S197 650

Hello all,

This is the first brand new car I've owned and I wanted to see what your opinions were on recommended break-in procedure.

How should I be driving it? For how many miles? When should I do my first oil change?

Currently, I'm not babying it nor am I taking it to redline either. I'm driving it as I'll probably drive it normally. Thoughts?

danman0469

My dealer told me to take it easy for about 500 miles and no cruising at constant rpms for 500. Like going down the freeway, vary your rpms. At 500 miles i let er rip, and have been ever since. Just hit 1000 miles today.

S197 650

thanks for the tip, I'll try to avoid the freeway as much as possible

any ideas on first oil change?

danman0469

Im waiting on the oil life indicator to say 0% on mine. Probably 5000ish miles. Ive heard rumors on this forum that ford puts some sort of additive in the oil to help with break in.
Be sure to check your oil regularly. Mine used a little over a quart over the first 500 or so miles.

mSaLL150

One of the main points of the break in is to let the diff gears settle in since they are brand new. So mainly take it easy from stops and not mashing it from the go, easy/smooth shifting, etc. This is why with trucks they say no towing for first 1k miles so there's not much stress on the new gears.

ShaneM

i had mine on the road course at 250 miles, most of that driving to the track. i don't think modern engines really need a break in. ford says vary rpm for first 500 miles and no competition until 1000mi.

chain1

I was told by my dealership that there was no need to break in the engine. I think that's the case with all newer cars now. I was also told that every 5k miles is fine for an oil change. You will get very different opinions about this but it works for me.

SirJAG

i babied it for about 300miles...then let her rip. i changed my oil at 800miles. i also just got new 3.55 installed by the dealershop and i gave them about 20miles before hard starts.

General Jack

I followed the motoman breakin (see below) and was on the track (road course) by 250 miles. First oil change at 310 miles. However, I have avoided redline and highway cruising. I'll be back to the track by 600 miles and change the oil again by 1,000.

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

REDBOSS1

I bounced off the rev limiter the next day I bought it and it's all still in one piece.