Been reading these forums for a while now - first post :D:

I'm pretty sure I'll be picking up a new RX-8 within a year and remember reading something about how to specifically "break in" the rotary engine by not exceeding certain RPM limits during the first 600 miles, then moving up slowly, hit a redline or two, etc.

Anyone have any good suggestions for the break-in process?

Thanks. Can't WAIT to join the club. It's gonna be hell to wait longer. :banghead:

http://racingbeat.com/FRmazda4.htm

lots of different ideas on this subject.

beers :beer:

How to break in a new RX-8:

1. Smash window
2. Unlock door
3. Get inside

Drive it like you stole it....

How to break in a new RX-8:

1. Smash window
2. Unlock door
3. Get inside
el oh el

Been reading these forums for a while now - first post :D:

I'm pretty sure I'll be picking up a new RX-8 within a year and remember reading something about how to specifically "break in" the rotary engine by not exceeding certain RPM limits during the first 600 miles, then moving up slowly, hit a redline or two, etc.

Anyone have any good suggestions for the break-in process?

Thanks. Can't WAIT to join the club. It's gonna be hell to wait longer. :banghead:
I haven't read anything of the sort. According to the manual there is no specific "break-in" routine. Just don't go willy-nilly WOT until after you break the 1,000 mile mark. But be sure reach redline from time to time.

I'm an advocate of the hard break-in. Warm the engine up to temp, then do a series of progressive WOT runs up to ever increasing peaks, ending at redline. In between each run let the engine return to low rpms for a bit. Basically drive it hard for 20 to 50 miles, then change the oil. Then take it easy on the engine until you get to 1k. Then do whatever you want.

The idea behind this is that the apex, side, and corner seals will make the best fits with the housings if they are forced into them early, before the housings wear. This idea has been proven to produce an engine that makes more hp.

In any case, its the first 20 miles or so that the engine runs that are the most critical.

Well, my manual says not to exceed 4000 RPMs for the first 600 miles.

get a crowbar and go Gordon Freeman on the window :rock:

Well, my manual says not to exceed 4000 RPMs for the first 600 miles.

And every engine manufacturer in the world will say something like that. Taking it easy on the car for the first 600-1000 miles is important to allow the bearing surfaces to mate without excessive friction. But that being said, there is crucial mating that occurs in the first hours of an engine's operation that is benefited by running it hard.

This is about piston engines, but it applies here also IMHO:
http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

If you want to be extra safe, so what the manual says. If you want a little extra power, do a hard break-in.

Racing Beat's website has some great Break-in procedures.

One thing I would add is to remember to change your oil on or around the 1,000 mile mark. Lots of crud floating around in there on a new car...

Saturn: GREAT post. :mdrmed:

My car was a test drive car and I am sure people test drove the hell out of it before I took it at 500 miles. And now at 6,400 I am consistently getting 19+ mpg with very hard driving and the oil is only at the halfway mark after it was filled up 2k miles ago.

^^^ That is all city driving too.

The only consistency regarding engine break-in I found from different sources: factory manuals, internet, etc is DON'T STAY AT A SPECIFIC RPM

i gave you the racing beat link.

here is what i did. first 300 miles kept it under 6k rpm. tried not to use full throttle, but it happened more than once.

300 to 600 tried not to use full throttle and tried not the hit the rev limiter. but it happened more that once.

600 miles. changed oil. 600 to 1k miles i beat the crap out of it. including the brakes. i think that is why i have never had the squealing problem many have had...

i have averaged over 21mpg in 45k miles right now.

just my story.

beers :beer:

Excuse the noob - what's WOT?

Excuse the noob - what's WOT?

Wide Open Throttle

The dealer where I bought my 2005 6MT told me the car needed no break-in !

Well, I didn't quite buy that, so for the first 1000 miles I carefully warmed her up before driving and avoided more than short bursts of WOT. And I did not redline her until about 2000 miles.

However after about 100 miles, I did drive up into the local mountains (heavy load), occasionally hitting 6000 or 6500 RPM but still avoiding staying too long at any specific RPM (had to check out the handling in the twisties, you know).

I guess you could call this a "tough" break-in. I did my first oil change at 800 miles and another at 2800 miles. I am now at 3900 miles and the car runs flawlessly. I have not had to add any any oil between those changes. The lowet I have seen on the dipstick was about one-third quart down.

So does anyone think I have trashed my engine ?

no you have not.

beers :beer:

Freddie when you say one third of a quart low. Are you aware that the dipstick lines from low to high are over a quart in difference (1.8Qts)?

http://www.finishlineperformance.com/rx8/docs/pdf/01-047-04-1438b.pdf

Freddie when you say one third of a quart low. Are you aware that the dipstick lines from low to high are over a quart in difference (1.8Qts)?


Wow . . . No, and thank you for educating me !

But even so, that would have meant I was 0.5 to 0.6 quart low, and that was the point where I took her in for an oil change. With this new-found knowledge, now that I plan to do the 3,000 mile oill change interval, I will probably start "topping off" if needed. I already carry two quarts of official Mazda 5W-20 in the trunk. And I am looking forward to my first road trip next week . . . 1,500 miles in five days -- Yippeeeeee!!!

just remember, once it's 'broken in', you *need* to drive it hard regularly to keep it healthy!!

^^^^^ Yes, and to keep myself happy ! :)

just remember, once it's 'broken in', you *need* to drive it hard regularly to keep it healthy!!

I disagree, but I guess it depends on what your definition of hard is.

I disagree, but I guess it depends on what your definition of hard is.

He meant redline it often...no?

