Hi everyone, I have an 2010 R3 model @9400km. When I bought the car the dealer said nothing about breaking in procedure. He said that I could drive the car any way I want, no restrictions. So I took the car from the shop, drove and heard this amazing engine sound! Then I punched the gas and even did 8000 rpms
Well you could say that it is a common knowledge not to do that many rpms during break in procedure, but I beleive that the dealer shoud have warned me at least. Then I would be very cautious.
Now I feel very bad. I think for about 1500km I used the car with high rpms. Then I used it max 4000rpms until 3000kms.
So far nothing bad happenned, but I really feel bad. Do you think that I might have damaged the engine? Would this affect fuel consumption, sealing problems etc.?

 

http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

All is not lost, just think of yourself as a race car driver... LOL

 

Doesnt that have pretty much nothing to do with a rotary though? His whole deal in that is about pistons and piston rings. Now I dont know a whole lot about engines but I know we don't have either of those.

I read something on here recently about engine break in for us and what its supposed to help with. I'm sure a search would come up with it pretty fast.

 

Sorry, I need a sarcasm font.

In actuality though, there are some rotary race teams that follow the "hard" break in thought process as well. It seems like there are more opinions about break in than oil..... LOL

 

Your engine is fine dude. I was told the same thing when I just got my new engine installed. The head mechanic at Mazda Turnersville told me the engine is "race ready" right out of the box. He told me to "drive it like I stole it". That is exactly what I did. I have had no issues thus far. This guy was very knowlegable. He has worked for Mazda for 20 years and has a couple RX7's himself. I think he knows what hes talking about. Of course you will hear different opinions here from people who have self appointed themselves as rotary engine specialists. I'll trust the guy who has serviced literally thousands of rotary engines including his own.

 

Break-in requires various engine speeds and loads for best results. It sounds like you did okay.
Higher RPM and load conditions provide more oil from the OMP so it probably worked just fine.
For example, a soft break-in for the original Renesis in 2004 would have resulted in poor oil flow to the seals and more damage than a harder break-in.

 

Thanks guys! Your replies releived me a lot! Seems like I am lucky to make a hard break-in!

 

^^ Now get out there and enjoy that car and redline her daily

 

your engine is fine

but this is another not a bit surprisingly dumb statement from someone in a Mazda service department

 

Almost as bad as when I was told that the engines in the "new" rx8's are "efficient" and only need an oil change every 5000-7000 miles... no joke

 

2000 miles is plenty for a break in period and what I advise on engines I have built w/ new bearings for 8 years now. I tell everyone to keep it under 4K for the first 1000 and slowly bring the revs up another 1000 over the course of each 200 mile mark. The apex and side seals are not the major concerns of a new engine as after about 5 heat cycles they have bedded themselves in properly. Its the bearings that are the issue and the reason new bearings are not needed unless showing more than 20% copper on the bearing on tear down. Some builders will argue that more copper needs to show before changing bearings due to increased chances in spinning them. Many race engines use bearings turned on a lathe until nothing but copper is showing and then run a higher oil pressure for this reason. I have even tested ripping them from mile 1 to see the differences in break in, which were really non existent, but risk the chance of spinning a bearing and fusing it to the eshaft (no fun) is much greater and the reason for break in rules.

Copied and pasted from one of my posts in another thread. You are good to go just enjoy the car. There is a lot of paranoia on this forum about these engines. Keep good oil (10-30 minimum weight, I recommend 10-40) change it every 3k and enjoy your new ride. If you feel the urge to premix it will never hurt anything.

 

just warm her up before thrashing it.

 

what you did might even be better than "grannying" the engine like most people do for break in. Read the link Kane posted up, its a very good read. It does refer to piston engines but the principles in which he bases his methods are the same. In fact, if you don't push the engine hard at the very beginning of its life its already too late. Plus, in a rotary, there neither camshafts, nor as many bearings as a reciprocating engine. So your only concern during break in in the seals, and you did good to them when you pushed it hard at the beginning of their life.

 

Completely incorrect. The seals are pretty much completely bedded in when you receive the car from the dealer. The only reason to break it in would be the bearings. This isn't your grandpa's V8.

 

i bought my car at 22 miles. it's currently sitting 300+ in less than 2 days. i did a LOT of high way driving. ocassionally pushing 5k rpms. What am i doing wrong?

It's an R3

 

you doing wrong being too paranoid.

 

lol so breaking in an engine (rotary) is a myth? cuz i wanna rev the **** out of my baby

also let me be more specific and point out that i high way drived for consecutive periods of times for 1-3 hours

Austin to San Antonio (1 hour and a half) 100 miles
San Antonio to College Station (3 hours) 176 miles? i think

 

you will be fine.

 

hmm... ok if you say so...

 

I love when people ask questions but not believe the people they are asking to.

as long as you warm the engine up, you will be fine.

 

basically i would be more reassured if a statement was supported by information :P. It makes me feel more at ease if you will

 

I think this is more like a common sense. its like you start running. you start short (lower rpm), then you run longer and longer (higher rpm). also make sure you warm up before you run.

 

Post #11 all the information I have experienced. I have tried ripping motors from initial start up and doing it the proper way so to speak. The results are the same either way. The concern is the bearings.

 

hmmmm... ok.... how is it that mazda manages to magically break in the rings from the factory?

 

Ahh!!! Just did 9500 rpms!!! Heard the beep sound again!!! Speechless!!!