I'm real excited to get my new 2011 GT to the local Test & Tune night and see what she can do. I'm wondering what you guys think about a few 1/4 mile runs before a proper break-in?

The manual has this to say about break-in...

Based on this, I'm thinking if I can do a decent break-in for 50-75 miles, that a few 1/4 mile runs won't kill it. What do you think?

 

It took me a month to put 1,000 miles on my F150 when I bought it... I'm gonna have to really find places to go to break in my '11. It specifically states to go 1,000 miles before a performance/competition condition, which I'm pretty sure would mean running the quarter early on is out.

In my track-virgin opinion... just be careful, give it a couple weeks to break it in, and somewhat learn the car before you go hit the track.

 

I ran the 1/4 at 200 miles, and hundreds of times after lol.

IMO, breaking in a car hard is not bad at all, she runs like a raped ape now.

 

I think I would want to drive it a while and get tuned into the car before making any real tries at a run at the strip.

Also, does the event recorder in the computer record full throttle blasts? If so and you have a warranty issue then they might balk about fixing it.

 

That would be really silly if Ford did that. This aint no Nissan GT-R.

 

I work at a drag strip. Every time a new hot rod comes out, someone is there with the window sticker still on flogging the dog **** out of it.

Back when we used to have the World Ford Challenge, there were always guys who had bought cars that day and would come straight to the track and race all week-end.

Not saying I would do it; and I will follow the book on break-in, but less timid guys follow the 'break it in the way you want it to run' theory.

 

break in your car like you are going to drive it.

i broke my 05 in hard, and it drives hard

bought it on a sunday was at the track on friday

 

Exactly. Drive the **** out of it as soon as possible. If it's gonna break, break it under warranty.

 

i told myself i was going to do a good break in, day i got it stayed on stop and go roads to help change RPM like it said, after about 100 miles i was doing full throttle, tire chirping runs, its just impossible to resist. no problems so far now @10k

 

Thats what I'm thinking. My commute to work is about 10 miles of stop-go. I figure a week of commuting and I'll be fine.

Also, does anyone know if they put in special break-in oil that needs to be changed at 1000m? I heard some companies are doing that.

 

Please do not stress about break-in. Relic of the past.

 

My opinion on break-in... Drive it like you always intend to. Making a lot of RPM sweeps under hard load helps to better seat the rings. Try not to make any extended highway runs with it turning 2k RPM for many hours in that first 1000 miles. Once you hit 1k miles, change the oil & filter. You will be amazed as to the quantity of metal shavings that will come out in that oil. That is all casting flash & burrs from machining coming off the moving parts. After that initial oil change, I no longer worry about how it's driven. Your engine will not be fully "broken-in" until you hit about 30k miles anyway. That is ususally when I start to see an increase in fuel ecconomy.

 

My car didn't see the track until 5k miles.

Before that, I varied my RPM speeds and gear position. If driving on the highway, i'd downshift into 4th for a while, slow down a bit, speed up a bit...just keeping the car at different RPM and different speed. Basically...I broke it in the same way i'd tell a customer to break in their motor if we had just built their motor.

 

I have seen some other motor builders recommend a very hard break in -- apparently you are not recommending that?

I'm thinking a moderately hard, but not too hard, break in is best -- you want to put some load on the parts to get them to wear-in instead of glazing-over, but not so much load as to cause excess heat build up. So get on it a bit, lighten up, repeat.

I also have seen some posts that suggest that back pressure -- meaning using the engine to slow the car, as in down-shifting -- is bad for the initial ring seal? Can anyone confirm or deny this?

 

Does the 2010 come with a magnetic drain plug? Just thinking about any metal shavings. I'm at 500 miles now, but it will be likely late summer before I see 1K miles. I don't like the idea of leaving the oil in there for that long.

 

Drive it like you stole it!! nuff said

 

I'm going with what this guy said

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

 

drive it like you stole it. high revs every gear, hard accel whenever possible.. the more the better..
dont stay at any sustained rpm for long periods, try not to engine break (slowing down by down shifting) for the first 1000 miles. always worked for me .. every vehicle i ever owned//

 

I have only broken in 1 car and one bike. Broke the car in as recomended and broke in the bike by gunning it every time i got on it. I know its apples to oranges but the bike feels more responsive where my GT feels a little sluggish. My next car i will drive it like I stole it.

Quick question, How come no engine breaking?

 

From what I've been reading, you want positive cylinder pressure to properly seat the piston rings. Negative pressure would only hurt it.