Recommended Engine Break-in Period

[rangerdanger]

Going off the manual, from page 213, what Ford recommends for breaking-in the engine is pretty self-explanatory.

"Avoid driving too fast during the first 1,000 mi (1,500 km). Vary your speed frequently and change up through the gears early. Do not labor the engine."

Is there anything else we should be doing to ease the engine break-in process?

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[Desert_5G]

most recommend avoid full throttle starts

 

[Beef_Stew]

I drove my new F150 like a bat out of hell from day one and 40k miles later it's great

 

[Schafies]

The Ford tracking site has my delivery as 1/20. I am leaving on a 1200 mile, one way, highway trip approx. 5 days after that. I would love to drive the new truck but it will not be practical to get very many miles on it before I leave. Any opinion on driving a new vehicle at highway speeds for extended times with under 1000 miles on it?

 

[kep]

drive some at 60, some at 65, some at 70. Just vary the speeds and you will be alright.

 

[StAugKid]

I honestly drove the piss out of my Fiesta ST from the night I took delivery. It has about 20k miles on it and I still drive it like I hate it. I've heard two schools of thought with engine break in. Some recommend to baby it and go through a whole ritual of not over 3k rpm, no more than 60 mph, always vary speed, etc. I've also heard it recommended that you drive it like you would normally drive it to break it in to the way it would be day to day. I've owned cars and put over 100k miles on many and I've done it both ways and never noticed a difference. I just know it was a lot more fun to break in the car when I wasn't in the right lane flagging grandma to pass me in her Grand Marquis.

 

[Schafies]

Appreciate the replies. Thanks.

 

[Beef_Stew]

I honestly drove the piss out of my Fiesta ST from the night I took delivery. It has about 20k miles on it and I still drive it like I hate it. I've heard two schools of thought with engine break in. Some recommend to baby it and go through a whole ritual of not over 3k rpm, no more than 60 mph, always vary speed, etc. I've also heard it recommended that you drive it like you would normally drive it to break it in to the way it would be day to day. I've owned cars and put over 100k miles on many and I've done it both ways and never noticed a difference. I just know it was a lot more fun to break in the car when I wasn't in the right lane flagging grandma to pass me in her Grand Marquis.

Agreed. I've always been told to drive it like you mean it the first few thousand miles. Any issues should become apparent then

 

[pannwfn]

I have always followed the the break in procedure outlined by Lycoming aircraft engines and that is to heat cycle them. At 20000 feet who are are you going to believe this or your friend If your buddy tells you to run it like you stole it you're a moron and he's an idiot.

 

[Pinecrestjim]

drive some at 60, some at 65, some at 70. Just vary the speeds and you will be alright.

This - just vary the speed. I broke in my '00 Miata SE doing this five days after purchase, driving up I-95. 15-20 minutes at each speed on cruise control. I'd pass some cars, later they'd pass me. The 4 cyl engine has 226K on it now, not a single problem.

 

[HighCaliberMitch]

How does one "labor" an engine.

 

[DHare]

How does one "labor" an engine.

Generally means you run the transmission in a higher gear than it should be in. Common in manual transmissions when you fail to downshift and the engine can't keep the rpms up for the load it is encountering.

 

[Msfitoy]

How does one "labor" an engine.

Drive it 28,000 miles in the first year brother

 

[gfitzge2]

I have always followed the the break in procedure outlined by Lycoming aircraft engines and that is to heat cycle them. At 20000 feet who are are you going to believe this or your friend If your buddy tells you to run it like you stole it you're a moron and he's an idiot.

 

[Dokkenmire]

Just make sure it's warmed up before you beat on it. Always worked for me lol.

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