60'(broke in easy)
I'm going easy till 1k changing the oil then easy a couple hundred more then actually driving my car.
Also maybe it doesn't mean anything but my friend's best time w/ his Evo is 13.8@100mph(he broke it in hard) I saw one at the same track run 13.4@102.5(he broke it in easy)
A couple of weeks ago before i got my STi i saw one run a 13.54@102mph on a 1.900 60'(he broke it in hard) then the next week i seen one run 12.89@106 on a 1.76 60'(broke in easy)
I'm going easy till 1k changing the oil then easy a couple hundred more then actually driving my car.
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 30
From: Wheeling, IL
Car Info: First STi in the Midwest
Re: the rebuttal
Originally posted by simon13elmont
So I guess I'm the first one for the rebuttal. Basically the counter argument is this:
Who the heck made this guy the definitive word on breaking in Subaru STi engines? I mean everywhere I got it's always the same link to the same article about the same guy. I've never seen one single guy get so much acclaim for something everyone else disagrees with.
Read the owners manual, it says under 4k for 1k. Since they built the car and since it's not exactly in their best interest to have you break it in the wrong way why wouldn't you trust them?
Just a thought.
So I guess I'm the first one for the rebuttal. Basically the counter argument is this:
Who the heck made this guy the definitive word on breaking in Subaru STi engines? I mean everywhere I got it's always the same link to the same article about the same guy. I've never seen one single guy get so much acclaim for something everyone else disagrees with.
Read the owners manual, it says under 4k for 1k. Since they built the car and since it's not exactly in their best interest to have you break it in the wrong way why wouldn't you trust them?
Just a thought.
Also maybe it doesn't mean anything but my friend's best time w/ his Evo is 13.8@100mph(he broke it in hard) I saw one at the same track run 13.4@102.5(he broke it in easy)
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Here is a link I saved on the subject:
http://www.angelfire.com/ia/z/FZ1breakin.htm
It is motorcycle based, as is motoman's stuff. It summarizes motoman's thoughts on the subject, then has a lot of commentary for and against. Also has some nice info on synthetic oil usage.
What's more interesting is down a little more than half-way, where a different break-in procedure is described (4/14/01), along with some details of why the author believes it is correct. I like the quote:
which pretty much sums the whole problem up.
As has also been mentioned in other threads for this topic, you're certainly wrong if you baby it until exactly 1000 miles, then drive it like crazy. If you're going to baby it, then you need to work up to full throttle and full rpm gradually. I chose 4k max until 600 miles, then the next 200 with occasional spurts to 5k, then 6k, then finally 7k. I didn't use full throttle until after 800 miles either (boy was that a surprise for me and my passenger, the first time we took off at full throttle and just got flung toward the first set of cones!).
http://www.angelfire.com/ia/z/FZ1breakin.htm
It is motorcycle based, as is motoman's stuff. It summarizes motoman's thoughts on the subject, then has a lot of commentary for and against. Also has some nice info on synthetic oil usage.
What's more interesting is down a little more than half-way, where a different break-in procedure is described (4/14/01), along with some details of why the author believes it is correct. I like the quote:
We must achieve a happy medium where we are pushing on the ring hard enough to wear it in but not hard enough to generate enough heat to cause glazing
As has also been mentioned in other threads for this topic, you're certainly wrong if you baby it until exactly 1000 miles, then drive it like crazy. If you're going to baby it, then you need to work up to full throttle and full rpm gradually. I chose 4k max until 600 miles, then the next 200 with occasional spurts to 5k, then 6k, then finally 7k. I didn't use full throttle until after 800 miles either (boy was that a surprise for me and my passenger, the first time we took off at full throttle and just got flung toward the first set of cones!).
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 113
Car Info: Blue STi +Red del Sol VTEC
Originally posted by DanaJ
As has also been mentioned in other threads for this topic, you're certainly wrong if you baby it until exactly 1000 miles, then drive it like crazy. If you're going to baby it, then you need to work up to full throttle and full rpm gradually. [/B]
As has also been mentioned in other threads for this topic, you're certainly wrong if you baby it until exactly 1000 miles, then drive it like crazy. If you're going to baby it, then you need to work up to full throttle and full rpm gradually. [/B]
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OK...now, this is critical to me so I don't screw my engine up when I do get my STI. If anyone knows, is the honing pattern in the STI cylinder Rough or Fine honed?
Do not use synthetic oils? So I'd have to drain the thing at the dealership and tell them to add Petro based oil...fine that is not an issue for me, but I want to be certain I'm not following the advice of a few loons who just want to post crap so they appear Knowledgeable.
Find a happy medium is the key phrase so far, but having a difinitive answer would be wonderful. I just don't like floating around in the Gray area when it comes to my New Engines break-in/engine life. Basically what I'm saying is Happy medium is fine, but is it equivalent to doing it half-assed?
Do not use synthetic oils? So I'd have to drain the thing at the dealership and tell them to add Petro based oil...fine that is not an issue for me, but I want to be certain I'm not following the advice of a few loons who just want to post crap so they appear Knowledgeable.
Find a happy medium is the key phrase so far, but having a difinitive answer would be wonderful. I just don't like floating around in the Gray area when it comes to my New Engines break-in/engine life. Basically what I'm saying is Happy medium is fine, but is it equivalent to doing it half-assed?