Thread: Engine "break in" period

Hello from the "Onyxboiz"

This Soul will be our first "new new" car - what is the correct way to go about "breaking in" the engine??

I know the obvious, no hard accelerations etc but is there anything else?

Some people Ive talked to said to not really go about 3000RPM for the first 3000kms or so and to avoid highway speeds .... that last one will be hard for us as we are picking up our Soul near Toronto and driving 2.5hours back home on the 401 (very busy 6lane highway across Ontario- - speeds will be 110km/h.)

any advice would be great.

thanks!

My only suggestion is don't race the engine no hard acceleration and vary your speed as you drive (this shouldn't be hard on the 401 because if you are not bumper to bumper most of the way I'd be surprised!) Allow your engine to stretch into higher RPMs and speed but don't drive at any one sped for extended periods (don't drive at say 110 the whole way home) Lived my whole life in TO/Mississauga and never had a good run on the highway except at like 2AM...
My only other suggestion is once you have approx. 1000km get the oil and filter changed. I would go with Castrol GTX 5W30 until your 8000KM regular oil change then go synthetic with AMSOIL or Mobil 1 5W20 or better yet 0W20.

Thanks for these tips. Since I'll be getting a Soul soon hopefully, and since I've never owned a new car before, I wasn't sure if there was anything I needed to do to break in the engine.

Although it will be hard to avoid the highways (gotta love Texas!).

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

theres two methods as nobozos described or the way i've always known heres a website that puts it into words

its controversial but at one point thinking the world was round was too

Are there any data to suggest one break-in method is better than the other?

Just because a break-in method is "new" doesn't make it revolutionary or better. But if there are good technical reasons why revving the engine all the time is a superior break-in method, I'm interested in them.

I've always was told to drive it during the break in period just like you will after-wards, in other words don't baby it drive like you normally would.

So many schools of thought on this. NoBoZo is correct on this and the manual from Kia will also let you know how to do this properly. Kia is where the warranty is, not the people who recommend something other than Kia. They won't pay your warranty. Good luck.

New motors have a harder time lubing up. The metal is not yet seasoned plus the tighter tolerances. Sure a race engine only being used a few times you want the rings to seat very nice and pounding on it will work. For our cars we want to last very long time your best to keep revs 2k to 3.5k. Timing chains like my car last thing you want to do stretch it. Go easy on your car. Dont slam on your brakes for first 1000 miles, let them settle in slowly. Wheel bearing also like to be broken in slowly. Most metal parts that heat up to temp and are allowed to cool season like front drive axle. Diesels have even higher comps so going up steep hills and loading the motor is good idea for the rings. FYI ive never had an engine problem with any new or used car ive owned guess i baby my stuff. If you dont trust kia then trust bmws advice on subject.

Originally Posted by Bratboy

......... NoBoZo is correct on this and the manual from Kia will also let you know how to do this properly....... .

I was good till 5K ( book, I think said 3K )

But, now @ 20K, I have tested most of the Soul's limits.
.

All the gaskets in motor need to get used to there new home. If you ran it like you stolen it I could see more damage than good being done.