Feedback on my Break-In Procedure

[flounder5]

Hello all,

Just purchased my FL5 this past weekend. I haven't purchased a brand new car in a long time so I'm not sure if I'm breaking in the engine correctly, was hoping to get feedback. The owners manual has very vague advice and doesn't prescribe an RPM limit so I'm not sure if what I'm doing is correct or if I need to make any adjustments.

Here's what I've been doing:

1. For the first 10-15 mins I keep the RPMs below 3000, using very light throttle application. Basically babying it until it warms up.

2. Once warmed up, I shift at 4000 RPM, and never use more than about 50% throttle. I consistently vary throttle and RPMs.

3. I do quite a few pulls in various gears where I start at about 2500 RPM, increase engine speed to about 4000 RPM (while applying no more than about 50% throttle), let off the gas to engage engine braking so I slow down to about 2500 RPM, and then repeat. I repeat this cycle several times and will do it in various gears. The oil temp gets up to 192-195 F when I do this (note that I'm in Northern California where ambient temp is quite low FWIW). After doing this a couple of times I'll give the car a "break" where I'll sit in one gear, varying RPM between 2800-3200 RPM.

4. I'm able to drive in hilly areas where I can just coast in different gears when going downhill.

How does this approach sound to you folks? One question I had is whether shifting at 4000 RPM is too high or if I should baby it a bit more and maybe shift at 3000 or 3500 RPM. I'm at 150 miles currently FWIW.

Also, the fact that I'm going up to 195F oil temp given low ambient temp (~50F at night when I've been driving) -- is this concerning? Browsing around various forums it seems people typically see oil temps in the 180s during regular driving.

Again, would love to hear your feedback, and thanks in advance for your help!

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[Mobias]

According to Honda you are supposed to keep rpms below 4000 and not perform hard acceleration or braking for 600 miles.

 

[flounder5]

Thank you for the quick feedback!

So technically shifting at 4000 satisfies that condition? Or should I not be hitting 4000 at all, and maybe I should leave some margin?

 

[Mobias]

They say you aren't supposed to exceed 4000rpm. So shifting at or before would be fine. Now all that being said, there are many many opinions on breaking in a new engine and whether or not it's actually necessary. I mean some people full send immediately.

Personally, I followed the process I have mentioned and don't have any regrets thus far. But I also have super low mileage overall.

 

[flounder5]

Thank you @Mobias !

 

[Tougefl5]

600 miles 4k shifting. 1k miles first oil change then send it what I did.

 

[Mobias]

That's exactly how mine went. LoL. By the time I hit 1500 miles I was fully modified and putting down 570whp.

 

[flounder5]

Thank you @Tougefl5, this is helpful (sounds similar to what I'm doing).

I'll do the oil change at 1k. Any recommendation on the type of oil I should use?

 

[Tougefl5]

Thank you @Tougefl5, this is helpful (sounds similar to what I'm doing).

I'll do the oil change at 1k. Any recommendation on the type of oil I should use?

I've only used honda OEM so far. I don't really get to drive mine that much. I'm not stock however I'll be switching to a heavier weight aftermarket oil next change.
Don't over think the shit too much. Enjoy your car.

 

[Clark_Kent]

You're overthinking this. Just follow the guidance Honda published. Randos on a web forum aren't an authority on engine break-in procedures.

 

[flounder5]

Thanks again @Tougefl5 for the help!

@Clark_Kent I agree I'm probably being a bit anal, it's just the guidance provided by Honda is super vague: "During the first 600 miles (1,000 km) of operation, avoid sudden acceleration or full throttle operation so as not to damage the engine or powertrain." (Taken from the owner's manual)

 

[evlsmurf]

You're overthinking this. Just follow the guidance Honda published. Randos on a web forum aren't an authority on engine break-in procedures.

This. I just focused on keeping it below 4k rpms, varying those rpms, and no cruise control for the first 1k miles. Keep it simple.

 

[AZCWTypeR]

After warm-up, oil temp will always be 10-15F above water temperature in normal driving. This temp will evaporate gasoline dilution, which is a good thing on direct injected engines.

Your break-in sounds fine. BTW I use 5W-30 full synthetic. I live 3 miles inside a neighborhood, so my car is warmed up by the time I get to highway speed and I'm not worried about my oil being to cold & thick.

 

[jtlctr]

Hello all,

Just purchased my FL5 this past weekend. I haven't purchased a brand new car in a long time so I'm not sure if I'm breaking in the engine correctly, was hoping to get feedback. The owners manual has very vague advice and doesn't prescribe an RPM limit so I'm not sure if what I'm doing is correct or if I need to make any adjustments.

Here's what I've been doing:

1. For the first 10-15 mins I keep the RPMs below 3000, using very light throttle application. Basically babying it until it warms up.

2. Once warmed up, I shift at 4000 RPM, and never use more than about 50% throttle. I consistently vary throttle and RPMs.

3. I do quite a few pulls in various gears where I start at about 2500 RPM, increase engine speed to about 4000 RPM (while applying no more than about 50% throttle), let off the gas to engage engine braking so I slow down to about 2500 RPM, and then repeat. I repeat this cycle several times and will do it in various gears. The oil temp gets up to 192-195 F when I do this (note that I'm in Northern California where ambient temp is quite low FWIW). After doing this a couple of times I'll give the car a "break" where I'll sit in one gear, varying RPM between 2800-3200 RPM.

4. I'm able to drive in hilly areas where I can just coast in different gears when going downhill.

How does this approach sound to you folks? One question I had is whether shifting at 4000 RPM is too high or if I should baby it a bit more and maybe shift at 3000 or 3500 RPM. I'm at 150 miles currently FWIW.

Also, the fact that I'm going up to 195F oil temp given low ambient temp (~50F at night when I've been driving) -- is this concerning? Browsing around various forums it seems people typically see oil temps in the 180s during regular driving.

Again, would love to hear your feedback, and thanks in advance for your help!

From what I understand, you are doing it correctly. I went through a very similar process when breaking in my engine. After spending this kind of money, I got pretty OCD about doing a proper break in. Along with the owner’s manual recommendations, I basically followed this guy’s advice:

It’s a long video, but he seems as knowledgeable as anyone.

As far as oil temps go, mine usually ranges between 186-193. Also the oil temp is not a true reading, it’s calculated based on oil pressure and coolant temp (and maybe other parameters?), so who knows how precise the reading is.

 

[chopsuey34]

What you're doing is good, but you're definitely overthinking it. It's a Honda engine and won't blow up if you exceed 4,001 rpm lol

Like others said, let the car warm up and forget about oil temps on the street, drive it casually, avoid going over 4k (but going to 4.5k or 5k isn't going to hurt it), don't go on throttle too hard, vary the revs, etc..

Just drive it like you would an Accord or Camry for a few hundred miles.

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