[glenn4dde]

I noticed different opinions on the break-in period. I was just wondering if any of you guys took it easy on your C?

Personally, I have beat the sh1t out of my C since 10 miles on the odometer. I couldn't control myself. It's too fun to drive like a wimpy car.

 

[Hemi57]

glenn4dde, LOL

My brother has a philosphy, "drive them hard right from the word go and they will go hard all their life". It seems to work for him as his rides go alot harder than the average hacks. One time when he traded, the sales guy could not believe how well his old ride performed and he bought it himself.

The quiet run in period should make the mechanicals last longer if you intend to keep it for a long time tho.

You just keep enjoying, good luck

 

[II kings 9:20]

It is a throwback to the 30s and 40s when cars had cast iron pistons etc. I do granny drive for the first 500 or so (not 500K) but I really think it's all voodoo and superstition. Over reving a cold or unloaded engine is bad which has nothing to do with break in. Many makes don't even address break in. Granny driving won't hurt which is why many of us do it, but many people drive hard day one and I have never heard of anyone damaging or shortening the life of an engine by doing this. Hard driving esp. WOT from a stand still any time is hard on the diff, trans, half shafts etc. and may wear these components prematurely (many examples in racing). That is a concern for the sapsucker who buys it used from the fourth owner 11 years from now, not for me .

 

[EricT]

I am also in the " break it in hard" group. I have a 94 suburban and was hard on it from the first day, heck took it to the dragstrip and bracket raced it the first weekend w/ less than 100miles on her! 10 years & 200,000 miles later still driving it hard. Still race it and tow with it, and drive it hard on the freeway, so...

 

[E55 KEV]

I bet you would not buy a car from a guy who confessed that he drove it hard from the start and did not believe in a gentle break-in.

You can't make a Porn Star out of a Virgin overnight. It takes some easing into!

 

[II kings 9:20]

I won't even drive a car if I see a Fram filter on it and I certainly would'nt buy one driven hard from day one (voodoo notwithstanding), no one ever fesses that up though cause they know most will walk.

 

[smitty]

even the owners manual says to get on it!

 

[II kings 9:20]

Yes after 300 miles. Page 57 states "Drive moderately during the first 300 miles. After the initial 60 miles speeds up to 50 or 55mph are desirable" Woohoo!!

"While cruising, brief full throttle acceleration .. contributes to good break in. WOT acceleration in low gear can be detrimental and should be avoided"

I think this says it all. Brief WOT is fine during breakin but if you do it long enough to drop into lower gears it is not good. This means very brief WOT because it kicks down fast. This would hardly be considered driving it "hard".

 

[EricT]

At least I know I don't have an build up in the combustion cambers LOL
No blow by and 180psi in all 8!!! and I'm keeping her so...

 

[5point7]

Picked mine up 2 Friday's ago w/ 17 miles on it, was unloaded from the truck only hours before.. and I'm averaging 13.3 through 3 tanks. I swear my shoes get heavier whenever I sit in the driver seat for some reason....

Drive it like you stole it.

 

[BlackRT]

Drive it hard.

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

 

[E55 KEV]

Yeah, I am getting worse gas mileage than my E55. Mine is also in the 13.X range. I would like better. I guess drivers of the Upcoming 6.1 liter 300C SRT-8 will be getting 9 or 10 miles from the 14 mile city rating. GAS HOG!

 

[coolvanilla]

During the week I'm averaging 16.7, a lot of stop & go traffic. Weekends I'm approaching 20 mpg, more highway driving. And I usually average about 80 mph on weekends to/from the golf course.

 

[Tornnight]

With all the different MPG everyone is reporting, I'm starting to think that Chrysler is still updating the MDS software.

Regarding break-in... hard to know what to do... that article has some interesting points but I would'nt know if it's BS or not.

 

[yenga80]

I also thought that the motoman article was interesting and made sense but he seemed to only know or work on motorcycles not cars. but he did mention it pertained to all 4 cycle engines not just 2. it made sense though about the piston rings wearing in correctly with more gas pressure to seat well. who knows......