What Is a Break-In Period for New Cars?
When people talk about the break-in period for a new car, they're most likely referring to conditioning the engine for optimal lifetime performance. Freshly-machined engine parts from the factory typically need consistent exposure to low pressure, standard operating temperatures, and proper lubrication to evenly wear the engine before it can be put under too much strain. The break-in period helps the engine's moving parts “settle in” together so they fit properly for the rest of the engine's life.
During the break-in period, the piston rings and cylinder bores usually matter most in modern engines. The primary goal of engine break-in is to properly seat the piston rings against the cylinder walls. This is achieved when combustion gases cause the piston rings to expand and pressurize the inside of the cylinder bore, wearing down the cylinder walls and creating a seal. Trying to rush this process or push the engine too hard too soon can lead to “hot spots” in the cylinders that may cause expensive problems down the road.
The benefits of correctly breaking in your engine can include better fuel economy, lower oil consumption, more power from the engine, and longer overall engine life — not a bad deal for showing a little restraint for the first 500 miles of your new car.
How to Break In Your New Car
When it comes to breaking in a new car, there are many things to avoid doing.
First, you want to avoid unleashing the full potential of your INFINITI until the engine has a chance to wear evenly. That doesn't mean driving 20 MPH under the speed limit for 500 miles. Rather, it means not pushing your engine to its limits with excessively high speeds, extended idling, and full-throttle acceleration. Here are some general guidelines of what to expect when breaking in your new car.
1. Vary Engine Speed & Avoid Idling
The purpose of varying your speed during your INFINITI's first 500 miles is to ensure the engine is properly broken in across a wide range of speeds and conditions. For this reason, it's best to avoid excessive idle times as well as the use of cruise control, as these may cause uneven wear in the cylinder bores.
In other words, you don't want to drive at one constant speed for a long time. This is especially important for manual transmission vehicles. A road trip, for example, may not be the best way to break in your new INFINITI, as you will likely be driving at a near-constant speed on the highway for most of the journey. In contrast, driving in and around a city where your speed is constantly changing can be a better break-in procedure.
2. Do Not Exceed 4,000 RPM or Red Line
When breaking in your INFINITI, avoid driving over 4,000 RPM or revving the engine to the red line (known as “redlining”) on your tachometer. The goal behind this break-in procedure is to gradually and evenly wear your engine to create a consistent seal between the piston rings and cylinder walls. Redlining and exceeding 4,000 RPM can place excessive heat and pressure on your engine parts.
3. Do Not Accelerate at Full Throttle
Similar to redlining, accelerating with the gas pedal all the way to the floor — also known as full throttle — can place tremendous strain on your brand new engine. It's best to stay at or under half-throttle when accelerating, especially when starting from a stopped position.
4. Avoid Short Trips
It is critically important that you allow your engine to fully warm up while driving during the first 500 miles with your new car. Engine parts need to be broken in at normal operating temperatures, where oil flows smoothly and all the components are fully expanded from the heat. If possible, avoid short trips where your engine isn't able to warm up completely.
5. No Towing for the First 500 Miles
If your INFINITI has towing capability, make sure to avoid towing at capacity during the break-in period. Towing adds significant load to the engine and requires you to drive at a higher RPM, which is best avoided if such a task involves full-throttle acceleration or driving at more than 4,000 RPM. Towing also requires greater stopping power from your brake system, which may require a softer break-in period.
6. Avoid Hard Braking
Like the engine, it's important to go through a break-in process for new tires and brakes. Brand new tires, disc brakes, and brake pads need to warm up and wear down a bit before they are fully effective. Your tires, in particular, may still have a film on them from the manufacturing process that needs to fade before your car has its full stopping power. Only brake hard if it is necessary in an emergency situation.
7. Take It Easy, But Don't Baby Your New INFINITI
It may feel like there are a lot of things you're not supposed to do with your new INFINITI, and it may be frustrating to show so much restraint when all you want to do is kick things into high gear and see what your new vehicle is capable of.
But there is good news: properly breaking in your engine doesn't mean babying your car! In this case, “taking it easy” mostly means not pushing the engine to its limits right away. Moderation is key; you can still drive fast and get a feel for your new vehicle — just avoid using a wide-open throttle or hitting the red line.
Myths About the Break-In Period
Myth #1: Drive It Like You Stole It
You might hear that phrase a lot if you ask around about how to break in a brand new car. The “drive it like you stole it” method relies on a hard break-in procedure in direct contrast to the gradual, more common method described in this article. While a hard break-in is not necessarily wrong — proponents say high heat and pressure from heavy acceleration is the better way to seal the piston rings inside cylinder bores — most manufacturers recommend the less exciting, slow break-in procedure for best results.
Myth #2: Break-Ins Require Special Engine Oil
While there are a variety of engine oils marketed for the purpose of breaking in a new engine, a special lubricant may not be necessary. In fact, your INFINITI was shipped to the lot with quality synthetic oil to help you get the performance you expect from your new INFINITI.
But regardless of the type of oil in your new car, experts agree that drivers should get an oil and filter change soon after the break-in period ends to flush out metallic contaminants collected during the first 500 to 1,000 miles.
Care For Your New INFINITI the Right Way
When it comes to taking care of your new INFINITI, nobody helps you do it better than INFINITI Parts! Purchase genuine replacement parts for your model, year, and trim, and get professional installation at your nearest authorized INFINITI service center.