sh0gunshin

I got my New RX8. I read several stuff in the manuals and online about not driving at a set speed for a long time esp in high gear. well I bought the car @ 22 miles. And now it's at 300+ in less than 3 days. I've driven on the high way driving 60-65. Is this bad? And should i stop highway driving until i can break in my engine? Also for a S2 what is the significant break in point in terms of miles?

Help pls... Thanks guys

P.S. how do you know if you slip the clutch? does the car lurch?

RX8Soldier

iTrader: (24)

plenty of threads man. Congrats on the purchase! You know the drill...

Old Rotor

Look at the bottom of the page and read a few ....your doing fine....it should not lurch...it should be smooth and quick as possible at the same time.

jasonrxeight

how do you know if you slip the clutch? well if you dont slip it you either doing a burn out when start to move or stall the engine.

lateralus

iTrader: (1)

I have different stuff about how to break it in and about exactly how important perfectly sticking to the break in procedures is... Here is what Racing Beat says to do http://www.racingbeat.com/mazda/perf...rocedures.html
Driving on the highway isn't a problem. The break-in stuff is more about RPM than it is about MPH, and 60 or 65 mph in 6th gear doesn't even break 3,500rpm.

Yup, he nailed it. It could lurch too though depending on how far you have already let the clutch out before you slip, and if you do anything to try to make up for it.... Until you get used to it just come off the clutch slow and you should be fine.

rz-jacks

I can't believe these are the recommendations they give out to new owners to break-in their cars... don't exceed 4k rpm for the first 1000 miles? and no WOT before 2000 miles? that's almost half a year of breaking in. Sorry but that is complete BS. This will most likely cause more harm than good. Even more so on a rotary where carbon build up is a problem. In fact the ideal break in involves hitting redline THE FIRST TIME YOU RUN THE ENGINE (I'm referring to the first time the engine will be at its operating temperature). this means that the first "heat cycles" the engine goes through are the most important ones in an engine's life. If you fail to either warm up the engine FULLY, load the rings FULLY, and run the engine through different load conditions on that first run then you missed out on the perfect opportunity to create perfect clearances and surface finishes on the rings.

coincidentally there is another thread that was started not long ago and someone posted the link to a webpage that explains exactly what I'm talking about. Here is the link to the page. its a VERY interesting read, and although he talks about motorcycle engine here the principles apply exactly the same way for rotary engines, specially since seals play a much bigger role in a rotary than in a piston engine. http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

Rotary Inspired

iTrader: (1)

Every body has their own opinions and they are that. The reason for keeping rpms down in any break in is the bearings, from my personal experiences. Other than that everyone has their own theory and everyone on the interwebnets is an expert, myself included. To the OP just enjoy the car and don't sweat it so much. Its under warranty for 8 years and close to 100K. I don't know many people who keep cars that long anyway.

terch1

iTrader: (2)

Come on dude do a little research. This topic has been beat to death. A similar thread was just started a couple days ago. People are so f-ing lazy. https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-discussion-3/do-you-think-i-might-have-damaged-engine-209211/

sh0gunshin

i have read that thread if you noticed i also posted in it as well. people gave me their opinions on it and the only thing i need to worry about the bearings? so the bearings are the parts that need to be 'broken' in?

rz-jacks

nothing needs to be broken-in. The worst you can do is baby the engine, SPECIALLY a rotary so drive it normally, in fact do at least a redline run every time you take it out. Just make SURE you warm up the engine before you drive and don't "track drive" the car (in case you do) for a couple thousand miles. This also means you shouldn't be doing full throttle runs in high gears for extended periods of time, (like topping out the car).

The key to a good break-in in to expose all the components of the engine to varying load conditions (AKA driving normally, including those moments when you are in a nice lonely road and you can't resist opening it up). Honestly, don't worry.

sh0gunshin

well racing beats recommendations were to not drive over 4k rpms for the first 1k miles. and then no full throttle until after 2k. i guess ill stick to that for now.