Engine Break-in Concern

3625 Views 22 Replies 16 Participants Last post by albaby, Oct 24, 2001

JimmyG

Discussion Starter · Oct 12, 2001

I'm picking up my Odyssey in about a month and had a concern about the break in period. My wife works about 3 miles from home and I know the engine doesn't even reach the full operating temperature before she gets to work. With winter coming around, I highly doubt we'll hit the 6K mark before the first oil change.

Should I be concerned? I plan on taking it out on the weekends and do highway driving but how bad are these short trips going to affect the break in process?

Your feedback would be greatly appreciated.

JimmyG

1 - 20 of 23 Posts

robr2

· #2 · Oct 12, 2001

I had the same concern as my wife only drives about 15 miles per day, but the AM run is only about 4 miles to the train station. I drove the van for the first 2-3 weeks to get a quick 1000 miles on the odometer and for break in as I have a much longer commute and my driving is greatly varied.

If she'll agree try that.

cmt4

· #3 · Oct 12, 2001

I really like robr2's suggestion, as I feel break-in is important for the longevity of your vehicle. Probably the most important aspect of any break-in is avoiding a constant speed. So if you do take it out on weekends for highway driving, avoid setting the cruise and such. Personally, I would put on as many miles as possible before letting the vehicle go to a very short "trip" interval.

Regarding the first oil change. The first oil change should be contingent on mileage, not any time frame (unless you have an extremely low-mileage vehicle... 2k or 3k in a year). I don't know the details of your actual driving habits, but I would suggest waiting until 5K before the first oil change.

Do you have a teenage son? Just lend it to him one Friday night... it will come back with an additional 2K on the odometer.

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adam1991

· #4 · Oct 12, 2001

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Probably the most important aspect of any break-in is avoiding a constant speed. </font>

Constant engine speed, of course.

And that bothered me a bit in my 02. Its first weekend I took it about 100 miles out to a relative's house. It's all freeway driving. No big deal, except the gearing is such that varying speed by 20 mph varies the revs about 500, max.

There just wasn't a lot of variance I could give the engine speed on a freeway drive. 65 is 1750rpm, 75 is 2000 rpm.

cmt4

· #5 · Oct 12, 2001

Yes, thanks for correcting. Engine RPM is more important than actual vehicle speed. Bottom line is that you want to constantly vary the RPM on a new engine (during break-in).

Isn't it great that they started putting RPM tach's back on vehicles.

[This message has been edited by cmt4 (edited 10-12-2001).]

cmt4

· #6 · Oct 12, 2001

Oh, and by the way... one way to help keep the RPM's up is to avoid overdrive during break-in. All things equal, I think a higher rev is better for break-in. Within reason, of course! I said "higher", NOT HIGH.

I saw one guy take a brand new car and "peel out" from the dealership. The salesman just laughed and said, "At least he's not keeping it at a constant speed!"

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adam1991

· #7 · Oct 12, 2001

That's why people would want to have D5 and D4 separate. I could have stuck it in D3 during break-in, but that would have been a bit much, I think.

(For the record, I've never owned such a complicated car. I can't wait for snow so that I can see what D2 plus traction control does for me. D2--starts in 2, stays in 2 regardless.)

hondaman

· #8 · Oct 15, 2001

Go ahead and drive it in overdrive.

Using a lower gear increases the RPMs.

Occasionally vary the speed, avoid wide open, do not take to redline just yet.

The break in period is critical to the engine. If the break-in period is ignored, then that engine will burn more oil.

Do not change the oil until the first Honda recommended interval. The oil that comes in the car is made for the breakin period, over-the-counter oil isn't.

Use common sense and you should be just fine.

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ody

· #9 · Oct 16, 2001

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by adam1991:
That's why people would want to have D5 and D4 separate. I could have stuck it in D3 during break-in, but that would have been a bit much, I think.
</font>

This raises an interesting (well, at least to me) point- it would be nice to have the option of manually selecting D4 for mountainous terrain or towing etc. The way I understand it, you are either in D5 or D3? Unless, of course the trans. downshifts automatically, I'm talking about manual selection.

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RRP EX Navi on the way-finally!
Forget world peace-visualize using your turn signal!!
GOD BLESS AMERICA!!

adam1991

· #10 · Oct 16, 2001

D is all the way up to D5; D3 is the next choice on the gear selector, and of course that limits you to D3 and below.

So yeah, it would be nice to have a selection to lock out D5 and limit it to D4 and below. I still think it wasn't important enough for them to re-design the dashboard to accommodate that. Remember, previous years had a 4 speed transaxle.

Does anyone know what the MDX gear selector looks/acts like?

