Dr Nick

hi, I got my new accord I4 last week and I was wondering the best way to
break it in (looking for opinions becuase from what I've seen it varies from
person to person) the book mearly suggests that you take it easy for teh
first 500 miles (which I'm fast approaching). I've been doing smooth slow
accelerations and when I'm on teh highway I'm not staying at one speed too
long. now that I'm almost past teh 500 mile mark what else should I be doing
(I've head some people say now is the point you should be pushing the engine
harder to break it in) I'm shifting about 3,000-3500 on the tach (manual
trans.) should I be shifting slightly higher now? should I bring it closer
to redline for a bit? just looking for some opinions. thanks!

-nick

Alan Browne

Dr Nick wrote:

> hi, I got my new accord I4 last week and I was wondering the best way to
> break it in (looking for opinions becuase from what I've seen it varies from
> person to person) the book mearly suggests that you take it easy for teh
> first 500 miles (which I'm fast approaching). I've been doing smooth slow
> accelerations and when I'm on teh highway I'm not staying at one speed too
> long. now that I'm almost past teh 500 mile mark what else should I be doing
> (I've head some people say now is the point you should be pushing the engine
> harder to break it in) I'm shifting about 3,000-3500 on the tach (manual
> trans.) should I be shifting slightly higher now? should I bring it closer
> to redline for a bit? just looking for some opinions. thanks!

Taking it easy on acceleration and driving at varying speeds are the two
key things that you're doing right.

There is no magic about breaking in an engine. Once it's broken in,
that's it. It's done. Pushing it harder does not do anything more (or
less) to the engine. After 500 miles the rings are well seated, the
cams are smoothed, the crank is polished, etc, etc.

So enjoy opening it up more, but just enjoy it.

On my first two new cars I would change the oil every 4,000 km for the
first year ... that's a bit much. I now change oil every 5000 - 6000 km
regardles of car age, and the oil is not too dirty looking even after
70,000+ km.

Cheers,
Alan

twfsa

Hammer It!

Tom


"Dr Nick" <Drnick5@***.net> wrote in message
newsHVof.8269$9G.7967@dukeread10...
> hi, I got my new accord I4 last week and I was wondering the best way to
> break it in (looking for opinions becuase from what I've seen it varies
> from person to person) the book mearly suggests that you take it easy for
> teh first 500 miles (which I'm fast approaching). I've been doing smooth
> slow accelerations and when I'm on teh highway I'm not staying at one
> speed too long. now that I'm almost past teh 500 mile mark what else
> should I be doing (I've head some people say now is the point you should
> be pushing the engine harder to break it in) I'm shifting about 3,000-3500
> on the tach (manual trans.) should I be shifting slightly higher now?
> should I bring it closer to redline for a bit? just looking for some
> opinions. thanks!
>
> -nick
>