So, I know I'm supposed to "vary the speed" for the first 1,000 miles.

I have almost 700 miles on my xB, and I'd like to take it on a trip this weekend. It'd be about 400 miles total, all Interstate.

Is it okay to do this trip with only 700 miles as long as I don't hold 75 MPH the whole way? (e.g. go 65 for a while, then 70, then 75, and back down to 65)

 

i would think u would be able to just stay at a stady pace like 70 - 75..... so u get down there faster

 

Yes, but is only 5 mph enough of a variation for the break-in period?

 

Drive like you normally would, but be safe out there!!

Walt

 

i've always been told to drive the car like you would normally after the break-in period. i've done this on my cars and have never had a problem. go on the trip and have fun.

 

Right, but I'm only at 700 miles; I was told the break-in period is 1,000 miles.

 

to my knowledge, these engines are broken in from factory. the only engines you have to break in are rebuilt ones, as they will actually have 0 miles on them. they just tell you to do a breakin to cover themselves legally.

 

I believe in breaking it in the way you plan to drive it. I stayed cool with mine for the first 500 then hit the highway and hammered into it. I've owned 6 new cars since '88 and have done them all this way without any problems.

If it ain't broke-in by now it never will be. Hit the highway and enjoy the ride.

 

Well, I've found all kinds of threads since posting this (guess I should've searched better to begin with). Like I said, I've got almost 700 miles on the engine, have rarely been over 4,000 RPM, have been varying my speed, and haven't used any oil that I've noticed. I'm guessing I'll probably be be okay to travel 400+ miles this weekend.

 

That is fine, take the trip if nothing else just make a quikie stop at a gas station for a drink.

 

My mechanic friend says one should actually get the RPMs high a few times on a warm engine. He's a believer that the break-in process should consist of normal driving, which would include racing the engine every now and then, but never close to redline. Be easy on the brakes as well.

Of course this is just his opinion. He claims seals may leak 50k or so miles down the road if the car is babied off the bat and driven hard down the road.

 

Don't sweat it, it's not going to do anything...

 

I'm going to break my '06 xB HARD during the first 20 miles

I've read that will seat the rings real nice

 

You'll be fine. The car is ready for a road trip.

 

I hope you are jesting as my experience has been the opposite. However, this is only critical on brand new 0 time engines. Most new cars today use a chrome type ring setup and they take several hundred hours to seat SOMETIMES.
I really don't think it is a big issue with these scion engines.

Walt

 

^bump^

I'm picking up my new xB tomorrow, and have a road trip planned for next week. Do you guys think I'd be ok to drive it? Or should I take my old car. The trip is about 300-400 miles each way.

-moore

 

I agree with IBJanky...

Drove my box relatively hard immediately to be sure the rings/cylinders sealed before glazing over. You get one shot at seating the rings before the cross honing wears off the walls. If the rings are not expanded and conform to the cylinder walls, they will not seal effectively. Only way to redo is to disassemble and rehone the cylinders. NOT!

Sounds contrary to common knowledge, but its documented and it works.

I have 550 miles on my box. First tank was 29 mpg. Driven hard! I just filled my second tank of gas tonight. This one was 32 mpg. Engine feels a lot more responsive already. It has hit redline a few times so far. Steady speed is a no-no. You need to vary the speed, load and rpms during break in. I plan on changing the oil before 1k miles.

Warm up the car then just drive it normal to medium hard. No lugging or wild redlines, but be sure to apply steady pressure mixed with instances of compression braking. Vary the speed-don't drive at one rpm long. Load but don't lug the engine. Gotta expand the rings to conform to the cylinders while the cross hatching is there.

Love the box!

 

Moore, if you can get a few hundred miles on before you take your trip, and can vary your speed somewhat during the trip, then I wouldn't worry. If it is going to be a lot less miles than that, and if you envision holding the same speed for long periods, you might want to take the old car, just this once.

Freeway speeds aren't the problem, the problem is constant load/constant RPM that can let the break-in take a 'set.' If you can vary the speeds easily on the trip, it really shouldn't be a problem.

 

About how much should I vary the speeds? I mean, are we talking 50-70mph? Or like 20-70mph? I dunno... I don't want to risk messing it up right off the bat.

-moore

 

What i did was baby the living crap out of the motor, letting shift under 2krpm for the first 1,200 miles. After that, i would race the motor up to 5k every other week to break it in and let everything set final. After about 4k, every other week i would race the motor up to redline just so whenever i would need to floor it, i wouldn't break a seal. Or if i went to a track, i wouldn't do harm to it. After about 5k i just drove normal. Around 3k shift, bi-weekly taking it to redline. The motor can handle it, i've been 6,350rpm without a problem when shifting. The motor feels like its still climbing after some mods. I doubt it is, but it feels that way. Just rarely ever go past redline like 6,300rpm, you do it alot and you will break something.

Summary of what i did:
0-1,200 = baby
1,200 - 4,000 = drive still baby, but more normally and rev high bi-weekly
4,000 - 5,000 = normal driving, rev to redline bi-weekly
5,000+ = don't worry about it, its broken in and just be sure to rev high every once in a while so the motor doesn't get used to being lazy!

Cya