Here is the cosolidated break-in reccomendations from Mazda and RB:
Mazda:
"No special break-in is necessary, but a few precautions in the first 1000 KM (600 miles) may add to the performance, economy, and life of your Mazda.

- Don’t race the engine.
- Don’t maintain one constant speed for long.
- Don’t drive constantly at full-throttle or high engine RPM for extended periods of time.
- Avoid unnecessary hard stops.
- Avoid full-throttle starts."

Racing Beat:
The Mazda guidelines are reasonable and prudent. If you have any questions or uncertainly regarding the break-in period, we suggest you follow these official recommendations.

We receive many requests for our recommended break-in procedures. The following are Racing Beat's recommendations:

- For the first 1000 miles do not accelerate under full throttle.
- During the first 1000 miles do not exceed 4000 RPM.
- For miles 1000-2000, expand the RPM upwards - but do not accelerate at full throttle.
- Over 2000 miles, full throttle and high RPM is acceptable.


Here is my question: Unfortunately in two weeks I will have to take the 8 (new engine and all) on a 800+ round trip. I will not have 1000 miles on the new engine by the time I leave so a few of the guidlines make me nervous. Particularly, "Don’t maintain one constant speed for long". What should be my strategy on the highway? no CC? a few min. at 65, then 70, then 75, then back to 65, etc.? I'm a little worried about breaking in the engine this way, but I have no choice.

 

Yeah, right! That's like trying not to breathe. I couldn't keep my 8 under 4k if I tried.


Chris...

 

RB guidelines are a little too restrictive IMO. This is what I did:

1st 600 miles:

No long idle (>2mins), including 1st start warmups - just drive gently initially
No hard throttle/WOT
Shift points between 3000 and 5000 RPMs, mostly 4000's
Extended highway driving - vary speed or shift from 6th to 5th occasionally

As soon as you get at least 600mi and every 200mi and with a warm engine do a redline shifting from 2nd-3rd gear to prevent carbon buildup from all the low RPM driving.

after 600mi just be prudent with your engine until at least 1500 (but don't feather it either!)
I made it a point to redline it once a day after this.

 

this information is in the faq just an FYI

 

hehe but where's the fun in reading the ***'s