[Gonzo18]

Hi all,
I'm about to buy a Silver Steel Metallic R/T tomorrow and was wondering how you guys have been breaking in your car? I have to drive on the freeway for about 60 miles, should I vary the rpms? Thanks for any help and can't wait to feel the take off :biggrin:

 

[naperguy]

I always break-in my vehicles on the hard side. I don't mean beating the crap out of them, but I do get on it pretty good. I was told by a teacher for ATI (Automotive Technical Institute), that you really want that motor to "learn" it's tolerances early. Made sense to me. I love the power of my Hemi in my Ram, so the Daytona should be awsome!!!!! I guess I'm a converted GM guy. My last 3 vehicles have all been Mopar. 2 Dodge Ram trucks for work, and awaiting my Daytona. I guess it Mopar or Nopar.....

 

[TATTOOMAN]

Got my Daytona Tuesday night, or should I say Wednesday morning - 2:30am!, and I am 'breaking it in' the same way naperguy is, the hard way!

Seriously though, I don't beleive in babying it around, it's meant to be driven and by that I don't mean doing neutral drops or smoking burnouts, but I don't think stomping it to the floor occasionally is going to hurt it. Varying the rpms is good in the first 500 miles, like not hopping on the eway and going 85mph for 6 hours in high gear. Just driving the thing back & forth to work in stop & go traffic is a good break-in as long as you give it some longer winded runs on a open road or highway in between.

I've owned new cars/trucks/motorcycles and drag cars/motorcycles and basically I drive 'em like I stole them and they will either run or break. On a passenger car like these, they don't build them so tight or so loose you have to worry about it. I am a firm believer in changing out the oil sooner than 3000 miles on the first change though. I change the oil & filter at 500 miles and put Mobil One synthetic in & the best filter you can buy, get's any crap that may be floating around from the manufacturing processes out of the motor/oil before it does any harm.

 

[elcapitan87]

I agree. There are a few articles that you can find out there on the net that discuss the benefits of a hard break-in for a new motor. The idea being that by running the motor hard from the start, you seal the rings better and quicker providing a slightly better running motor.
I always break my vehicles in hard with the Charger being no exception. In the week I've had it, it has seen plenty of redline shifts to balance the highway cruising that is my work commute.
To give a specific recommendation, I'd say to break it in how you expect to drive it. If you're going to run the car though its paces on a regular basis, then don't be shy with it at break-in. If you're going to granny the car, then do it from the start.

 

[Gonzo18]

Thanks for the replys! I will posts some pics when I bring her home!