Redline the car to delay carbon build up on your plugs and your seals... :):

http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=87376

He meant redline it often...no?

try to at least redline it once a day, if not more

basically just don't loaf it below 4000rpm all the time, get it up there! :ylsuper:

I tried the premix with the stock MOP intact, feels smoother for sure but should i worry about clogged fuel filter or etc?

try to at least redline it once a day, if not more

basically just don't loaf it below 4000rpm all the time, get it up there! :ylsuper:

I know, I was trying to get Holycross to explain his version of hard. :)

try to at least redline it once a day, if not more

basically just don't loaf it below 4000rpm all the time, get it up there! :ylsuper:
Do you mind telling my wife that? :D:

i can be quite persuasive sometimes ;)

Yea I try redlining once a day, but for this car I would consider that normal driving.
For me hard driving would be redling it in first, second, third, and so on, and I know people who do this at a normal basis. Sometimes I don't get to redline at all because of the lovely boston traffic.

Quick question, what gear do you redline the most? I've only had the chance to redline at 3rd, because by 4th gear im already at 85+ and I usually run out of room.

Do you mind telling my wife that? :D:

I think your wife is busy with your plugs.... :hahano:

Yea I try redlining once a day, but for this car I would consider that normal driving.
For me hard driving would be redling it in first, second, third, and so on, and I know people who do this at a normal basis. Sometimes I don't get to redline at all because of the lovely boston traffic.

Quick question, what gear do you redline the most? I've only had the chance to redline at 3rd, because by 4th gear im already at 85+ and I usually run out of room.

4th gear redlines at 130mph.... doubt you want to try that on public roads :Eyecrazy:

Yea I try redlining once a day, but for this car I would consider that normal driving.
For me hard driving would be redling it in first, second, third, and so on, and I know people who do this at a normal basis. Sometimes I don't get to redline at all because of the lovely boston traffic.

Quick question, what gear do you redline the most? I've only had the chance to redline at 3rd, because by 4th gear im already at 85+ and I usually run out of room.

Err.... assuming that this question is directed at me, I mostly redline second and third going uphill (living nearby to one). I read somewhere loading the engine clears more carbon but it could be wrong.

4th gear redlines at 130mph.... doubt you want to try that on public roads :Eyecrazy:

Are you sure 4th gear redlines at 130 mph? I hit 6500 rpm on 6th once so what speed is that :icon5:

Are you sure 4th gear redlines at 130 mph? I hit 6500 rpm on 6th once so what speed is that :icon5:

Should be anywhere from 130-140... :Eyecrazy:


And 4th gear should redline at about 124 mph. You can just about hit top speed w/o getting in to 6th as 5th redlines at about 147.

PS--I did not attempt. This is from test data...

So getting back to the thread topic, how have the various owners on this board done their engine break-in? Could we compile enough information to correlate with engine power, fuel economy, compression, or anything else later in the lives of our engines?

well, anecdotal evidence from me, i did the break-in per the owner's manual, no redline or WOT until 600 miles, and then easy until 1000 miles, then oil change, and then drive normally. For the life of the vehicle, i am average 19.5mpg in 50/50 city/hwy driving, and the motor actually feels stronger now with 30k miles on it than when new...

I've read many people on Mazda6Club.com that have a lot stronger (about a 10 hp variance between high and low numbers) completely stock engine. More often than not, the ones that break in their engine hard the first few hundered miles have the more powerful engine.

I've only broken one engine in, and I ran it pretty easy the first 1,000 or so miles, and I couldn't tell a difference from before and after.

^^^^^^

I've heard similar stories. But for those and the other reciprocating people, Break-in has mostly to do with seating of piston rings. Is it the same thing for us with our apex seals and such? Are the rotor housing walls honed, same as cylinders?

Should be anywhere from 130-140... :Eyecrazy:


And 4th gear should redline at about 124 mph. You can just about hit top speed w/o getting in to 6th as 5th redlines at about 147.

PS--I did not attempt. This is from test data...
What is 191kmh in mph?

As I mention elsewhere I redline on my home track on 4th gear. And that is my top speed 191kmh.

Imagine how much money I spend on brakes when the next corner is a 3rd gear off camber left :(

What is 191kmh in mph?

As I mention elsewhere I redline on my home track on 4th gear. And that is my top speed 191kmh.

Imagine how much money I spend on brakes when the next corner is a 3rd gear off camber left :(

191 kph = 118.681898 mph

Stupid metric system...

^^^^^^

I've heard similar stories. But for those and the other reciprocating people, Break-in has mostly to do with seating of piston rings. Is it the same thing for us with our apex seals and such? Are the rotor housing walls honed, same as cylinders?

I did the break-in the Mototune way, at 11km I got the car from the dealer, drove off the lot warmed up the oils and tranny fluid and redline in 1st gear to 4th going uphill. Then cool down the car by cruising without staying at specific rpm so lots of shifting involved. Now my 8 is running strong and consumes very little oil.

191 kph = 118.681898 mph

Stupid metric system...

And the test data was 124 mph so that sounds about right. :)

Imagine how much money I spend on brakes when the next corner is a 3rd gear off camber left :(

How so? Stock brakes with aftermaket pads? If so I'd say you eat some pads quickly.

How so? Stock brakes with aftermaket pads? If so I'd say you eat some pads quickly.
I brake hard.

Haha LOL. The MazdaSpeed pad can last me 4 track days there. That is, about 1000km of track time. :D:

Gotta love this board. A "break-in" thread becomes a "brake" thread". ;)

:offtopic:

:lol:

It ain't turning to a girls thread yet :lol2:

Brake = Break haha