(Note that D2 sticks the trans into 2nd gear, period. It won't go above 2, but it also won't go below 2. Great for snow starts.)

darelldd

· #11 · Oct 16, 2001

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by adam1991:

(Note that D2 sticks the trans into 2nd gear, period. It won't go above 2, but it also won't go below 2. Great for snow starts.)</font>

Hmmm. What the heck is "D" supposed to signify then? Are you sure it isn't designated simply "2" ? That would make more sense in relation to your comment.

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-= Darell =-
2002 Ody EXL-Nav (TW) ordered, and now maybe coming on November 2!
2001 Civic EX

forgaming

· #12 · Oct 16, 2001

Wow, one does learn something every day here. I'd always thought that it's best to do the first oil change at about 1000 miles, to flush out all the new engine particles etc. (a friend of mine even recommends it be done right after the first 500 miles!). So, is the Ody different? (This is our first minivan) And how long (in time or mileage?) is the break-in period supposed to be? Thanks.

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(o: Terry

)
'02 GG RES

odycadmus

· #13 · Oct 16, 2001

02's manual calls for 600 miles for break-in period.

blb

· #14 · Oct 16, 2001

I'm totally confused. I can't get the RPM's much over 2 in city driving so how can I reve it up? This van goes from 1st to 4th in the space of 10 mph so it's constantly shifting and feels very "loosie goosie". Dealer says it's fine. 2002 with 900 miles. Any suggestions?

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by hondaf1:
Go ahead and drive it in overdrive.

Using a lower gear increases the RPMs.

Occasionally vary the speed, avoid wide open, do not take to redline just yet.

The break in period is critical to the engine. If the break-in period is ignored, then that engine will burn more oil.

Do not change the oil until the first Honda recommended interval. The oil that comes in the car is made for the breakin period, over-the-counter oil isn't.

Use common sense and you should be just fine.</font>

ody

· #15 · Oct 17, 2001

You could use D3 around town, should allow a little higher RPM without overdoing it.

adam1991

· #16 · Oct 17, 2001

darelldd:

Yeah, it is just called 2, not D2. D, D3, 2, 1.

I still say they left out D4 purely because it wasn't important enough to redesign the instrument panel right now. Probably they'll put it in next year or something.

RonD

· #17 · Oct 20, 2001

adam1991 - thats what I did on my new 02, I drove it in D3 for the first tank of gas. Varied the speed, accelerated up hills, decelerated down hills to have a vacuum on the engine, down shifted at corners. From a previous car, I really think this helps. On that car a quart of oil was used in the first 100 miles, the bumper was hazed from the oil it burned. It never used oil after the first 100 miles and was a great engine. I think the first couple hundred miles are the most important. My dealer said that he had a customer that drained the oil and put in Mobil 1 right away. It used oil. It took many oil changes and miles with regular oil before the excessive oil use stopped.

The gear markings are D, D3, 2, 1. D uses all 5 gears. D3 uses the 1,2 and 3. 2 starts in second and stays in second. 1 starts in first and stays in first. I tried starting in 2. It really seems to load the engine. I wouldn't use it except in very slippery conditions. I would think the traction control will handle these conditions better. Have to wait for winter to see. Also 4 and 5 gears are both overdrive gears so RPM in D3 is not excessive if you don't drive on freeways or interstates.

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gsg

· #18 · Oct 23, 2001

I'm curious about the sources of these break-in recommendations. I have owned three new cars, and have never really paid much attention to break-in procedures other than what is listed in the manual (The Ody manual does not, I think, say anything about varying engine speeds).

Does anyone know of a source or article or study that has looked at the effect of break-in on engine performance/life?

Thanks

Maugham

· #19 · Oct 23, 2001

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by gsg:
...(The Ody manual does not, I think, say anything about varying engine speeds). Does anyone know of a source or article or study that has looked at the effect of break-in on engine performance/life?...</font>

Good question, I wonder about varying engine speed, too.

A relative told he learned about varying the engine speed in the 1950s, so I question if the practice is still required or if it is an "old husbands' tale."

Regards,

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Maugham

"I plan to live forever. So far, so good"
'02 RP EX-L
'85 Prelude that we'll keep!
'01 Ninja folding aluminum scooter
'00 New Balance Model 658 Shoes w/ Green grass stains and '01 White Laces

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mstaebo

· #20 · Oct 23, 2001

I feel bad that I didn't know about this break-in procedure. The only thing our sales guy told us was don't use cruise control or go over 65 mph for the first 600 miles. We followed his instructions. However, during our break-in period we took a 3-hr trip to the White Mountains, and there were many miles of
highway driving at a pretty constant 63 mph. We exceeded the 600 mile mark before returning home that weekend.

I really hope I didn't do damage to my new Ody...

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Erika
'02 SS Ody EXL-RES
'95 Honda Accord LX

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